Rolling on the River

Trip Start Apr 22, 2008
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Trip End Sep 01, 2008

Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Take a town in the countryside nestled amongst limestone cliffs darting out of rice paddies with a beautiful clear river flowing amongst the peaks. Add some restaurants, bars and a few hostels/guest houses. For fun develop a tubing trip complete with riverside bars serving cheap beer, free shots of local whiskey and resplendent with rope swings, zip lines and water slides tossing inebriated tubers into the water. Finally, give all the hippies the options of opium tea, mushroom pizza or marijuana and banana smoothies and voila: you have created a mecca for backpackers that rivals India's Goa or Thailand's Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party). This town is fun with a capital D-R-U-N-K.

Did I have an amazing cultural experience? No. Were there any people from Laos floating with us? No. Did I spend the afternoon mud wrestling along with 40 of my new closest friends in a dirt volleyball court that got flooded by an afternoon thunderstorm? Yes. People seem to get stuck in this town as the day of floating and partying is addictive. Those who chose to stay for the long haul (we're talking months people) were working for bars in town. The "job" is to float down the river handing out fliers describing the party and drink specials that night. In return you get free food, drink and accommodation for as long as you keep on riding the river. Hanging out all day partying on the river, talking to everyone in exchange for all of your basic needs being met? Sounds like a backpackers wet dream to me.
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