Death Bus to Vang Vieng
Trip Start
Jun 11, 2008
1
90
349
Trip End
May 14, 2009
Vang Vieng,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Friday, August 29, 2008
Our bags had to go onto the roof of the bus. I requested putting my bag on the seat and putting Lorna on the roof instead, however, this was frowned upon by the driver and, surprisngly, also by the Wife! I got the evils!
The first hour of the bus journey was fine and quite smooth. Then the bumpy, windy, suspension challenging road needed to be navigated! There was anther 2 and a half hours to go, so it wasn't going to be pretty. After a further hour, the bus made a pit stop for us all to empty our underwear as the smell had become unbearable. After a quick clean and rinse down, we were off again, finally reaching Vang Vien at about 1.30pm. I know that miners in the UK have claimed for White Vibration Finger and gained some compensation. I feel we need to claim for Total Vibration Body and get some of the same. I didn't stop vibrating until about 4pm!! Lorna did find a use for me though.....!!
After arrival, we went to the Babylon Guesthouse to see if they had any rooms. It's not i the LP, but I had seen it on T'internet. As we arrived, another Indian couple turned up just after us. I asked the reception if they had any rooms and they said just one and said I could go up and take a look. However, this cheeky Indian woman went running up before me, even thoug she hadn't even been to reception! I went bounding up the stairs after her to check out the room as well.
Babylon Guesthouse Bedroom
The room was OK for what we needed and I think this woman thought the same as well!! I was a race to the bottom! There was no way she was getting past my fat ass, so the race was won by the Vickers (England 1 India 0). I bartered a price with reception, even though there was only one room left - it's the low season, so you can pretty much barter on everything). We then dumped our bags in the room and went for a walk to get some lunch.We found a Sakura cafe round the corner from our guesthouse. This is the same chain of cafes that we visited in Pingyao and Beijing in China. We remembered that we had pickedup a voucher when in Pingyao that gave us a 15% discount at other Sakura caes, so in we went. Sure enough, the discount was valid and we ordered a large pizza and the token gesture side order of salad. A few more beer lao's were also consumed. And guess what? Go on, you can guess can't you? Do you need me to tell you? OK then.....they forgot to charge me for one of my beers!! This has now become an amzing phenomenon! I am actually going to be disappointed when I end up in a restaurant and have to pay for ALL my beers!!
We then headed to another chill out bar for a few more drinks. In case you don't know, nearly all the bars and restaurants here play all the episodes of Friends on continuos loops!! It's ok at first but eventually you start singing "I'll be there for you" in your sleep! We plunged into the Sanaxay Bar for a few swift ones and a couple of episodes of friends. They don't actually have seats in these places, they are mor like loungers, so you could be asleep in no time!! We anaged to drag ourselves out and checked the prices for tubing - we are gonna do it on Sunday, then we went back to the Babylon to get showered.
In the evening we went to the Erawan bar for a few beers, then found anoher Xayoh cafe (like the one in Vientiane), so, knowing it was good food, decided to eat here tonight. I had a Red Chilli Chicken with rice and Lorna had chicken & chips - but.....no free beer this time - bl**dy rip off!! Lol!
We ended the evening back at the Sanaxay bar for a few more beers before hittiing the sack just after midnight - knackered from doing nothing!! I think I'm gonna like it here!
