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Published: October 28th 2009
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We're in Luang Prabang, Laos, and it's hot
So before I get to what Luang Prabang has been like, let me take a minute to get everyone caught up to things thus far...
We spent our last couple of days in Vietnam by taking a two day, overnight trip to Halong Bay, which is arguably the prettiest place we had seen. To get there, it was a pretty standard three hour drive from Hanoi. When we arrived at the boat harbor we were surprised to see an entire armada of junk boats that were converted for these types of tours. We hopped onto our boat and began the tour by having a lunch of steamed rice, whole fried fish (for effect), spring rolls, and other stuff. Edible, and since we only paid 28 dollars for the whole shibang, we didn't mind (although that's all we ate for three meals).
Halong Bay was beautiful, and after touring a well illuminated set of caves, we were off to another cove to squeeze into kayaks and do some light exploring. The scene was like out of a postcard, but the water was utterly filthy because of the floating colonies of Vietnamese
Kayaking
The prettiest filth water on the planet that make a living out of selling fruits, snacks, and beer out of their rowboats to tourists. We spent the night on the boat and just had a relaxing time chatting with the dozen or so other travelers from all corners of the world. Char and I were both glad to get to see Halong, as it is one of the more well known destinations in the country. After a night on the boat and a relaxing ride back to the harbor, we were bound for Hanoi with fingers crossed that we would be able to catch another bus out of Vietnam and into Laos.
It seems that when traveling, sometimes one can put a little too much on one's plate. In our case we had the whole buffet. For some reason, we thought it a good idea to go from Halong Bay, on the East coast of Vietnam, to Hanoi (3 hours); board another bus to take a soothing 24 hour ride to Vientienne, Laos; then board yet another bus to Vang Vieng (4 hours). All this and the new experience of exiting a country, entering another, and doing so without staring at the assault rifles in border
Water cave
There was actually a strong current throughout the cave guard's hands. We got to Vang Vieng late at night, found a guesthouse to stay at, and got some much needed rest.
Oh, and this odyssey all began with one of the most harrowing moto rides I hope to ever live through. Once we got back to Hanoi from the Halong Bay trip, we had all of twenty minutes to find something to eat and board the bus to Laos. There was just one problem; apparently the hotel staff neglected to arrange for enough seats on a minibus to take us to the bustop for the trip. While Charla, Andrea, and Greg squeezed into an already full minibus for the fifteen minute ride over, I bit the bullet and rode with a hired moto. The moto driver was a hardened veteran of the streets of Hanoi. I, on the other hand, was screaming like a girl, biting my lip while facing imminent death, and nervously making small talk as if I wasn't the guy that I was not the high pitched squeal in his ear. Further, this maniac actually tried to pick up a third rider to take to the same bus stop! I wasn't having it though, and
A tomb in one of the caves
After a nice bikeride early in the morning. told the third rider to get lost and we went on our way. After weaving between buses at 40 miles an hour, riding the shoulder, and bumping into every third vehicle on the road, we stopped at the destination and I peeled myself off the seat of the moto. It was a hell of a farewell.
The cheap way to Laos Part of being human is realizing that we all make mistakes. For example, my most recent mistake was deciding to save $50 and take a 30 hour busride over mountains in zillion degree heat. Live and learn. Just think of the most physically uncomfortable place you've ever been, and then imagine a hot bus, high humidity, and forty people. We wanted to take the quick route to Vang Vieng to meet up with Charla's sister, Sheena, as well as her boyfriend, Noah.
Vang Vieng was a great little town. Small and relaxing, but blazing hot. The heat here in Laos seems noticeably more intense,for whatever reason, it's been around 103 f nearly everyday. Thankfully Vang Vieng is known for "tubing", where swarms of international twentysomethings go to float down a river on an innertube. Floating is one
Spidey
Lookout Barry, it's on your shoulder! thing, but Vang Vieng is on another level. On a 3 kilometer stretch of a river, there are several bars, each with huge trapeze setups, rope swings, and ziplines. It was all super fun, but the town had a few amazing caves that we were able to visit. In a couple of caves we could reach in nearly 200 meters, others were different. Our favorite cave was partially submerged under water. Using an innertube and using a rope as a guide, we drug ourselves through the water cave and snapped a few pictures. Not for the claustrophobic.
After a few days in Vang Vieng we had to part ways with Andrea and Greg, who are on a slightly accelerated pace for travel. So Sheena, Noah, Char, and myself made our way up to Luang Prabang. Also a low key town, the atmosphere is relaxed and life centers around Phoussi Hill which houses a monastery. The town also features a night market (they all do), and the girls had no trouble sniffing that out. Other than that, the only major thing we've done here is take a daytrip to nearby waterfalls to hike and go swimming. It's been pretty nice,
Girls gone tubing
Enjoying the festivities but we're all itching to go to Cambodia to see what it's got to offer. The girls didn't feel like suffering through the busride South, so we've all bought tickets to fly to Siem Riep, Cambodia tomorrow. And actually, since we're flying, we may be able to meet Andrea and Greg there as well (they took several long buses South).
So Laos has been great. Although we'd like to stay a little longer, we're sure that they're is lots more to see and do, and we're ready for it. We're trying to put up many more pictures, but the "high speed internet" means an entirely different thing over here so bear with us.
Love to all!
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Micki
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Keep them coming!
Yet another great blog! Love all the pics you guys are doing SO much every day! I'm proud of you!