Dude in Vang Vieng & Luang Prabang

7th - 8th November Vang Vieng. Viengvilay Guesthouse, en suite rm with fan 3USD

Taking the local bus from Vientiane for 25,000Kip (About 2.50USD) the 160km takes about 5 hours as the bus can't do more than 30km/h as it is old and also the roads are edge-of-the cliff stuff winding through the mountains....

The bus station is on an old air strip referred to by the USA during the Vietnam Wat as Lima Site 27. As the war in Laos was secret, they never used the real names of the places. Referring to my Lonely P: from 1964 to 1973 the amount of bombs dropped by the US was approximately half a tonne for every man, woman child living in Laos; 1.9million metric tonnes in total.

Tubing

Back to the topic at hand, which you will find amusing, the main reason for coming to Vang Vieng is tubing. I arrive on the 7th November and pay 60,000Kip (6USD) for 10km of tubing the next day.

On the 8th November at around 2pm (I foolishly choose to go in the afternoon, forgetting that around 5pm it gets really cold as we are high up in the mountains) we get on a tuk-tuk and drive 10km out of town and are dropped off next to the Nam Song River. This is where we are given our tractor tubes. You sit on this and let the river do the rest: tubing!

Floating along for 10km slowly back into town, with the odd rapids to spice things up. In one of the rapids, I smack my back against one of the rocks in the river- ouch, that rock really got it...

The final 4km stretch of the river is more interesting. There are ramshackle bars all along the bank of the river with the owners calling you into their bar. If you want to stop and have a beer, or a bucket of whisky - whatever you fancy, they throw you a rope and pull you in :) simple but effective. Some parts of the river are deep and the brave tubers swing Tarzan-style on a rope about 5-10 above the river and dive in. Not me matey.

Watching Friends in the TV Bars

Other than the tubing, I spend the rest of my two days here watching Friends in the TV bars. There are about 5 or 6 bars constantly showing Friends on three or four screens, with a couple showing Simpson’s or Family Guy - wicked!!! Just but a beer and watch Friends until your eyes dry up and then take a break and come back...

I Meet Michael Schumacher

Well, not technically, but a M.S (Dunno if I spelt his name right) wannabe because he must be a wanna be or a complete f@@@ing nutter..

On the 9th November, I head out of Vang Vieng further north to the most touristic place in Laos, the former capital of Luang Prabang.

9th November to Date: Luang Prabang.. Rimvang Guesthouse, rm with fan, shared bathroom7USD

The bus costs a whopping 85,000Kip (8.50USD) and the 170km takes a long 6 hours as again, the roads are even more edge-of the cliff stuff. This time however, the bus is never and can go fast and boy did the driver step on it! Yep this is Mr. Schumacher... Although my but was sweating at times, I made it in one piece.

So been here in Luang Prabang - the whole town is world heritage listed and deserves it. For the first time in a while, I fail to get a good deal on the guesthouse. The room is fab and the place is central, but 7USD??? no tv, shared bathroom ?? :)

Many temples, a museum, treks, kayaking lots of things to do... I spend the 9th November just chilling and on the 10th November, I do some sightseeing and also head out into the countryside on a rented moped. Nice place... More about here later peeps...

End of Indochina

My Indochina tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos is in its final leg as I will be heading to Thailand soon, within the next couple of days. My mental compass is pointing to Burma so I will see if the borders are open..

For photos of Vang Vieng and Tubing:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=65636&l=d4424&id=672660622

Photos of Luang Prabang will follow shortly my British Chums..

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