Vang Vieng

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Obviously, backtracking again...
We have had little access to a computer over the last few weeks, but finally we are able to write about Laos. We caught a bus from Luang Prabang and 4hrs later after a very bumpy trip we arrived in Vang Vieng. A small dust bowl of a town with not much to offer, but the surrounding activities and landscape were breathtaking.

We stayed in a cheap room in the middle of town for four nights. Our days consisted of watching 'Friends' reruns at nearly every restuarant in town, drinking, and our favorite...tubing down the river. A great time, and we made several new friends each day we went. (Only 3 times out of 4 days!!)

The photos won't do the gorgeous scenery justice, but we will try...

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Photos

Vang Vieng
A dusty, little town with lots of charm and lots of tourists.

The 'Friends' Restaurant
With not too much to do in the evenings, thank goodness we could catch up on reruns of 'Friends' at this place! Too bad the food was crap.

The Tubing Hire Shop
To hire a tube its $3.50 and then we also hired a dry bag for $1.00

Going Tubing
We did this 3 days out of 4 that we were in town. A great way to cool off and fun entertainment for an entire afternoon.

The First of Many
Beer Lao...the most popular drink served at the little bars lining the river. You didn't think we went tubing just for the water, did you?

Over the Operation
The BEST thing here...the trapeze swing into the river. Of course, you had to buy a beer in order to swing ;) Dan thinks he's over the surgery...until the next day!

The next bar and swing
I stupidly lost my sunnies

Both of us on the swing
There is a rope attached to the bottom of the swing, three guys in the bank pull the rope, thus pulling you up into the air. They then let go and off you go.

The result
The result of our double swing. The Irish fella taken the photo was a little late.

The walk to the cave.
We hired bikes and headed out to a set of caves about 13kms out of town.

Entrance to the Cave
You hired a torch and tube and pulled yourself along a rope into the cave.

Biking
The long bike home, after a hard days caving it was hard work biking back to town.

The Public Bus
We kayaked from VV to Vientiane and this is the public bus we met along the way.

Cliff Jumping
We stopped for lunch half way down and got to jump off a 10 metre cliff.

Lunch
We had lunch on a rocky bank, the guides lit a fire and cooked up kebabs, rice and bread. Not bad!

The Pickup to Vientaine
Two groups of kayakers all put into one small pickup truck. 15 all together.

Comments

[Michelle]

Hi Heidi and Dan!! Your trip looks completely amazing so far... It looks like you guys are having wonderful experiences and a great time. We miss you back here in Christchurch ~ can't wait to hear about the next adventure!! :)