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Yesterday we left Luang Prabang and headed for Vang Vieng via minibus.
We had an early start at 7am and convened outside the bakery. Unfortunately it didn't open until 7am so we had to get food from the local street vendors, which wasn't a problem. Our guide for this part of our journey was Josh a guy from New Zealand. There was also the driver, a local tour guide and a guy who was a trainee Stray Pass guy who was taking over from Josh. He was heading off to Vietnam for 3 months. We had to start early as it took about 6 hours or so over the mountains and in twisty turney roads to get there, and we needed to get there in time to go tubing!
The bus was parked up the road as it was not allowed in the town centre due to it's weight so we had to walk to it in the heat with our back packs and all. Josh said it was about 300m but it was more like 1000m!
Anyway we got there all hot and sweaty, piled our bags on and got comfy.
I ate my breakfast roll whilst Josh gave us the outline plan for the day, and various other bits and bobs. With the motion of the bus I soon fell asleep for a couple of hours.
I woke up just before our first pit stop and when we arrived we all piled off the bus to get some food, use the delightful loo (said sarcastically) and we got charged 2000 kip for the pleasure and took some photos of the view. Then back on the bus again.
Again we had a journey of a couple of hours until we reached the loo with a view! Yes you read it correctly a loo with a view. They have built the toilets overlooking the valley and mountains in the distance. When you sit, or squat if it's a Laos loo, then you can see the view as they have left a large opening in the wall. It was very beautiful. I took some photos as also took some from the view point just up the hill next to shop.
Then back on the bus for the final leg of our trip. It was
a very irrational journey with all the twists and turns and you had to hang on to your seat to anything you could get hold of or brace yourself against to stop from falling off your seat. We had to stop for. Few seconds a couple of times as cobra snakes were slithering over the road.
We land in Vang Vieng and quickly found our rooms and got changed ready to go tubing. It's one of the big attractions here for those travellers passing through. Basically you get a huge inflatable tube and float down the river and along the way you stop off at a bar for a drink, a dance on the table or dance floor, play beach volleyball, chat and generally have a good time.
We paid our money, the inner tubes were tied to,the top,of our tuk tuk and off we went. Flo had a dry bag so we could out out clothes in it. I bought a little waterproof pouch to go round my neck to put my money and camera in and just hung on to my flip flops when we were in the water. We had to
return the tubes back by 6pm or we were fined 20,000 kip which is about £1.25 or so.
The tuk tuk took us the start of the course and the first bar, where we were given a free shot and a wrist band. We sat chatting for a while and then the heavens opened and the thunder started - there is a theme starting here whenever I go on the water it rains and there is thunder lol.
We all ran for our tubes and disrobed down to our bikinis as we went and hit the water and went about 100m to the second bar. Here no free shot but I did get a wrist band. We were all laughing and chatting and talking to other people there and then had a game of volte ball with no rules lol.
We then headed for the 3rd bar, free shot time and dancing on the tables was a must! Oh and another wrist band.
Then it was off to the 4th bar. As I floated along I took some photos of the river, people floating along and
a couple of boats carrying Bhuddist monks., I don't think they were the party animal types but were just doing some sight seeing lol.
By this time it was clear we wouldn't make it back for 6pm but we had a tuk tuk on standby just in case, but even then we still didn't make it lol. Gabby and I were a little worse for wear by this time as I had been on very large vodka and 7up's and a couple of shots with no dinner so I was a bit squiggly to,say the least lol.
We walked back to the guest house, we were due to,get showered and changed and the off out for food. However I came in lay down and was out for the count so never made it out lol. I woke up a out 9pm fe titled sound a bit Nd went back to bed and was woken up by Hannah knocking on the door about 2pm - dirty stop out lol and then in went back to sleep again. I did have a slight hangover today but soon sorted that out.
Xx
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