Vang Vieng and Pai

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Waking up and listening to our neighbor heaving out internal organs and
regretting everything he did last night I decided it's time to write about my
adventures in Vang Vieng and Pai...
So Vang Vieng is popular party seeking destination. Despite it's beautiful
surroundings and spectacular trekking options, most people are there for the
tubing, and even if they weren't they soon find they'll be doing little else.
So basically, you rent a tube and float down the river with bars everywhere
along side. As you float, rather you want it to or not, weighted plastic
bottles will land perfectly in your lap making refusal to the bar all but
impossible. Of course it's really not that impossible some of us are just weak
willed and easily awed. Upon entering any bar you are offered Lao - Lao whiskey
and a string bracelet. These bracelet separate the veterans from the virgins,
best to find someone with bracelets half way to there elbows and stick with them
😊 The riverside bars are also equipped with slides, diving platforms, and
swings! Tons of fun! Tons of bruises! Best idea to do while drinking all day in
the hot sun..most likely.. No! Our first day tubing left us sore and badly
bruised. We definitely lost the battle with the river, but lesson not learned
bc we went back the next day to win the war. Fail again! But we did get to be
apart of a beautiful wedding at one of the bars on the river, and we learned not
to drink and dive...LOL... And we managed to hijack the last 2 tubes at the bar
and were able to get our deposit back!
This morning we came to Vientiane (the capital of Laos) but only until Friday
and then it's back to Vang Vieng...were not done with that river yet!

Ok now onto Pai, since I was there for almost 3 weeks I suppose it deserves some attention! I kid , Pai was absolutely amazing! So far my favorite but mostly
because of the people we met and the friends we made. Pai is a small town
beautifully situated in the mountains with a large river on the edge of town.
There are about 4 streets in town that may or may not have names, and a lot of
back allies we took the liberty of naming. You're welcome Pai! Everyone in
town is very inviting and life in Pai is easier than everywhere you've ever been
before. A lot of people we met we fellow travelers that like us had come to
Pai, and gotten stuck in what is most commonly referred to as the Pai trap! Had
our visa not run out we may well still be there. As it was, we were only
planning on staying for 4 nights and ended rushing out almost 3 weeks later!
It's almost like being in another time, no one really locks up anything our
friends use a table in front of the door..outside, as a lock.. Unclear. Not a
whole lot happened day to day, we'd wake up late call up the gang for breakfast
(which on most days happened around 2-4 pm), and then either napped or went to the pool. After the sun goes down there is a circuit system to the bars, a few
bars are open til midnight and a couple more until 2 and then the last couple
bars are open til sunrise, usually only selling drinks til 4 but there are
campfires all over and people tend to hang out until exhaustion sets in.
We were extremely fortunate to have one of the bars let us borrow there kitchen
so we could make a Thanksgiving feast for ourselves and all our new pals! We had
a handful of Americans, some Canadians (who'd missed their own Thanksgiving)
some French girls, a Scottish man, and Thai guy! Everyone pitched in, and to
have had such a ragtag gathering and slim pickins in the market, we actually had
a pretty respectable dinner! I don't if I'll be able to top that Thanksgiving,
definitely the most memorable. I also have a lot to be thankful for this year!
Pai friends you're awesome and are missed!

Side info about Pai and Vang Vieng, incase anyone is planning on going.
Villa de Pai are cute little bungalows with hammocks out front at about 350 baht
a night
Even better price is icehouse, but mr. Jans ( right next door) is the best same
price 300 baht for a twin ( works out about 5 bucks a piece) and better rooms
and amenities
Blah blah bar, my favorite, chill place without a lot of gimmicks just people
hanging out and drinking. Edible jazz is good for live music. Yellow sun is good
in between bar bebop is good for dancing and don't cry is the best late night
bar, although bamboo gets pretty busy is only bc of there false advertising
flyers and frankly those just piss me off!

Vang Vieng
Pan's Place for sure! 50,000 Kip (about 2.50 a person) for a twin or double.
The rooms are okay, but the guy Chris who runs it is super helpful and keeps the
place spotless . I wish I could be more helpful in the bar in town but past the
river I know little of it.. Supposedly after nine is bucket bar and q bar then
sunset bar best i can do.

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