Advertisement
Published: February 22nd 2009
Vang Vieng is a very small town 3.5 hours north of vientiane and the only real reason for going here is the tubing. What is tubing I hear you ask... well basically you climb inside an inflated inner tube from a tractor tire and float down the river admiring some mighty amazing scenery, but thats not all. since this has become such a popular backpacker activity some resourceful locals have chucked together some 'bars' along the way. The wooden platforms have parasols, mats to sit on, music blasting and readily available beer lao. As you float along filled water bottles attached to rope are thrown over your tube in an attempt to pull you in if you want to go you just hold on and then attempt to gracefully get out the tube and up the ladder, a task that is easier said than done although a lot easier than doing the same thing in reverse! Whilst sat there enjoying a drink in the sunshine we could watch people jumping off of rope swings into the river, it looked fun but we had heard a few stories about it being dangerous so we decided against it and have since met and
heard about many injured people who did jump. One girl took so long to jump off the queue behind her looked ready to push and then when she eventually jumped off the platform she wouldn't let go of the rope! We met a couple who live in london and carried on down the river a little with them. As time started to run out they went full paddle towards the end, you have to return your tube by 6pm to get your deposit back, we swam a little but then just enjoyed the scenery and then jumped out to get a tuk tuk the rest of the way rescueing a very disorientated canadian on the way, apparently the bars serve more than alcohol if you request it! That evening we had dinner with our tubing friends and then had a drink at one of the bars. The next day we were off on the bus again to Phonsovan another 8 hours away!!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.101s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 11; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0516s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
dad/george
non-member comment
Nice to hear your voice
Hi shame the connection was so bad but in the end it was nice to hear your voice. Mum is a bit poorly and that is nothing to do with any wild nights or late mornings, just now she has a virus or something but the good news is, she is getting better and will be back to her old self soon. I on the other hand still have "Man Flu" and there should be more sympathy for me as I am really suffering and I really think "This IS the end of the world as we know it, . . . . . . . . . . . maybe" Thomas is just Thomas and doing well at his wee job and at college, seems to be getting the hang of socialising without the "morning after syndrome" but still stays in his bed till whenever, it appears he always had the "student syndrome" Cats are miaowing like a moaning, moany things at the window so will look out the shotgun and see if that is the cure to the "Moaning Cat Syndrome" hmm while I have the shotgun perhaps I could "CURE" your Mum too ???????????????????? what do you think, am I No.1 parent or what !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope to catch up with you guys soon from Hanoi and hear some more about the Elephant Trek Off now to finish some bits and pieces on the stern drive nearly ready to go in the boat, yippee lots of love from East Kilbride Oh and all of us, too.