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Published: February 15th 2011
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A Bunch of Tubes in Sunny Laos!
Sabaideee!!!
Thats hello to you and me...! Well after weeks of buses, borders, temples and markets the time had finally come to catch up with some old friends. Months earlier we had deliberated where and when we could meet and after much toing and frowing the stunning Laos outback was strategically chosen for our rendezvous. No coincedence then that this was the one place we could truly let out hair down and do what comes most naturally to young Scots abroad – ie. drink lots of booze and act like complete *##%*!! Oh yes, it was time to descend on the stunning Vang Vieng Valley and try our hands at the ancient Laos tradition of tubing!!
After meeting up with Tina and Paul back in Vietnam, we all headed to Vientiane where we planned to catch up with Kate and her friend Laura who were flying in from Saigon that evening. After checking into our hotel, and a rather half-hearted attempt at exploring the Laos capital, we decided to hit a local backpackers haunt and drink a few Beer Lao in preparation for the tubing extravaganza that lay ahead!
The
The Vang Vieng Valley
A mecca for drunken daredevils! next day would be a travel day. After exhausting every travel/observation game under the sun we arrived in the stunning Vang Vieng - a deep flooded valley that cuts through the mountainous Laos countryside. Once we had eventually found some (super basic) rooms we just had time to purchase our multi-coloured assortment of tubing vests before calling it a night - we would need our energy for the following days exertions!
The following morning we were up bright and breezy and getting ourselves prepped for some serious partying. For those of you not familiar with the tubing experience let me quickly explain – it basically involves purchasing a big rubber ring and sailing down a nearby river. The only difference being that you stop every ten minutes to down suspect Laos whiskey and throw yourself off even more suspect homemade water slides and swings!!
On arrival at the top of the river we were greeted with a heady mix of bars, rides and party goers set against one of the most stunning landscapes we had ever witnessed. After necking a few buckets and grabbing our tubes we began our descent down the river. It was not long before
we all on full alert for the bottle missiles that were to bombard us for the rest of the day – basically involves bar tenders chucking out weighted water bottles attached to a piece of rope to haul you off the river and into their boozer! After a few more buckets and much laughter we were all up dancing along the side of the river to the Proclaimers (I hang my sorry Jambo heid in shame...!). We then spent the rest of the afternoon jumping off hastily constructed diving boards, ziplines and rope swings! We also reserve a special mention for the “mud pool tug of war” - may Claire specs and flip-flops rest in peace!
Anyway I guess the photos do all the talking as far as this blog goes – all thats left to say is a massive sorry to all those who think we should be ashamed of our total disregard for our own safety. Though in all honesty we were definately amongst the safer tubers out on the Vang Vieng that day! Anyway a great day out and fantastic to share it with Tina, Paul, Kate and Laura!
Onwards and upwards,
James and
Claire x
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Tina
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Tears!
This entry brings real life tears to my eyes guys - i want to gooooo baaaack!!!