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Published: June 21st 2005
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Van Vieng
The local Barber Shop Dear Diary,
Our 2nd last day in Luang Prabang was spent climbing up this big hill in
the middle of town (called Phou Si), great view from the top and all that
malarky.
Then in the afternoon we rented our bicylces and did a bit of exploring
which was grand as the weather was not too hot at all.
The following day we set off for Van Vieng (VV). Our 9am minivan ended up
collecting us at 9:40 and by the time we had collected everyone, got some
documents from the transport office, and refuelled we didn't actually leave
LP until 10:30.......but we're kinda use to 'Laos Time' now so it's ok.
We arrived in VV at 5pm, so a longish trip, although that included a 45
min stop for lunch. What no one told me before was that the route is almost
entirely through these big mountains, so high that we were actually up in
the clouds a few times. The trip also involves driving through little villages
and dodging the locals which included: kids, chickens, ducks, turkeys, cows,
oxen, pigs, dogs, goats......we managed not to squash anything which was
good going considering the 'No-Braking' mentality of
Van Vieng
'Tubing' down the Mekong - a must do! our driver!!
Along the way there are also loads of scruffy looking army dudes with AK47s
hanging out of them. I think they are there to protect the tourists but
they don't exactly inspire confidence!!!
Towards the end of the journey there was a police checkpoint, so we were
pulled over and Mr. Driver jumps out and has to bring loads of documents
over to a table at the side of the road. A 5 min conversation ensues and
Policemen were pointing vigourusly at some clipboard and generally just
not looking happy! Mr. Driver comes back to the van and produces a substantial
looking wad of cash and brings it over to the policemen.......suddenly it
was all smiles and back-slapping and we were on our way !!!!!
Checked into a guesthouse when we arrived in VV, but it was not great so
moved the following day (yesterday) to something much better. It is called
Sisavang GH and costs $4 a night for the room.....happy days!!
Yesterday was the big tubing adventure, which for those who don't know involves
being driven up river a bit and being thrown in with the inner tube of a
Truck wheel.
Van Vieng
It sure is nice around here You then float down to VV town which should take 3 hours. We
did the tubing with 2 lads from Tipp, 1 English girl, 1 Limerick girl, and
1 Armagh girl.....a fine mix!
Naturally we had to stop every now and then and take bottles of Beer Lao
onboard for consumption while floating. This prooved to be our downfall........As
thosse who have done tubing know the river is really quite slow but theere
are sections that are fast rapids. The Limerick girl, Susan, fell out of
her tub at the start of one of the rapids and while trying to get back in
slipped, fell, bottle broke on rocks, finger cut by glass.
We did a repair job with an old towel and we were off again.
Did we learn our lesson? NO
Tipp lad, Diarmuid, did the same thing 2 hours later. Much worse cut this
time, so he decided he should go to the hospital to get it looked at. Ruth
went with him as the rest of us were scattered along the river. The 'hospital'
turned out to be 1 room with some cowboys who proceeded to insert 4 stitches
without any anistethic....OUCH!
Nurse Ruth did
Cheers
Here's to Laos ! great by all accounts holding his hand and telling him when
the needle was about to go in so he could brace himself!!
So that was the adventure, but all ended well in the end and it was smiles
last night retelling the stories over a few drinks.
You won't find a more laid back place, and no one actually hassles
you here......really stunning scenary. You have to, and I repeat, HAVE TO
do the tubing down the river. Make sure you stop off for a Beer Lao on the
way down but I wouldn't recommend taking it back into the tube with you! Just enjoy the cool water and the beautiful mountains beside you.
There are some cool little bars by the river at the place where the tubing
ends, definatly worth a drink there to watch the sunset in the evenings.
Other than that there is a market just down the road, and some caves that
would be worth hiring a bicycle to go and see.
We will stay 2 more nights here and head for Vientienne on Friday (hope
our progress is trackable via Atlas!). Then we fly to Hanoi (North Vietnam)
on Sunday.
Later,
Phil
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