August 22 After a 7-hour drive in unpaved, muddy roads; occasional toilet breaks in the bushes; surviving a road block (caused by a landslide) and heavy monsoon rains, we finally arrived in Vang Vieng. The laidback town of Vang Vieng, which is about 155 km north of Vientianne, is known for its beautiful caves. Backpackers, especially those who love the “great outdoors”, go to Vang Viang to explore the caves or to go “tubing” - riding on huge tractor inner tubes that float down in the Nam Xong river. But it was monsoon season, the whole area was flooded, roads are muddy, and caves are slippery. We stayed in a simple guesthouse, where each room has a bed, a fan and a bathroom. It’s basic really, but what I enjoyed most was the fact that we
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