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Scuplture Garden
We were the only ones there Well, I don't remember where exactly I left off with my last entry. A lot has happened in the last couple of days. I am in Vang Vieng in Laos right now, but I'll start from back in Thailand. Annie persuaded me to stick around another day and check out Nong Khai with her and her boyfriend, Francis (but "not my boyfriend for long" she whispers under her breath). We rented bicycles for the day at the ridiculous price of $.75 each. After looking at a very vauge map, we headed for the sculpture gardens a few km from the city. We were all shocked after arriving. When you hear scuplture garden, you think... you know, a garden with some nice 10 foot sculptures. In reality we found massive multi-story monsters and assorted characters depicting the Bhuddist underworld and afterlife. Very impressive and suprising. On the ride back home, the inevitable event of us getting lost thouroughly occured. Lunch ended up taking place in some tiny village on fold-out tables under a tarp. I could just eat all day every day here. The variety and the price almost demand it. I might give in soon. Anyways, we found our way back
Vang Vieng countryside
Looking a little ragged during a bike ride and explored the markets and shops along the Mekong riverbank. It really is amazing how friendly the people in Thailand are. The Thais don't just give you that half-assed curteous smile, it's a chronic-smile-line-forming full-faced-smile. Of course there are less friendly individuals around, but they are easily out numbered.
The next day the three of us and a couple girls from Russia (maybe) crossed the border to Laos. It's a relatively pain-free process until you complete all of the paper work and finally are released into the new country. We walked through the final gate and were immediatly overwhelmed by tuk tuk drivers (the bane of my existence). There needs to be a guide on what to do at this point. Maybe I'll write that. We ended up lucking out by ingnoring the touts, wandering away from the border and coming upon a local bus that was just leaving for the capital of Vientiene (20 km away). The copassenger next to me was a bag of potatoes. The plan was for us three to stay together that night in the city, but the bus just happened to drop us off at the central bus station, a bus just happened
to be departing for Vang Veing, and I just happened to be anxious to get there. We exchanged emails and I hoped on the locals bus for Vang Vieng. This is a five hour ride and it cost me $2. I couldn't push my budget here if I tried. The bus was packed with people and food overflowing into the isles. I was literally the only foriegner on the bus except for one other woman. And of course she was from Boulder, Co (9th and Pleasant to be exact). At first I was not too impressed by the Loation scenery, but as we pulled further away into the mountains that all changed. Vang Vieng is the most beautiful place I have ever been. The town itself is actually quite tacky and touristy, but it's easy to get away from all of that. I got an individual bungalow right on the river for $5.50 a night. Oh, and there is only power in this town from 6pm to 5 am or so. This means that I am really sacrificing myself right now by writing this. The instant the power comes on, people start running around all over the place. There's power!
we must shower! and get a cold drink, and do laundry, and sit in front of a fan. There's too much to do when the power is on. I'm kind of freaking out about it as I write this. I need to go. But I won't.
I've decided I'd rather not meet to many people in this town and just go it alone for a while. There are multiple bars on the main street that show "Friends" all evening every evening. This is where most young people seem to congregate. Lame. Why the hell would anyone fly around the world to watch f&%ing friends?? Early this morning I rented a mountain bike and set off away from town. The scenery across the river from town is just amazing. It's all green and glistening rice paddies surrounded by towering limestone cliffs covered in rain forest. I rode several km and made it to the first cave. I was the only one around except for an old man who collected my entrance fee (there is a fee for everything here. Every bridge you cross. Only about $.25 though, so no big deal) and was apparantly my guide. We each donned an
anciet head lamp powere by an apparant motorcycle battery hung around the neck. The passage we took we extremely small and contained many bamboo ladders. About 5 min in, my light died. I knew it was coming. He says "not good" and comes over to fidget with it. About 20 seconds later, his light goes out as well. "not good not good not good not good". No shit haha. There is literally no light at all. I pulled my camera out of my pack and used the light from the LCD screen to assist him. Eventually enough spit got the lights fired up again. At this point I actually shined my light on and closely examined the cave walls. There were literally hundreds of huge white spiders scurrying about. The cave was like 2 ft wide. He just said "locust locust" but locusts don't have all those eyes. We came upon a slight opening filled with water. After much miscommunication I realized that A. this was the end and B. I was supposed to swim in this terrifying pit. I handed him my bag and my shirt and my socks and just jumped in. There is an immediate panic that
Locals Bus
It was hot. So hot. wants to take over as you jump in pitch black water in a tiny cave, but I survived. I headed back to town after that little adventure to regroup. A couple hours later I went about 8 km down the same road just to see what I would find. I found plenty of picturesque little towns and rice paddies and eventually had to cross an amazingly clear stream. I ended up swimming in it for awhile with some Tiny Lao boy. I don't know where he came from. Ok I'm really rushing at this point because I only have power for so long here. I continued on further down the road and found the most a beautiful swimming area (entrance fee, yes). I could describe it, but I'll just post a picture. Ok. I'm must go! No spell check again!
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mike
non-member comment
oh my god!
i was freaking out steve...they came out with peanutbutter swirls!!!! now theres cinimon, fudge, and PEANUTBUTTER...I HAVE NO ONE TO TELL!!! YOU SUCK HAHAHAHA. man it looks like your doing great out there, keep enjoying it man, you earned it with your suffering at work haha. we all miss you here, but life is also great without you hahahah..have fun man, im jelous!