Laos
Trip Start
Jul 05, 2007
1
48
Trip End
Dec 24, 2007
Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The group I crossed the border with consisted of a Danish couple, a Canadian couple, a Kiwi couple, an Irish couple, me and another English bloke. When we got to the guesthouse on the first evening, we were told that it was two people per room. I offered to inflict my snoring on the solo English guy. We were shown into a room with one small double bed. I ignored my room-mates hopeful looks and turned to the owner. But he didn't speak any English, and he seemed to think that my (perfectly explanatory) sign language was rude. So after a long day on an uncomfortable road, I lay down for a long night on an uncomfortable floor.
The first town I stayed at was Luang Prebang. Luang Prebang is a French colonial town, set beautifully on the Mekong river. I was worried that there might be too much of a French influence in Laos. But it seems to be limited to architecture and baguettes, which I can handle. The people are very friendly, which they definitely can't have learnt off the French.
After Luang Prebang, I headed south to Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng is full of backpackers. They must outnumber the locals 5 to 1. There are no real sights - although the limestone karsts that line the river make for some spectacular scenery. The real attraction in "tubing". Tubing involves getting into a rubber ring and floating down the river. You stop at some or all of the 8-10 bars along the way. Each bar has a rope swing, from which you drop into the river from a great height. At the start, I was sensible. It's dry season, the river level is low, and there have already been several injuries this year. And the river bank is lined with signs which say: "If you die, it's your fault" or words to that effect.
But, after 3 or 4 drinks, it seemed mad to miss out on the rope swings. And, even though I grazed my elbow and knee on my first go, it seemed even madder not to do it a second time. So I belly flopped into the (potentially vile's disease infected) river again. And again. And again.
I eventually got to the end of the tubing river drunk, in the pitch black, and freezing cold. But it was good. I ended the night arm in arm with a group of drunken Irishmen that I'd met, banging out a (very tunefull) version of "Total eclipse of the heart". Don't ask me why.
I head to Cambodia next for a far more grown-up visit to Ankor Wat - the most famous sight in South East Asia.
