For once the tubes slammed me!

Vang Vieng has a reputation as the Laotian equivalent to Khao San Road in Bangkok, which is easily the most sold-out, tourist-driven, two-bit frenzy we have seen since Banglor Road in Phuket. I think the comparison is more than harsh, since this place is nothing at all like any part of Thailand. The place is far more 'rustic' than any part of Thailand, there are no kids wandering around selling bracelets and bookmarks, the food is awful, the total population would be lucky to break 2000 at any given time, and the tuk-tuk drivers to tourists ratio isnt 1-to-1. we arent in Thailand anymore Toto.

We were dropped out of our rusty bus about two kilometres out of the 'centre' of town, in a dustbowl doubling as a bus station. declining the tuk-tuk, aged suspension already heaving under the weight of far too many tourists, we dragged our dirty bags and selves into something more resembling civilisation. We settled for the evening in a small hostel just outside the town, which was clearly intended more for locals, judging by the lack of english, toilet paper, soft surfaces or cross-promotional touring propaganda.

Next day we found ourselves a great little spot closer to town with free wifi 24 hours a day (hellloooo unlimited download opportunity) and hot water (finally i have no further excuses not to wash my 5 pair of underwear). home sweet home.

Great little town. About 6 blocks of standard restaurants, tour agents, merchandise and guesthouses, but beyond that is a small local town full of Laos people minding their own little businesses. Rule of thumb: Better food and pricing to be found the further from the tour agents you get. Fun to walk around, and marvellous views of the surrounding limestone cliffs, which almost surround the town. The river running alongside the town is also a big drawcard, since it is clean enough to swim in, and wonderfully cool during the hot parts of the day (dry season at the moment).

But lets not beat around the bush any further... the main reason people gravitate towards this tiny little town is an activity called Tubing. dub-you-tee-eff I hear you ask. Well, basically, you give a guy lots of money (about $10 aussie), he gives you a big fat inner tube from a semi-trailer, drives you two kilometres upstream and drops you off. from there, all you have are the sun as a compass and your natural survival instinct to get you and your tube back to town... Oh, and the rapidly running river right next to you.... which happens to run right past at least a dozen riverside bars, all equipped with the most death-defying (or death-inducing, depending on your luck) swings, slides and flying foxes you have ever seen. So into the tube, float down the river a few hundred metres, get off at a bar, order an icy cold Beer Lao (for about $2 aussie), then build up all the dutch courage you need to fling yourself from the local death-trap-swing. I am not kidding about the danger involved here. Some of these babies START from about 25 metres above the level of the river, and then you swing down at terminal velocity before being launched toward the river at a ridiculous, nut-crushing speed (first-hand account). Fun? HELL YEAHS!

OK, so at the end of the day, when the bones have knit and the bruises have faded, was it worth it? yes. i am going to retire here and swing myself and my wheelchair from the highest swing i can find that has an access ramp up to it. this place is the bees-balls of the trip so far in my opinion, and i cant wait till i can walk again so i can challenge the swings again.

till next time, break a freakin leg!

//Brendan