Day 43 Wednesday 21st October 2009

Johno says

Early rise to catch our bus to Vang Vieng further down into Laos. There were 7 of us in total to be picked up, the first couple no probs, then there was a second couple to be picked up with only the man waiting with his partner in a nearby café getting breakfast. To be fair to the tuk tuk driver, he was very patient and after about 20 minutes decided to go to pick up the 7th person in a nearby hotel and come back for the woman of the second couple from the café. In the meantime, the woman had moved on from the café and was nowhere to be seen so we left the man with all his bags and went to the bus station. Then, quite possibly the funniest scene ever, we see this distraught and really upset woman fly past in another tuk tuk looking for her partner and before anyone could shout he is waiting for you at the hotel ..she was gone, panicking about what to do next!! It is well harsh but the sight of her in such a panic was quite funny when we see the pair rock up at the bus station with 2 minutes to go… the fella then had to wait for her to come back to the toilet!! We spent the best part of 7 hours on this bus to Vang Vieng but the scenery was far better so not all bad. We found a smart little guesthouse for 5 pounds between us and walked around town for a while. I then found a large bottle of Beer Lao in a restaurant for 10,000 kip (80p) so tucked into that for a bit.

Day 44 Thursday 22nd October 2009

Stacey says:

Tubing! 11.30am, we were all ready with our rubber rings, waterproof bags and set off 3km further upstream where the tubing starts. We were in the ring about 20 seconds before we got pulled into the first bar, the guy chucks a rope out to you and pulls you in, they offered us a free shot and a banana, we had to choose between whiskey with a snake in it, or the whiskey with the bees in it…! We weren't expecting that so soon, so we had one anyway and floated to the next bar. This bar had music blasting out, again we are told we to have a shot and in the 'Laos way' getting us on the floor and lifting the shot with your mouth and flipping on the back. Steve looked a pro, I failed dismally. But drank it anyway. And we tucked into a mojito bucket number 1.. It is great fun! Just surrounded by green valleys, the lake and the bars on the decking by the side. You keep bumping into the same people, so everyone ends up best of buddies by the end of the day! Each bar has a zipper line, I attempted one, got to the top, and kept letting everyone go in front, I'd put one hand on the trapeze handle thing, and then changed my mind, I had everyone on the decking cheering me on at one point. I just couldn't do it. And climbed back down the stairs. What a loser. Steve then decided he had better do it after taking the micky, so he got up and lunged himself into the stream. (He still has a bit of a stiff neck muscle 2 days later!) Then just floated downstream for the rest of the day doing much of the same. Back in time just before dark. With Steve puking twice along the way. Haha. Lucky for the little kids ready to the rescue for his 6 o'clock return to pull him out at the end of the tubing path. So then went back to the room cleaned up and went for a lovely big dinner. We had met up with a Scottish guy (Ryan) who was travelling on the same route as us for a few days, and so after resting for a bit, we decided to head over to Q Bar, and have a few drinks, Ryan, said one more round for the road, and he came back with 2 beers and a bucket, on the house! He knew an Irish guy who worked in the bar, who then joined us for a chat, and he kept bringing bucket after bucket of random cocktails, the bar got really packed too with all the people from tubing, so it was a really good night, or so what can be remembered of it! An American guy helped me get Steve back to the room. So funny. I just laid there super paranoid most of the night worrying we would sleep right through the alarm, big transfer day to Koh Samui! Oh, they have French sticks here in Loas. Soooo missed some decent bread!

Day 45 Friday 23rd October 2009

Stacey says

Not the most favourite of days. Travelling with a hangover… I did have a puking buddy in the van to the airport, our synchronized puking made me laugh at least. But we made it to Koh Samui for 10pm and never been so happy to see my bed! (a bed).