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Vang Vieng Experiance - Day One
We have just finished day one of our two day trekking tour in Vang Vieng. It's been fun, humorous, hot and tiring!
We checked out of our guest house early this morning and went for breakfast. As soon as we made our order Chris ran out to an ATM to get some cash so we could pay for the meal. He disappeared for quite a while so I knew there was something wrong. After about twenty minutes he finally came back but with no money! There are only three ATM's in town and none of them were working so we had no cash and the restaurant wouldnt accept card. We were supposed to be at the tour office to meet our guide at 8pm, we didn't know what to do, we felt a bit embarrassed. Chris went over to the tour office and luckily the lady there gave us back some money so we had money for our breakfast and whilst on the tour if we needed it. We rushed our breakfast so we wouldn't be late but as usual and no surprise the truck was late so we ended up hanging around for a bit. Our guide introduced himself and told us it would just be us on the tour today! We both thought great, at least we will be trekking at my speed lol.
The guides name was Singh, we began the tour by the river, close to the Tubing bars. We crossed a wobbly wooden bridge that took us further away from the town. As we walked down a very long path that led us through fields and farms we were accompanied by one of the locals dogs, he was black with short legs, he followed us for at least fifty minutes. The morning started of cool but as the sun rose higher in the sky it became hotter and we both started to reach for our bottles of water. Still trekking down the path I quickly looked up to see the green mountains that we were at the bottom of. Such peaceful farm land and nature was so close to the bars and town yet you would never know it was there from where we were. Singh pointed out the different types of fruit and vegetables that were being grown and showed us some of the games he used to play when he was a child. He grabbed a long reed of grass, made a small slit half way and did some flick that sent it darting into the air.....he smiles, pleased with himself. We both tried to show enthusiasm to be polite. I then remember my dad teaching me how to make a high pitched buzzing sound with a reed, I had to show Singh. You hold both thumbs together with a piece of reed in between them, then you blow through the middle. Singh was very excited about this, lol maybe he will pass it onto the kids there now.
The dog was still following us untill we reached the bottom of a mountain. This was where we would begin our accent over it. I looked up and for a second wanted to follow the dog back!!
We climbed up over rocks and tree roots for at least forty minutes before we finally reached the top. Sweat was dripping from our heads and we were all out of breath so we stopped for a couple of minutes. The view was impressive and worth the climb up, we were not looking forward to the long steep climb down the other side though. There was cow dung along the way, Singh explained that the farmers had to lead their cattle over these moutains to get to town, it seems impossible to imagine a whole herd climbing these steep mountains.
The guide always stayed in front and Chris kept behind me. He laughed every time I slipped or fell over, I got frustrated with myself but had no choice but to carry on. Why do I have to be so clumsy?! Chris hasn't fallen over once and has all the bags on him and triple the weight! It felt like a victory when we reached the bottom, I still kept tripping over every rock and stick even on flat ground. I wish I could say I enjoyed viewing the surrounding area but I didn't see much of it, I had my eyes glued to the ground watching where I was going for most of the time! It was only when we walked through a farm that I looked up, there was a herd of cows with young calfs watching us as we passed by them, usually I would go over and pet them but none of the animals were kept behind fences and the big bulls looked angry and fierce, I thought best not to.
We carried on trekking up over and into some hills thick with bamboo and palm trees, there were loads of spider webs on the ground in bushes. Anyone with arachnophobia wouldn't last two minutes there. The spiders were actually very small and ran away as soon as we came near them but the webs did look creepy.
After falling over a couple more times Singh chopped off some bamboo and made me a walking stick. I was saved, I used the stick to help me balance over everything! Chris reckons ill be using a walking stick before I'm an old lady lol. Finally after walking for three hours we made it to the waterfall. All we wanted to do was get into the water and cool off. Singh started up a small barbecue for us for lunch after swimming. We stripped off and stepped into the water, it was freezing!!!! I had never felt water so cold before it was like ice! Even holding our hands in it was painful until they went numb. Chris wasn't bothered by the freezingness and jumped straight in. He said no water is too cold after swimming in a lake in Norway. He climbed up a big bolder and jumped in a few times, I took my time getting in which was worse. It was a beautiful waterfall but the water was too cold to stay in and enjoy so we just got in long enough to cool off.
Singh made us some tastey barbecue sticks with rice and bread. We were in a gorgeous place, the sun was shining through the trees above, butterfly's flew around us and there were no other people about. We could hear the sound of birds singing and the waterfall crashing, then out of no where a huge bug fell from the trees and almost landed on my plate. It was green and ugly, it looked like it was dying so I picked it up and put it in the bushes.
We climbed over large rocks on our way back from the waterfall. I slipped on the smallest of rocks and my whole foot went into the river! My trainer was full of water and squelched all the way back. Instead of of climbing back over the mountain we went a different route that took us through a dark cave that led under the mountain instead. We were given head torches to see, in the rainey season the whole cave is full of water from the rivers but in the dry season the local farmers also use it to get to and from the town. Imagine that, everytime you wanted to pop to the shops you had to either climb a mountain or walk through a dark cave, then trek for at least and hour! I think I'd rather stay in Mitcham.
When we came out the other side we walked through the paddy rice fields. An old woman was beating the ground with a long bamboo stick trying to scare a herd of cows off her field. She must have been about eighty! Pensioners back home have got it too easy! We passed a couple of bamboo houses hanging over the river, they use bamboo for everything! Further up we had to cross a stream, there was a narrow log about two meters off the ground balancing between the two sides. Singh walked across it with such ease and grace then turned to us laughing and offered us to have a go. There was no way I would make it I can't even balance on flat ground! Of course Chris was up for it. It was funny to watch, it took him almost five minutes for him to cross, he wouldn't give up. He would have made it all the way across if Singh hadn't distracted him from concentration by telling him to go faster. Chris wobbled and leapt across, avoiding the stream but lost his step when he landed and fell over. I laughed at him and chose the easy way across the stepping stones. There was a small log next to the stones, I don't know why but I wanted to see if it was sturdy by putting one foot on it.... It wasn't! It spun, resulting with me slipping in, I felt so stupid with myself. Now both of my trainers were squelching with water lol.
We walked through some more fields then came upto the river. Singh said we would have to cross a bridge that is not so stable and would need a lot of balance. I wasn't looking forward to this at all. We climbed up a wooden ladder nailed to a large tree. At the top was a wired bridge with bamboo poles. The bamboo wasn't stable enough to walk on so Singh said to tread on the wire only. The bamboo had completely gone in a section near the middle so there was literally only a centre meter of wire to walk on. The bridge hung about ten meters above the river, it would be very painfull if you fell in. Singh started to walk across and jumped about a bit to show off. I told him not to wobble the bridge at all when I get on it. I think he realised how nervous I was then. I took only five steps onto the bridge, I looked down and froze. I felt sick and knew I would never make it across. I turned back and told Chris ill swim across. I didn't really want Chris to walk across either but I knew there was no point asking him not to. It looked like one of those bridges from 'Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!' Except they would have harnesses on!
I watched Chris slowly cross the bridge and held my breath as he balanced across the wire only section. He shouted down to me that I made the right choice. I felt guilty though because he had to carry all the bags (4) because I was swimming across. As soon as he got passed the most dangerous bit I started to swim across. The rivers current looked strong but it was actually very easy to get across and refreshing! I definitely made the right choice.
After a long day trekking it was finally over and we could enjoy a beer where we were staying. We were checked into the Eco Lodge based on the riverside. It wasn't fancy but the Bangalows were very nice and the bed was cosey.
We sat in the restaurant for a while and watched the local people from the nearby village come down to the river to wash. It was interesting to watch, at one point there were two barbers cutting hair, people were washing clothes next to others washing themselves, kids were playing in the river and fisherman were out on their long boats trying to catch fish. Then it got better, a whole herd of cows came running down for a drink, then they came infront of the restaurant to eat the grass. It was amazing to watch how they live their everyday lives, there was so much going on in such a small area of the river. Then suddenly two bulls started to push each other, the strongest forced the other over towards the group of men having their hair cut. We held our breath as the men darted out of the way just inches from being trampled on. We all laughed in shock, including the almost trampled men as they threw small rocks at the cows to scare them away, then everyone carried on as usual.
Later on we sat down for dinner with Singh, the staff had laid out a delicious meal for us. Plenty of rice, chicken soup, steamed vegetables and a whole fish. We helped ourselves until we were stiffed. We sat and watched in amazement as Singh finished off everything, he didn't leave a single grain of rice or piece of fish on a bone. Then we ate strange fruit that had a nice taste but no smell, it was like eating with a cold. I still can't remember the name of that fruit.
We are in bed now, Chris brought his beers with him to our bungalow. I have no intention of staying up, my body already aches and my pillow is calling me. We have another early start tomorrow for day two of our tour. We are both looking forward to the kayaking down the river and tubing through some caves.
Charlotte & Chris
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