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This morning I woke up in such a state and it was about my dream last night. I rarely have dreams about mum but I think all my thinking on the bus yesterday carried over into my subconscious. I dreamt that I heard a knock on the door of bests hill and it was mum. We gave each other a hug and she explained that the past five years were a mistake and she wasn't dead, she was just living somewhere else. I can't even type more about the dream because its too sad but I will say that it was lovely seeing her face again even if it was in a dream.
Today we were going tubing but I felt terrible. A mixture of my dream and still iffy chest. I told Alan and becks to go ahead and I would maybe come join them later if I felt a bit better. I lay down for an hour and then dropped some laundry in. I actually left everything I own in as it all got soaked on the way here because the bags were attached to the roof. I felt a bit better so went next door and asked the tuk tuk man to take me to the first tubing bar, where I assumed they would be. WRONG. I suppose I should actually explain what tubing is before I go any further. Essentially, it's floating down the river on a tube and stopping off at various beach bars along the way. It used to be a massive thing In Laos but the government shut the majority of it down because there were 12 deaths In one year. We kept making the joke that it would be Alan this year, that Irish lad likes to drink! There are now only three bars which is so much better and far less Dangerous! So I arrived at the first bar without a tube because i came on my own, and realised they weren't there . I asked the worker how to get to the second bar, without a tube. He pointed me in the direction of the jungle and said keep going straight and stick to the right. Brilliant.
The minute I set off I regretted it. I had to wade through weeds, nettles, grass snakes, bugs, Mosquitos and that weird plant that sticks into your skin and you have to rip off. I walked for about ten minutes and the blood was pouring out of legs from those bloody sticky plants! Just when I was about to turn back i heard noise and then spotted the beach bar across the river. I spotted Alan in his green tubing trunks and Becky was in her bikini top and shorts dancing with a cocktail! Epic! Now I had to somewhere cross the river. What the hell was I doing . I waved to a local and he took me across on a little boat. As soon as I arrived everyone was asking if I was ok because I obviously looked like I had just went ten rounds with Tyson. And he had won! I said I'm fine and just get me a gin.
I can't describe how much of a turn around this day had. I went from having a s*** morning to a deathly trek through the jungle to having one of the best days ever! The tubing bar was insane and everyone was dancing, playing volleyball, getting face painted and playing beer pong! Becky Alan and I bumped Into saskia and yetz who we met in koh rong so we hung out most of the day. It was such an epic day and one thing I've realised is this trip is making me feel more comfortable in my own skin and to stop caring what people think about me so much. Becky said she noticed a change In me too as I would actually be a very self conscious person but hide it with my personality, and she remarked that I just seem very relaxed. I think this is one of the best things that could have happened to me on this trip.
Around 4 we headed to the third beach bar. As I Didnt have a tube I shared beckys and it was the most hilarious thing on this planet. The tube was about the size of a polo mint and having to balance mine and beckys fat asses took a major amount of core strength. By the time we reached the third bar we were in pain! We chilled there for an hour around a bonfire and met another guy from Fermanagh. Another Irish! They obviously have nothing better to do than go tubing in Laos. I noticed it was getting darker so I suggested we leave as when the darkness falls on the river that's when the danger happens. I manage to get a tube as some guy who got too drunk ha dto get a tuk tuk home. Result! We floated on down the river and within Half an hour it was pitch black. Luckily we were all sober (except Alan) so we linked tubes and had a leisurely float down. We reached the end and got a tuk tuk back to the rental place. I didn't realise that all these chumps had to pay 150,000 kip for their tubes, whereas I just turned up and commandeered a tube. Nice!
After getting showered we headed back to the Irish bar and I had chicken nuggets and chips because I was missing dads cooking ha ha ha. ;) . We had a big group again and then a band came on a did some tunes for a couple of hours. All day people had been raving about this 'jungle party' which is supposed to be the highlight of the month. Everyone from Gary's Irish pub and all the other bars was supposed to be going and that was true! We turned up at 11.30 and I think every traveller In Laos was there. We danced with all the gang but the music was shocking. I can't even describe how offensive it was. There wasn't even any lyrics, it just sounded like all the kitchen utensils were being thrown and the Hoover was on?! I powered through anyway and we headed back about 3. A great day. (In the end)
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