We are now on our way to Chiang Mai, our last stop before we fly home!! We have just spent three nights in Vang Vieng, which is famous for tubing. Tubing is where a load of young Westerners go, most with a tube that they have hired, and tube down a river, stopping off at bars along the way. They used to have zip lines but due to the death rate of one a month they decided it might not be the best of ideas.

We arrived on Tuesday, 9 hours after our 6 hour bus left from Luang Prabang. When we arrived, we checked into our hostel, grabbed some food at one of the Friends restaurant (where they constantly play Friends) and had an early night so that we were fresh for tubing the next day.

On Wednesday, we got down to the river for about half 11. This is quite early and we know this because there was only about 10 of us there. That didn't stop us though - straight on the buckets. As the bar gradually started filling up, games of 'Beer Pong' and 'Flip Cup' started, with me on the losing team for both :S

The drinks flowed, the crowds got bigger, and eventually we headed to the second bar. We walked down instead of hiring tubes so that we could see what it was like. The rest of the afternoon is a bit of a blur. Drinks, chatting, probably a dance. All I know is that when I thought it was about half 2, maybe even 3, it was actually 6......

At this point we headed back to the main town and grabbed some food. We then headed for a shower and to get changed but as Rosella was getting ready she decided to be sick - f***ing Lightweight. So Phil and I headed out to Bucket Bar, where between 9 and 9.30 they give out free buckets!!! Just what I needed after 4 buckets on the river!!!

After a couple more buckets later and "limboing" under a fire stick, I was back in bed. Lasted until about 1 so not a bad effort.

Yesterday followed a similar pattern. The only difference was that it started with me having a tactical chunder. We grabbed some breakfast, headed to the river early, and played some beer pong (undefeated for 4 games this time). It was a lot slower starting too. The first bucket took me about two hours to drink but I got there in the end. We also made it to the third bar this time!!!

Last night also followed a similar pattern. Dinner - shower - Rosella sick. I tried to head out but was back by 10. I was absolutely shattered and all I wanted was bed.

Today, we got up, checked out, grabbed some food, and are now on the bus to Vientiane, where we change into a minibus to Chiang Mai.

Josh