Vang Vieng - Outdoor Playground for Adults!

Drive from LP to Vang Vieng
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I have been hanging out in Viang Vien for the last few days and am absolutely shattered after all the going! It is basically an outdoor playground for adults with tonnes of activities to choose from. I managed to take in kayaking, cycling, rock climbing (messed up two of my fingers in the process & added some bruises to my legs) and tubing.

Tubing has to be the most fun...basically you rent a rubber tube for the day for the bargain price of $US5 and float down the river, stopping at bars along the way! It can be tricky with the current to drag yourself in but there is someone on hand at each bar to assist you by throwing out a bamboo stick for you to grab onto.

you can climb up a tree and grab onto a bar and swing yourself across before jumping at a height into the river - soooo much fun!

Drive from LP to Vang Vieng
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At most bars there are ropes going from one end to the other and you can climb up a tree and grab onto a bar and swing yourself across before jumping at a height into the river - soooo much fun! Needless to say I spent a lot of time pretending to be tarzan! It is easy mess yourself up though if you fall the wrong way...which I done on more than one occassion. My body is wrecked after all the activity on offer here!

Apart from all the activities and caves to explore here, there is not a lot else to do. Everywhere closes by 11pm and it is like a ghost town. Restaurants are basic and the majority of them blast out non stop reruns of Friends episodes - head wrecking! The scenary around here is incredible though, the most amazing I have seen yet on my trip. Doing all the activites you are literally surrounded by mountains and lush green countryside, it is amazing.

Drive from LP to Vang Vieng
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Taking the mini bus from Luang Prabang to Viang Vieng was the most beautiful journey I have taken yet. The road was just as series of twists and bends up and down incredibly steep and dangerous roads. Little huts and villages dotted along the way were amazing to see with so many kids at each one running about barefoot and waving at us as we passed. I have come to the conclusion that there are so many kids here in Laos and every second woman you meet is pregnant as there is little else for them to do here. They just seem to sit and watch all the time.

One of the many caves in Vang Vieng
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I had a lovely bungalow right on the river while here with spectacular views for a bargain price of US$4 per night. You can get cheaper even but they tend to be ant infested and I am not willing to room with any kind of insects!

I am going solo again now after my two travel buddies Jack & Lenna left for home so it is off to the capital of Laos Vientiane in a matter of minutes by bus where I shall spend two nights before taking a flight to Hanoi in Vietnam....another country to explore, food to sample, lingo to learn, stamp for the passpost!