Monday 29 March 2010

dangerous ViengViang...

Hours and hours on tight vehicles, small boats, awkward transports, sore bum, stiff legs...
I was now moving on to ViengViang, town between LuangPrabang and Vientiane and had 6 more hours ahead. So this time I thought to spare no expenses to get my ass down on a comfortable seat. Miguelito went for a special treat, the most expensive option, (which was still only about 10$): the VIP Bus!
Oooooh Yeah!!!

Woke up at 7am and waited for the tuk-tuk to pick me up to take us to the bus station. Tuk-tuk arrived late and guess what... it was already packed!!! How would I fit in? No problem... I sqweezed at the front on the driver seat holding on to the bag. Easy!

The bus was not ultra-extra-hyper-fancy-special... but it was quite good compared with the average! Probabily a bus that has seen its best times in a developed country and was now servicing in Vietnam. Comfy soft seat... 'Some' leg room, could lean the seat back (lush), freezing air conditioning shooting at the face with no option of switching it off... But its ok... I was feeling like a king!
Here we go... Take me anywhere you like...

Or maybe not... One hour into the course...

THE F**KN BUS BROKE DOWN!!! in the midlle of nowhere...
So long for the VIP shait! Excuse my french! But I was pissed off!










And then you breath in, you relax...
It's ok... Faz parte!
A new bus arrived 40minutes later and was way lower quality. Not enough seats for everyone. Mine no longer had a head rest, could lean back but it was broken so it could not lean back, and had no leg room. My vietnamese neighbour fell asleep with legs wide open into my space and head over my shoulder... so sweat... But i kick him out!
Worst only the people who booked the same VIP ticket but where now sat on little plastic benches along the corredor(!!!)... for 5 more hours... Painful. Full and hot bus! Great... And we were late!
No biggie!








Eventually we made it to ViengViang.
By the time I got there the town seemed empty. Lots of party places by the river, built in wood shacks with hammocks hanging about everywhere, empty, the fire still burning, but not one soul aroud. As if everybody had fled. I was not sure if I was gonna stay in this place for long... The guide book mentions about this Tubbing thing down the river but there was nobody there...

























so I went for a quick swim with my mate MC. As might as well...



















Was sitting at the esplanade when this guy cycles passes right in front me! I ran towards him and pushed him out of the bike.. It was Flo!!! I was so happy to see him! He explained me about that place and seemed that... Party was on! I ended up staying 3 nights and we had some funfunfun by the river, fire places, laying on the hammocks, wood shacks full of people. Now I get it...











The next day... Tubbing!!!


















The tuk-tuk drop us 3 km up the river where one can find bars, music and entertainment.
No girls showing off their boobs, though... :(












Everyone arrives at the top have drinks and socialize. Then people get on the Tube and just float down the river for 3 hours with stopping points at bars along the way... How cool is that??





















































































local hunny bunnies. But careful, they my not be what you think they are...











Oooops !!!








































Swinging into the water!!!

































Flo's sequence!
























Miguelito's sequence!























3 hours on this things... Some people would quit...



















































































More bars along the way...




















Awsome duuuude!!











And for the ones who would stay in... there would be rewards... a beautiful scenery













































































being fished at one more bar...

































ToilleT ! As if you'd need one out in the bushes...












The local dude, the owner of this joint was bonging some local 'bacco away... So we had a shot each!













and made our way down the river... it was getting late and the sun setting... and one doens't wast to be floating in the dark. Eventually Flo grabbed the tail of a kayak passing buy and he got dragged down the river getting there 5 times quicker!























I was on my own... or maybe not! Miguelito had brought the bong along... eheh!






VangVieng, the new flourishing big party scene! Don't go there!!! Respect the locals...

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