Yesterday and today there was no power in the whole city... thus the lapse in blogging.
For Australians Vang Vieng is something equivalent to Cancun (except it is completely undeveloped still). My point is that Australians come here for spring break. So it is crazy...
The minivan from Luang Prabang was uneventful, other than the unbelievable scenery. Laos' Northern Provinces are covered with rugged mountainous terrain. Without the money for true highways, the government has essentially just paved the most frequented dirt paths through the hills, which means that it takes hours to get anywhere of consequence. The countryside is well populated, but not crowded, with most people living in thatch huts made of palm fronds. Each valley was more beautiful than the last and every time we went around a bend a dusty ribbon of road came into view and snaked endlessly through the Northern lands.
Vang Vieng is a dusty little town that thrives under the burden of Australian spring breakers. My Aussie friend (travel buddy) Jack has a quote that just about sums the place up. Last night after drinking on the river (more later) we were dangling our feet off the back of the Tuk Tuk returning to town. He lost his sandals (as I subsequently did) and he said "Well I'm not gonna buy new ones... there's no need in this town."
'The River' boasts kayaking and tubing, zip-lining and water slides, all centered around four or five river-side bars. In the wet season the bars are spread out, but now that it is dry the next bar is just about always in the line of sight of the bar you're at now.
Every morning an army of tan young bodies pile into Tuk Tuks (open air taxis) and are taken ten kilometers upstream from the town to the cleverly named Bar 1. Which is of course followed by Bar 2, Bar 3, Bar 4 and so on. As the tubers or kayakers make their way downstream, those without transportation (me and Jack) jump in the river and swim down to follow them. The party moves and keeps going in this remarkably organic fashion from 10 AM till about 6 PM. Then you pile back into your Tuk Tuks and come back to town. As you might imagine, it is a pretty raucous atmosphere... and I am enjoying myself.
I've only got a few more days here in Laos before I head back to China, and Mary. The relationship seems to have survived this short distance test which is good. I love you all and thanks for reading.
C. Johnson
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