Destination known and looking for jobs!: Vientaine & Vieng Vang, Laos (March 25-29)

We left Tha Khaek on the morning VIP bus. Unlike the previous VIP buses we had been on, this bus was deluxe! Two stories, air-con that worked, seats that reclined back when you wanted them too, and TV/DVD that ranged in entertainment from karaoke to Fast and the Furious in Laotian. It was a very pleasant ride and after about 5 hours we arrived in Laos capital city, Vientiane. Although Vientiane was a very nice, clean city, I felt that it lacked character and was much more expensive than the rest of the country. J agreed and we caught one of the first mini buses the next day to Vieng Vang.

On the ride we met a very nice American, Leah, who despite being a Vandal was really interesting to talk too. (For those of you who know about college loyalties, the Vandals are from the University of Idaho & is 8 miles from where I went to college at Washington State University GO COUGERS!) Leah had spent the past year and half teaching English at private schools in China. We chatted for bit and picked her brain for the ‘cool’ places to visit in China. Several hours later we arrived into Vieng Vang, found a guesthouse, and acquired Leah as a neighbor.

At dinner that night, the three of us met another American and an Australian at the table across from us. The Australian, Kallie, worked for Lonely Planet doing some editing and freelance photography. We had a festive evening of drinking beers and laughing. The thing to do in Vieng Vang is to rent an inter-tube and float down the Nam Song river. We all agreed on a meeting place and time for the next day and said goodnight. The next morning we meet up with Leah and walked to the appointed meeting spot. The walk turned out to be much longer than we had thought. It turned out to be a couple of kilometers and we arrived late. Kallie and Emily (the American) were no where to be seen. So we ate lunch and crossed the river to rent the inter tubes.

This river float was very different from our peaceful float down the Mekong River in Don Deit. Bars line the river, each having its own drink specials, loud music, and rope swings or zip lines. We crossed the bamboo bridge to the first bar and talked to the bartender about renting inter tubes. He informed us that the inter tubes were rented back in town and then everyone takes a tuk-tuk out. Leah, Jeff, and I came into a little group huddle about what we were going do, when the bartender changed his mind and rented us three inter tubes. Before we set off, Jeff had a bucket drink of Lao Lao (Laos whiskey, trust me its gross!) and Red Bull and launched himself off the rope swing at the bar several times. Then we were off down the river. It wasn’t long before we got to the next bar, maybe 20 meters, and we had ever intent of moving on, but ropes were being thrown out and we were being towed back into shore. Jeff launched himself off another rope swing several times before we were ready to move on.

By moving on, I mean we drifted across the river to the next bar. This one not only had a higher rope swing, but a zip line as well. Jeff took the zip line out but didn’t let go before it hit the end of the line. When his hands slid from the handles of the zip line, the momentum he had going flipped him, literally head over heels, about three times before he hit the water. From someone who didn’t hit the water hard, it was pretty funny to watch.

We were towed into several other bars and Jeff went off every rope swing around. I, being scared of heights, was perfectly happy to watch, take photos, and chat with Leah. We floated past the bar area of the river and down into the quieter areas. Once the noise disappeared into the distance, the river was quiet relaxing and beautiful. As the sun set, the temperature dropped and we exited the river before reaching the town center. It was a fun day.

The next day, the weather changed, it is was a bit cold and rainy. Jeff was really sore from all the swinging so we took it easy. In nearly every restaurant in Vieng Vang, there are endless re-runs of Friends or Family Guy replaying over and over. After watching about 10 episodes of Friends, it was time to move on!