Expedition on the Lao back road and Vang Vieng

So we gave a bit of a teaser at the end of the last post, but we will start this one from the beginning.

We woke up at 5 am, and surprise surprise, there was still pouring rain.  We jumped into tuk-tuks and headed over to a temple.  As soon as we stepped into the streets we immediately saw barefoot monks walking around with all of the local people out dropping food into their bowls.  Apparently this is the only way the monks get food.  We got lucky, and Johnny found us a covered area to sit in by one of the Wats (temple).  After Johnny showed us the proper way to feed the monks sticky rice, the procession began.

We grabbed another quick meal at Joma, and then went to the hotel for our 8:30 departure to Vang Vieng, which would be a nine-hour bus ride.   8:30 came and went.  There had been so much rain in the past few days, that there were mud slides/slips everywhere, and the bus was delayed getting in to us. 

At 10 o’clock we finally headed out.  We made our lunch stop at a beautiful view spot around 5 pm.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t see anything because of the massive fog, clouds, and rain.  We finally got into Vang Vieng around 9:30 pm.

Along the road we saw unbelievable scenery.  The mountain and jungle landscape was truly beautiful and awe inspiring.  All of the mudslips that we kept having to stop at and wait until they were cleared were a reality check into the daily trials and tribulations of traveling on these Lao mountain passes.

Vang Vieng is a small city that is mostly a backpackers haven.  The area is known for its tubing bar crawl on the Mekong, water activities, happy shakes (lots of alcohol and LSD and some other drugs), zip-lining, trekking, caving, and the high number of backpacker casualties annually.  The later is mostly due to the complete lack of safety regulations.  Ten years ago, the place only had two guest houses.  Today it has over 100.

When we got in, we were informed that due to the rain, the river was at unusually high flood levels, all of the bar crawl bars were completely flooded out (as well as many local farms and villages), and all activities would be cancelled.

Naturally, our group did the only logical thing.  Went to one of the local bars, and went out hard.

The next day, we slept in a bit, and then spent our whole day drinking (in funny outfits) with friends in the bar.  Around, 5 o’clock, we went to the hotel, and at 7 o’clock the group went to a lay chill bar/restaurant where they played family guy on all the tvs.  Sometime around 10 o’clock, Ashley got mad at Jourdan, and said she would pay him 100 Baht to not speak for 24 hours.  He lasted 4 and ½, but after about 20 minutes, she was begging him to speak again. 

Another solid night of drinking.  Lots of funny stories from both nights.  Some of the attached pictures give a sample of the antics that took place.

 

Unofficial death toll from the storms in the Vang Viene region was 8.

Rainy Season Cometh - Day 2 in Luang Prabang

As we awoke on Saturday morning at 7:00 am, we were none too thrilled to find that it was pouring rain.  Despite this, we were committed to make an 8:00 am elephant ride.

We drove out to an elephant sanctuary, where they rehabilitate sick or injured elephants, and protect them from poachers.  We trekked through a fair bit of mud, and A LOT of rain to get to the elephants.  I even almost lost my jandal in some mud (Kiwi for flip-flop – Japanese style + sandal = jandal).  We got to the elephants, and jumped on on 55 year old “Lady Boy” (no tusks) named Bon Ju.. 

Jourdan, being the little dandy, was in full rain coat and umbrella.  I was not.  We headed out on our elephant ride up and down hills, through streams and lakes.  Only half way through, did they bring ponchos out to those of us who didn’t have them, because we were getting soaked through.  Half-way through the trip, our driver switched places with me and let me ride on the elephants neck.  It is crazy how big and powerful these animals are.  He moved tree trunks like it was nothing.  Its' skin was very tough, and who knew that they are actually quite hairy animals.

After the elephant ride, we were able to feed and pet some of the elephants.  It is kind of weird walking around in between all of these elephants. 

Thoroughly soaked, we stopped by a western style café called Joma.  It is a project undertaken by Canadians, to teach the Lao people useful skills, like customer service and counting money.  Jourdan and I both broke down and had our first western style meal (BLT and a Rueben )

After a few hours of relaxation in the hotel, we got into vans for an hour long drive up to the Kuang Si waterfalls (and a random bear sanctuary).  These falls are on top of a mountain, with long windy roads leading there.  It was quite beautiful as we headed through the little local villages, the rice paddies, and other local housing and people.

After I bought my rice paddy hat, we headed up to see the series of falls.  They were gorgeous and awe-inspiring.  The pictures barely do them justice.  The only down side, is due to the massive amounts of rain, instead of being the turquoise blue that they normally are, they were more brown in color.  We hiked up, almost to being right under the big fall.  It was crazy.

After that, we took a little dip in the natural pools, and even took some jumps off of the rope swing.  On the way out, we were able to pet a little bear cub.  You have got to love the random Lao encounters.

On the trek home, the rain switched from pouring to torrential.  We drove through flooded roads, mini land slides, and even saw a flash flood rushing through a local set of buildings. 

We got back to the hotel, spent some time trying to dry off, and then went over to a place called Utopia.  This was a Turkish style restaurant, where you laid out on mats to eat.  One thing about Southeast Asia in general, and which was highlighted here is the style that food is served.  When you go out with a group of people, whenever your food is ready, they bring it out.  You are expected to just start eating.  Literally half the table will be finished eating, and half will not have even been served.

We chilled here for a bit, smoked some hookah, and played some fun word games with the group.  Nothing like learning dirty words and slang from other countries.

We headed back early, to call it a night.  Tomorrow we feed the monks, and need to be up at 5 am.

TEASER:  We are posting this while stranded in Luang Prabang due to the rain, land slides, and slips.



The Hotel Rules are ridiculous



Chillin at Utopia



My Birthday in Luang Prabang, Laos

MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

We woke up to rain.  Starting to realize why they call this the wet season.  Unfortunately, the rain didn’t make it any cooler.  We got back on our boat, to finish the trip to Luang Prabang.  Everyone sang me Happy Birthday.

It was an incredibly relaxing day.  More beautiful scenery, more awing views of life on the river, more spending time with new friends, and more hot wet stickiness.

Along the way, we stopped at the Pakou caves, to see an ancient holy cave with over 4,000 Buddha statues.  It was literally a small haven in the middle of a sheer rock face.  It was quite interesting.

We arrived in Luang Prabang around midday, checked in to Visoun Namsok-Ban.  Cute open-air style hotel.  Decent accommodations.  It is nice to have some sort of a/c again.  

The whole group got on some 1950’s era bicycles (baskets and all), and took a bike ride around this lovely quaint little city.  We stopped at a beautiful temple, called Xieng Thong, which used to be the gateway to the city. 

Again it was hot and humid, so Johnny brought us to a local food stand to enjoy the local refreshments.  The thing people drink here, for health and increased libido is called Snake Whiskey.  See the picture (I won’t disgust you with graphic details).

Me and some of the boys (not my snakephobic brother) took a birthday shot.  It was actually not half bad.  Had a strong whiskey taste, without some of the smokiness common to western spirits.

After we finished our bike ride, Jourdan and I went with some of the girls from the group to climb the local mountain, Mount Phusi, to get a great view of the whole city.  Along the way, there were some great Buddha statues.  The view was spectacular.  I set a bird free for good luck.

After a stroll through the local night market, and a brief foray with getting lost in the city (it is actually surprisingly safe here) we came back to shower and get ready for dinner.

We are both extremely surprised with how nice and accommodating all the people here are.  They are all happy all the time, and want nothing of possessions or increasing personal assets.

The whole group headed to Lao Lao garden for dinner.  I had way too many Lao Lao shots (sticky-rice whiskey).  Jourdan, Paul, and myself split a in table bbq/soup combination.  We were cooking up veggies, eggs, chicken, and water buffalo.  It was delicious. For a nice surprise, Hoover set it up for me to get some birthday cake, and then she gave me a birthday motorboat. :-D

We then headed next door to Hive bar, where the drinking continued, and the group implemented the “Mine Game” (if you say the word, you owe 10 pushups on the spot).

Halfway through the night, it started raining, and we all partied on the outdoor terrace in the rain.  GOOD TIMES!!!

Of course, due to Lao law, home by 12.

Us with Johnny