Sunset from the deck of our hotel
A 4-week old monkey! (I know, a bit risky - so if I die of some mysterious disease, perhaps tell the doctors about this encounter.) But who could resist holding a baby monkey?! It did smell bad, though.
We went caving and inside were amazing stalactites. Being Laos, and not a state park in the US, they let you do whatever you/they like. One example was this... our guide showed us how to hit the stalactites in the photo with a stone to make noises like an organ. It was really cool.
We also went into this cave... via intertube! Quite amazing to be deep in the cave on a river.
Billy demonstrating how it was done... you just pulled yourself through the cave by the rope. Once we were deep into the cave our guide had us turn out our (1950-era) headlamps and to let go of the rope. We just drifted unknowingly for a few minutes... and then when we turned on our lights again, we were all surprised to find out where we were in relation to the others. You couldn't really tell you were moving at all. (I of course head a death-like grip on poorBilly's wrist, so I was quite confident he was still next to me.)
En route to the caves we wandered through fields and tiny villages。
What else did we do in Vang Vieng... TUBED DOWN THE RIVER, of course. An extremely popular event with the 18-22 crowd, we also found it to be a good time. You rent a tube, jump in the water and drift between the various bars along the river. When you feel so inclined, you visit a bar and try out whatever rope swing or water slide they have on offer. Most of them we didn't try for safety reasons (yes, they were extremely sketchy and we were shocked we didn't see people go splat on the rocks).
Once away from the main bar area we encountered some cooler places... One had stone picnic tables in the river, so your legs got wet but the food was dry on the table top. There the owner gave Billy a shot of whiskey from a bottle with tons of things in the bottom. We asked what it was and he said, 'Very good for the manhood!!!', while pointing to Billy's waist. Billy (being a proper amateur) took a large sip only to realise that it was horrific stuff. I took the smallest of sips and my mouth and throat were on fire for minutes. ICK. So after that Billy ordered a 'Jim Beam on ice.' The owner said, "with coke?" No... just with ice. So the guy came back with a highball glass with ice in it, with bourbon filled to the top. The cost was $1.20 US. We couldn't understand how he would expect any living person to be able to drink that much alcohol and still successfully navigate down the river!
We had some other food mishaps in Vang Vieng... I ordered a Mixed Fruit Salad (and I even pointed to the Lao translation on the page under 'salads', not smoothies) and was given a smoothie containing a mixture of fruits. At the same restaurant I ordered Ice Milk Tea and got another damned Lipton Lemon tea (iiiiiiirgh). Anyway, vang vieng will never be known for their food. It is not good.
In other adventures... we went to the hospital because Billy was violently ill. Perhaps the drink that was 'good for manhood'? Nah, it was something worse. Anyway, the doctor, after a thorough examination which included the most ridiculous check up on his vitals, recommended rehydration salts and diahrea stopper pills. Exactly what we've been told NOT to take when you have a real infection! (not the rehydration stuff, but the stoppers). So we quickly left without taking him up on his prescription meds! It was only $8 US for the visit, but I felt robbed！！
En route to the caves we wandered through fields and tiny villages。What else did we do in Vang Vieng... TUBED DOWN THE RIVER, of course. An extremely popular event with the 18-22 crowd, we also found it to be a good time. You rent a tube, jump in the water and drift between the various bars along the river. When you feel so inclined, you visit a bar and try out whatever rope swing or water slide they have on offer. Most of them we didn't try for safety reasons (yes, they were extremely sketchy and we were shocked we didn't see people go splat on the rocks).
Once away from the main bar area we encountered some cooler places... One had stone picnic tables in the river, so your legs got wet but the food was dry on the table top. There the owner gave Billy a shot of whiskey from a bottle with tons of things in the bottom. We asked what it was and he said, 'Very good for the manhood!!!', while pointing to Billy's waist. Billy (being a proper amateur) took a large sip only to realise that it was horrific stuff. I took the smallest of sips and my mouth and throat were on fire for minutes. ICK. So after that Billy ordered a 'Jim Beam on ice.' The owner said, "with coke?" No... just with ice. So the guy came back with a highball glass with ice in it, with bourbon filled to the top. The cost was $1.20 US. We couldn't understand how he would expect any living person to be able to drink that much alcohol and still successfully navigate down the river!
We had some other food mishaps in Vang Vieng... I ordered a Mixed Fruit Salad (and I even pointed to the Lao translation on the page under 'salads', not smoothies) and was given a smoothie containing a mixture of fruits. At the same restaurant I ordered Ice Milk Tea and got another damned Lipton Lemon tea (iiiiiiirgh). Anyway, vang vieng will never be known for their food. It is not good.
In other adventures... we went to the hospital because Billy was violently ill. Perhaps the drink that was 'good for manhood'? Nah, it was something worse. Anyway, the doctor, after a thorough examination which included the most ridiculous check up on his vitals, recommended rehydration salts and diahrea stopper pills. Exactly what we've been told NOT to take when you have a real infection! (not the rehydration stuff, but the stoppers). So we quickly left without taking him up on his prescription meds! It was only $8 US for the visit, but I felt robbed！！
1 comment:
sounds like you are having a fabulous time...we are looking forward to have you guys back in the states in a bit!
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