Day 19 - Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

This morning I woke up very early, before the sun rise as I slept at about 10pm last night. But it was not to be a happy morning as there was no water supply. I couldn't take my shower!!!

Then it started to rain heavily. So I thought oh well why not stay another night in Vang Vieng?? But there was no water!!! And I'm too lazy to pack up just to move to a new guesthouse.

8am I went out to buy breakfast after the rain stopped. I ordered a bacon baguette and waited, then I suddenly ordered another egg baguette.. for lunch?! And bought a bottle of water..
All for 35,000kips ($4.50) and suddenly I had all the food I need for today.

This was enough excuse for me to go riding.. Yee Har!!! Quickly made my way back to the guesthouse, took a powder bath and packed up. At 10.30am I started my ride.

The ground was still very wet and muddy from the rain. Today's ride will take me on route 13 through 230km of endless mountain roads to Luang Prabang. During the ride, it drizzled a little and the air in the high altitude was freezing cold. 12 to 15 degrees I estimate.

At my rest stop, I had a chat with some French tourists who told me it's was raining like crazy in Luang Prabang yesterday. Oh shit! I thought to myself.

The scenery along the mountain road was out of this world but conditions were generally very poor with crazy potholes where you least expect them (around a hairpin turn). The road ran through numerous small villages with little children running out to greet me 'sabaidee' as I rode pass. Damn cute and heart warming lah!

6 hours and 230km of mountainous roads later, at 4.30pm, I reached Luang Prabang (UNESCO world heritage city) Rode around the town and got a room for US$8 a night at 'view khem khong' guesthouse. Not bad and there's wifi.

After doing my laundry, I went out to the huge night bazaar that was selling alot of handicraft. Didn't buy anything as I have lots of time to go shopping.

Went for dinner at one of the back lanes where there is 'buffet' for 10,000kips (US$1.25) There was a large variety of vegetarian dishes but no meat?! Wasn't really hungry but tried it anyways. The food was cold but edible. Ordered another BBQ pork skewer for 10,000kips (US$1.25)

After dinner I went around scouting for tour packages that I can sign up for. Had a hard time choosing between the various packages available. End up signing up for the half day trip to Pak Ou cave and Lao whiskey village for 80,000kips (US$10). I need to report to the travel agency at 9am tomorrow. I was informed that I needed to
pay a separate admission charge of 20,000kips (US$2.50) for the site

If this is good, I'll sign up for the other package to the Kuang Si waterfall for 50,000 kips for the day after.

10pm made a trip out of town to look for the only disco in town, 'Dao Fa disco'. It is absolutely freezing cold on the roads... When I reached, the place was playing good thai music, typical thai disco style, but it's quite empty so I sat back relaxed and watched a football match with my beer lao. Man City won 3-1.

Beer is still cheap at 20,000kips for a big bottle (US$2.50) Who ever heard of paying $3 to go to a disco?! zzzz.

Next up, went to another pariah Laotian 'disco', I really wonder why they call their discos 'night club' when there's really nothing much going on inside. It's very very very dark inside with singer on stage and people on the dance floor dancing like zombies to really bad music. (line dancing?) As if it's a scene out of new shanghai?? haha. wtf?! damn chui.. But this time round, it's packed inside and I ordered another beer for 20,000kips (US$2.50) and immersed myself into the 'atmosphere'.

After a while, techno music came on.. Athem 3 and Billy Jean from the 90s followed by some random Indian sound track. This place really takes the cake.. Omg!! back to the future!! What the heck!! After techno came folk music. zzz..

I'm really starting to enjoy Laos. Nonsense to the max yet damn cheap. Just that the traveling between the towns can be very tedious. Maybe I should stay for a few more days.

Btw, beer lao is quite potent. 2 big bottles only and I can feel it already. Woot!!! Time to go back sleep. Gotta wake up at 8am tomorrow. yawn.

On the way back to the hotel, I nearly froze to death. @_@

Expenses:

Hotel: US$8
F&B: US$7.75
Petrol: US$18
Entertainment: US$15.50

Day 18 - Relax @ Vang Vieng

This morning woke up and lazed in bed. While I was at the balcony sunning my laundry, my Korean neighbour offered me an fried egg baguette.. free breakfast!! Good start to the day.

Gonna explore the nearby caves today.

Visited tham jang cave which is about 2km offroad ride from town. Had to pay a total of 20,000kips (US$2.50) in admission charges. Had to climb a long flight of stairs to get to the cave. The air inside the cave it was really cool. But I think it's kinda boring anyways.

After the cave trip, I went to chill out at a restaurant 'Cook Savang' with a watermelon and pineapple shake while watching 'the family guy' cartoon. Peter Griffin sure is lame. All of which cost me 31,000kips (US$4)

Slacked for a good 2 hours and had a burger for lunch. Gotta try tubing later today. Seems like great fun!

2pm I went back to keep my bike and changed into my shorts, kept all my vital belongings into a lock n lock box and kept it in my waterproof bag.

Walked down to the tubing outlet located about 400m from my hotel.

Cost for tubing is a total of 115,000kips. This is inclusive of the rent for the huge tyre tube, tuk tuk ride 4km upstream from the river and deposit for the tube(refundable)

When we arrived at the river, the place was already overflowing with farangs. upon arrival I was given some armband for identification and a free shot of Lao whisky. All of them were lazing around drinking and playing games.

Kinda got bored with this and I decided to start my tubing. Floated down the river with my tube for a good 3 hours visiting the other riverside bars.

At about 5pm, I returned the tube and got back my deposit of 60,000kips. Effective tubing cost is 55,000kips (USD$7) Good fun and pleasant experience. Initially I didn't want to do this but I can't miss it since I'm already in Vang Vieng.

Bought a tubing tee and a beer lao tee for 30,000kips each (total US$7.50) even though I told myself that there was to be no shopping. But I cant resist it la.

Went back for a bath and went to 'Cook Savang' for dinner. Had a pork ribs set, dragon fruit shake and pineapple shake. Dinner cost me 35,000kips (US$4.50) Food here is damn good.

Now watching everton vs manure live on tv with everton down 0-1. Damn it's raining very heavily right now. Lucky thing I'm lying down at the restaurat watching soccer.

After watching Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 I went back to the room to hide. However, there was a problem with the TV reception so I slept early.

Expenses:

Hotel - US$12.50
F&B - US$8.50
Misc - US$2.50
Entertainment - US$7
Shopping - US$7.50