Ourwalkabout.nl is a blog about the world trip Michiel de Wit and Judica Wondergem are making in 2010.


18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E
May 15, 2010, 15:58

Let's do the tube

7. In a beautiful setting

After our fun kayak trip yesterday and the evening that followed, we also wanted to look full in eht festivities collapse. Most daytime partying is here, you take a tube (large inflated tire) and let you bring to the starting point. Then you can wander the river and go to one of the bars stop.

There is in Vang Vieng March rental outlet of the tubes, or it is a monopoly and it shows in the price. One day a tube rental costs € 5.50, or more than our hotel stay for two. We decided to go without the tube since the bars are the most interesting yet. Early as we were there we were then at 11:00 in the water ... all alone. The rest of the tourists were still asleep. It was quiet and we have the sun in the shallow water counterparts. And after awhile it got a little busier and Michael went to the beer (after a free shot of alcohol).

It was lovely in the sun, with music and as the printer was too many people jumped in eht water from the high towers and the trapezes. We slowly wandered what the river (I had seen standing mud volleyball and could not resist). The volleyball was fun just very short. My teammates did not want their beer warm.

Swim a bit further to see how very drunk people of the highest trapeze slide and slid to a hard (and sometimes painful) to end splash in the water. It was great to enjoy watching both though we noticed that we still greater cowards than expected.

Because we had no desire to break down the river (another 3 km shallow water to the village) we walked back to the beginning (it's). Since we have settled into the water, yet only a few buckets ordered. Cool in the water with views on 5 trapezes and many drunk tourists.

The only annoying were the local boys from the age of 9. In Laos, it is not customary for a woman to wear a bikini, in fact, most girls above 7 go fully clothed into the water. It is often said that we happen to tourists as "Western whores". These boys had no respect whatsoever completely. As a tourist you do not slap a child naturally, but under the guise of play they were still very rude. First splashing and when you're all back spetterd. and then they go to your angen which often prevents them from their feet under your ass or just go to your bikini top draw. VERY annoying, embarrassing and difficult to mainly to deal with because half of the girls was so drunk that they could not normally respond. I obviously with an eye and his arm made it clear that they had to stay away from me.

Michiel later another kid pushed down, which was a leeftijdsgenootje to huilens to bullying, hitting and pushing bad things to say (naja, it sounded not love) and that little boy was at least 3 years younger. The kid was innocent first but then he is not come close. Parenting is not really one of the strongest points here.

A couple of girls around 20 came up with the idea that it was fun to grab each other's bikini top. Very funny until the local boys were there ... and even worse was that they just "forget" that they were both also had their money in their tip. So broke.

Oh well, we were relaxing in the sun with our whiskey cola bucket. In the evening we had a farewell pancake and removed a little sat in the Friends bar. We have done everything for stereotypical Viang Vieng. Really great, but too many party place for me.


18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E
14 May 2010, 16:09

Do utility float?

16. Night in Vang Vieng

Vientiane was a promise that was not completely met. If capital is certainly a wonderful place - relaxed, small and barely traffic - but there is not much to see and do. After two nights Judica and I craved for some action. Temples and triumphal arches are great but what is their relation to water and friendly people? No fair comparison perhaps, but a compromise that we were forced to do today.

On the agenda for today was a tour. According to the brochure were the highlights of the trip: the elephant cave, a walk through the rice fields, 'tubes' through a cave and 10km kayak back to the village. The cave was small and not very special (apart from the temple that housed and a nice story about a flamingo), the rice fields were dry, but all water activities were thick worthwhile.

In a tractor inner tube (a 'tube') float through a cave is a fascinating idea. No idea who invented it, but it certainly was funny and refreshing. With a parade of tourists along a rope - lying on your back in a giant donut, ass in the water - a cul cave in to drive is not an obvious activity, but who invented it is certainly richer.

A lunch in a hut near the cave, consisting of fried rice, kebabs and some bread and bananas, stilled the hunger and led the truck movement to the river. Kayaking between karst mountains is beautiful, but the huge contrast with what we found halfway - it felt like an anachronism - was overwhelming. The local middle class had several bars along the river and established as a tractor gently attractions built of bamboo, ranging from harnesses, cable lengths up to a giant slide. The loud music and the many swimming (and drinking) backpackers were a wonderful view. After a few minutes (and a bucket) we got everything in the mood and we have been so well entertained. The last few kilometers to the village were then naturally a bit heavier ...

Now we're back in a kind of hippie sit-in in a corner of a bar, with people of all nations to enjoy the warmth and comfort that travelers in the village under can share. A special experience - not least because of the delicious pancakes with chocolate peanut butter and other delicious fruit shakes - and one that we certainly have a warmer feeling the rest of our Travel in Laos send. And to answer the question: donuts float, the nutties do.


18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E
May 13 2010, 3:07 p.m.

Laos Bulbs

The bus from half past nine went exactly according to schedule an hour late. Nobody here seems to look at it, but I was surprised about it. What good is a schedule when you're not using it? Anyway, I can not complain too long, the bus from Vientiane us neatly (or as they say here, Wing Chang) to paradise for revelers Vang Vieng charged. It took almost 6 hours, but the mini-fans and the breeze that brought about the many open windows were certainly tolerable.

We were already planning to go to Vang Vieng, just because it seems such a nice place to be for some sporty things. But we were not aware of the modern reputation of this place. When I ran a circle around us to find a nice hotel, I fell from one another in amazement. Firstly, it is very touristy here (on a backpacker way), but particularly striking were the many relaxing lounge areas, hammocks, pillows and other hang hang well. Vang Vieng offers onderdag to such matters as the illustrious Happy Shake, the Happy Pancake Happy Pizza and all for fun enriched with locally grown marijuana, shrooms and opiates. You just have to know, because in a mellow mood otherwise you just commit a mistake. Incidentally, all this explains the large number of hippie happiness or hang occasions.

Tomorrow we do sports, we decided. First, some walking (a cave!), Then in a tractor inner tube (or 'tube') through a cave (!) Drive and then in a village sticky rice and bread from banana leaves to eat and in a kayak the local river back to Vang Vieng on to sink. We've been told that on that trip several bars are located on the side, all to increase the fun. Then there is the possibility of the swing on vines, to 'jump' and in a weird swing at ... swinging. All included. Count down to a few nice pictures Judica in the foreground.

Until that time we only been here just chill. No Happy Happy Beer and Sandwiches, but perhaps a few reruns of Friends (there is actually a cafe that specializes thereon). What are we still a gekkerds ...