After Luang Prabang we headed down to Vang Vieng; a bouncey ride on a VIP coach featuring 'cave' toilet didn't really make for the best entrance though finding the hotel was easy enough.. Sadly the promised wi-fi was lacking and some important work back home was due - fortunately they had a second hotel further into town with th'internet so we moved there the next day.
Vang Vieng is known for a few things; the kayaking and tubing down the Nam Song river, the blue lagoon at Tham Phoukham cave - amongst other cave systems - and numerous bars, especially on the river by the starting point of the tubing.. Offering free shots, rope swings and slides, all with a health and safety standard of nil. Rumours abound of 8-18 people dying per year through intoxication or injury, it made for interesting conversation on the tuk to the start point!! We had a cool day floating downriver, taking around 4 hours not including stops. Though slightly cold water it made for a nice medium with the afternoon sun beating down.
On the first night we were unsure about the 'party' reputation of the town, it seemed quite quiet and the sunset by the river could not have been more serene.. Then though, around 8 after the tubers had finished their stint and returned from an alcohol fuelled water fest you understood. Loud music, dubstep, Wham! and Family Guy or Friends being pumped out of all most all of the bars or cafes.. Like i've said elsewhere, this was hedon.
The day after tubing down river and receiving a much needed massage instead of drinking, we rented some bicycles and headed out toward the Tham Phoukham cave and blue lagoon - around 7km away with multiple copies along the way to fool. On the path we got caught up by these 2 Israeli guys we'd trekked the waterfalls in Nong Khiaw with, so having a chat about our comparative journeys certainly took our minds off cycling!! We finally arrived and after taking some time to cool we headed up to the cave. A small 'guide service' was on offer, as were head-torches.. We didn't bother with either but maybe should have taken the torch. After conquering the rustic staircase to the entrance we entered. This first part was finely lit, a buddha shrine taking up a portion of the space but then entering the actual cave was yes, pretty dark. Pitch black in fact. Fortunately i had a light on my phone and this *just* lasted the hour or so we were inside. Some quite cool stalagmites and tites took our attention, though the darkness from having such little light prevented any further braving of its depths.. The lagoon was nice to come back to with a much safer swing available and wonderfully clear aqua blue waters to swim in. Bloody cold though.
We headed back and sorted out our next days travel to the capital of Laos, Vientiane. We hadn't heard too much about it so had no idea what to expect..