Vang Vieng

I made it to Vang Vieng this morning around 10 am. After checking into the hotel just off the former CIA air strip, I am on the prowl for a sim card and a tour company for kayaking, spelunking, and cave tubing.

I had a great afternoon yesterday. After the water buffalo traffic jam and cave to the north, I went to the waterfall south of town. What a great place to cool off in the beautiful limestone waters. Plus, there was a bear rescue center in the same park with five bears. I ran into several people from the Slow Boat and one from the Gibbon tour. We rode the motorbikes back together and stopped for dinner along the Mekong. Then, back to the hotel to change clothes before going to the night market.... But then I remembered I can't do crowds and wound up staying in. The alarm went off at 0430 anyway, so no big deal.

Laos is much more expensive then Thailand, and Luang Prabang really seems to nickel and dime the tourists for every cent they can get. I'll be in Vang Vieng for four nights, then on to Vientiane until my flight to Hanoi on 15 July.

It's difficult to believe I have been on the road for over a month now, but today it feels like much longer. I plan to watch the first world cup game tonight (starts at 9 pm) and do nothing tomorrow except sort out my photos and watch the England game with the traveling Brits. Anyway, off for my sim card.

Out for now. ✌️Read more