It's like DisneyLand...but in Laos!

Even though we were only in Laos for six (count 'em, 6) days, we still found lots to do in the allegedly "quiet" country. There was that grill-it-yourself dinner in the sleepy capital Vientiane, Alyssa's "hot" date with a monk, temples temples and more temples in Luang Prabang....but the highlight was in a small backpacker town called Vang Vieng where we found Disney Land, Laos-style.

When we got off the bus, the first thing we noticed about town (other than the great scenery) was all the westerners...Man, this place was packed with backpackers! From the usual hippie dreadlock-baggy pant crowd to the couples with matching flip flops and backpacks, Vang Vieng had them all. The next thing we noticed was that ALL of the restaurants had bed-style seating facing large TV screens playing re-runs of Friends. Hilarious. So when you get to episode you've already seen one too many times at home, you can just stroll next door and see what season is on at the next place! But most intriguing was the heaps of inner tubes along the street saying "for rent".

And so we rented. After paying our US $3.50 for a day's inner tube rental, we piled into a 4x4 pickup converted into a taxi and headed 10 minutes upriver. Along with other backpackers our age, we threw our tubes into the river and ourselves after them. The whole point of this is to lazily float down river in the sun under the amazing limestone cliff/hill scenery. However, the fun doesn't stop there. Every 30 meters or so is a riverside bar offering the tastiest beer in SE Asia, Beer Lao. For a measly $1 you can enjoy a big bottle with complementary over-the-water swings, bungee jumping into the river and western music pumped out on loud speakers. I've never been so happy to hear Jack Johnson! And then you hop back on your inner tube and head for the next bar. Definately Disney Land worthy. It's like the lazy river, but with beer. A good combination, a might add. And the ultimate in self-indulgence.

Needless to say we happily passed our two days in Vang Vieng on the river in an inner tube. On our first afternoon it turned out the bar thing takes more time then you think and we furiously paddled the last 2km back to town covered in goosebumps - it's freezing when the sun goes down! (Editors Note: We have since been informed that it is snowing in Canada and we understand we will probably not be getting much sympathy for being cold while floating in bathing suits down in a river in Laos). Besides, we started really early the next day :)

-- em.