World Laos LA21 Vang Vieng

Vix & Alan in S E Asia Thailand & Laos 08-09

Vang Vieng, Laos Nov 19, 2008

So, after an overnight pitstop, we arrived in Vang Vieng, a most untypical Lao town inhabited by the backpacker crowd who lounge, horizontal and spaced out on cushions in the myriad of cafes which offer an unrelenting diet of 'Friends' and 'Cheers' re-runs on big screens whilst serving up "Happy Pizza" laced with various substances such as opium ... weird. Needless to say, we did NOT partake, preferring instead to explore the surrounding countryside which offers the most beautiful limestone karst mountains, and the usual caves and waterfalls. My fitness training got underway with a steep climb to one of these caves, Tham Phu Kham, but rewarded richly with a cathedral-like interior and reclining golden Buddha. Some fairly serious vertical scrambling back down encouraged Alan to take a refreshing dip in the 'Blue Lagoon' at the base.