We left via VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng today. We rode the bikes out early, and got there around 7:15 a.m. as the bus left at 8:00 and we wanted to get there early to get the bikes on the bus and find a good seat. We had been told that they would put the bikes up on top of the bus and strap them down, but when we got there, the bus they had going wouldn't allow for anything on top due to vents and AC so we had to take front wheel off and stow them underneath which was fine. We were amazed at the number of "backpackers" getting busses...all the cheap local bus that takes 9-12 hrs to get there (stops at every little village along the way) with no AC. We saw kids with backpacks bigger than they were, hauling these huge packs on their backs..many brand new. Course they aren't doing what we would consider "backpacking"...closest they get to backpacking is from bus station to the Guesthouse!
Our trip was to be 6 hrs. It didn't take long before we realized quickly that we had made the right decision in not riding to Vang Vieng...first we knew it would take us 3 days as it was about 381K and the climbs, heat and very narrow 2 lane road without any shoulder just didn't look that safe to me. The scenery was just incredible...steep climbs with beautiful vistas of the mountains. Laos is a very mountainous country. We went through numerous small villages, with huts made of bamboo. We could tell what we thought were the people who were living well as they would have a huge satellite tv dish outside their house. I feared for the little children along the road as the bus driver would drive through these villages in excess of the 30K speed limit...probably double that and didn't even slow...just blew his horn. Many of the women on the bus got motion sickness from the many many sharp hairpin curves (and he was taking them pretty fast as well). So we were really glad to not have ridden this. We did see one cyclist with panniers on hte back side of the mountain who was riding up...very slow!!!
We stopped for a pee break 3 hrs into the trip...and everyone bailed off and headed for the jungle. The smokers were smoking up a storm on one side of the bus and the peers on the other side...........ha!
We stopped again at 4 hrs for lunch stop and we had a wonderful lunch at a roadside stall.
We arrived inVang Vieng around 2:00 p.m. and located a beautiful Guesthouse bungalow right on the river for only $15 a night. Beautiful room...another Hyatt...no SQUAT TOILET! We even each have our own private deck on the front of the bungalow. We booked 2 nights. The plan is to book tubing on the river for tomorrow and enjoy the place.
We rode around town (or Colin did while I was spending time updating the blog all afternoon) to get our bearings, then went to a bar for late lunch (Hawaiian pizza..great pizza!!), a Beerlao and relax at these bars they have all over town which are futon beds that you lie on with table in front of you...all the while you watch Friends on big tv. It is the craziest thing you ever saw..and these bars are everywhere! And they all have Friends playing on DVD on big screen....you'll hear laughter all up and down the street. Friends was the only program we saw on any tv's. Great fun!
Watching Friends.......... Beautiful downtown Vang Vieng, Laos
We went and had massages the headed back for dinner and to watch more Friends. I must address one thing here...and that is that when riding a bike, and looking into the local bars, you must maintain focus and watch where the hell you're going. We were riding along the side of the street, looking into the bars to find a place to watch Friends on the futon recliner, and I wasn't watching where the hell I was going...when suddenly, I look up and BAM...ran right into the back of a big ole SUV....hit the bumper straight on with the tire, bounced back and I laned with both feet on the ground. Talk about luck!! No damage to Big Red..she took it all in stride...wheel is still running straight and true!!! I know...I know!!!
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