The worst 6 hour mini bus ride i have ever taken saw us get dropped off about 5 km outside of the town of Vang Vieng. This is done so the little tuk tuk men can fleece you of a couple of thousand Kip so instead we put two fingers to them all and decided to walk...which infact was although a very hot a sweeaty experience a very nice experience as being sat on the death trap minibus on the moutain and pot holed roads of Northern Laos was enough sitting down for all of us.

We walked down the main street and the place was dead, this was later discovered to be due to the brilliant activity known as Tubing. We were dragged over to a guest house by a very well spoken lad from China. He had just opened his little guest house and we couldn't turn down the rooms at 20,000 kip each (1 pound 50 in english sterling) so agreed and settled in. All completely shattered we decided to stay in and watch a film before going tubing the next day....

Tubing in the dictionary should read = Brilliant.

We woke up at 10.30 and headed out for a full english and a few buckets and beers before we hit the river Xong. 55000 kip to hire your inner tractor tire which is your mode of transport for the day and this is the best form of transport going...someone should set this up on the thames and people should be able to travel to work like this.

You start at the first bar about 4km out of town...you then jump in your tube and travel about 30 seconds on the quick little stream to the next bar. here you grab a beer and chill on the decking before the first few Beer Laos kick in and you decide to hit the rope swing...great fun and you go high....then you jump in the tubes again and 30 seconds later...more decking, sunshime, ladies in bikinis and best bit the zip wire...this hurts if you don't let go before the end...captain sensible Ed didn't inform me of this and i thought i lost my shoulders.... few zips and jumps later it is a Minute ride to the next and final main bar... however this takes about 2 hours as there is the Mud bath bar before and also the 'shake' bar...finally you each the Slide bar which is the busiest and prob best bar. The slide is about 30 metres long, covered in tiles and projects you in the air and down onto the river..(see videos if i ever get them up!!)

finally it is about 45minute to an hour back to the town just floating and chilling talking to anyone you can on the way back...such a good vibe and everyone in a good mood....then you grab a shower and a feed and back out to the Bucket bar.....great day and great night.

Next day = right off

next day i decided to go tubing once again while the others stayed in being rubbish...second time was even better and met so many good people and again that eve bucket bar (where i fell in love twice haha) and a nice sandwich on the way home before the nextdays trip too Vang Tein....