Yawn....arrived in Vang Vieng al ittle more refreshed than I was leaving Luang Prabang! Finally managed to locate the trucks occupants and my accomodation for the night....and swiftly decieded I wasn't staying there and found myself new digs with a few others! After a wander round the town popped into the local pub to wish Nick a Happy Birthday and have some food and then swiftly left and headed to bed...body is telling me to take it easy!

Awoke the next morning felling rejuvinated...amazing what a good nights sleep can do! Had brekkie then headed to the river with a few others do go tubing....this involves the inside of a tractor tube, a dry bag and a life jacket! It was wicked! We floated down the river for a few hours stopping at the bars every now and then to jump off the platforms and swings....avoiding beer I might add given that it was only 9am. I have been witness to folk coming off the river at 10pm barely able to walk...is it any wonder backpackers get themselves into all sorts of trouble? Am I really becoming an old fart? After some well needed noddle soup Martin and I hired bikes for the afternoon and cycled to the caves 13kms away, lucky enough to have the place to ourselves. I nearly broke my neck as I clambered about wet caves in my ever faithful Havianas and then my bare feet! I have tried to find sandals to replace my trusty merrells but these asian folk have tiny wee feet! Got wet cycling home again....I love it! The scenery surrounding Vang Vieng is simply stunning....the same can't be said for the town itself though....it's struggling to find an identity and I reckon it may be a while before it does! Another early night for me after some local street food and a crepe to top it off!

7am....truck clean....joy! We were all summoned to scrub the truck, the start of a mass clean in preparation for the truck to be shipped to Darwin! I didn't mind as I had a days kayaking to Vientiane ahead! So Myself and a few others bid adieu to the truck and headed for brekkie and then a little songthaew ride down stream to our launching point. Stopped for a BBQ lunch after the rapids where I jumped off a 10m high cliff...without a rope attached! Am I mad? Yup...at least I did remember to keep my legs together! Had a leisurely paddle down towards Vientiane arriving just in time for sunset over the Mekong made all the better by BBQ chicken, rice balls, spring rolls all washed down with a nice cold beer! Pooped into the local(Stick Fingers) to wish Louise a happy birthday and then retired for the evening.

Didn't feel obliged to see the sights in Vientiane...there aren't many anyway. After a leisurely brekkie with Johno I braved the hot sun and went for a wander then a cycle round the streets. Waved Ave off on the bus to Vietnam and then walked to the mini Arc De Triomphe for sunset with Martin. Continuing the theme we then had some french grub and a pastis before wandering back to the hotel to pack for Vietnam.

It's too expensive to take the truck into Vietnam so we all have the pleasure of making our own way...yipee...a very welcome break from the truck and most of it's occupants!

So onto Vietnam...another country down......and Oz moves ever closer, my backpack becomes heavier, my muscles disappear(canny wait to get in the pool. on my bike and put on my running shoes...not at the same time of course) and my money belt becomes a lot lighter...hence why I'm contemplting working in Darwin for 2 weeks while the truck is shipped from Singapore to Darwin!