We awoke early Thursday morning, got the short tuk tuk ride to the bus station and we were on our way to Vang Vieng. The road was sealed but bendy, very very bendy. Six hours later we were dumped off at Vang Vieng with sore necks.

Vang Vieng is a strange town, it's geared totally to the western traveller. Apart from all the bars that offer their own unique "happy meals" and the ones that show Friends continously, each fighting to be as loud as each other, there are one/two bars that show Family Guy (an American cartoon) continously and this is where i spent many a happy hour over the last few days with pains in my side from laughing so much. But of course, we didn't come to Vang Vieng to watch Family Guy, we came for the tubing.

Tubing involves floating down the Nam Song River in, what can only be described as, a tractor tyre tube. On the way down the river you have the option of floating into one of the bars (there are about ten) which have been conveniently located on the banks of the river. It's mindless fun and we had a great days craic! On route back to the town, upon leaving the last bar, Trish lost her sunglasses and these now have an eternal resting place at the bottom of the Nam Song River, they will be remembered fondly.

We left Vang Vieng this morning and got a bus along the long and winding road to Vientaine (the most uncomfortable journey yet) where we hope to pick up our visas for Vietnam. To the embassy we go tomorrow...