So the, after being glad to leave Vietnam it was on to unchartered or heard before terrirtory apart from stories from travellers we have emt along the way. All recommending Laos to get to and experience the tubing down the Mekong River in Vangvien. This is where the studying part of the activity catergory comes from as I did seriously study tubing and had it down to a tee after the 2 weeks or more spen there.

After the bus journey and another stupid 3 hour wait in the cold as the bus left too early from Hanoi meaning that the border control wasn't even open when we got there at 5am, brutal. Probably the coldest i've been in a long long time waiting for the guy to come and as it was Chinese New Years he was half cut and took ages for us to process us through. Saying that some hot noodle soup across the border in Laos and 2 hours sleep on the bus i was awoken by beams of sunlight and the surrouding mountainous landscape as we delved further into Laos and what an epic time was to come. Stopped off for a break in a local village where the kidss were amazed to se eus stopping off and loved that we took pics with them even though they look a bit shy.

First stop off in Laos was the capital Vientien. Pretty quiet town and not really much going on on the party front but we gave it a night, had a few cold beers on the Mekong River and then ended up at this wierd bar and caught the highlights of the recent England footy match, think it was Capellos first game in charge ubt a few pitchers and a fuzball table sent us well into the night. Left Vientien the enxt day at 2pm on our way to Vangvien where you can tube down the Meking River and get very very drunk for cheap on all day sessions.....

Struggled to find accomodation the first night, me and Nicky getting a tiny room with promise of a bigger one from the next day. Chris, Myden and Magda (Polish) slept in the recpetion area of a place for the one night as couldn't find anywhere. next morning up nice and early, well 10am for travllers. Nice bit of brekkie and ready to rent the inner tubes and get on the river for midday. Not bad, about 3 pound to rent the tube for the day and a cheap tube holding taxi upstream a couple of miles to start the adventure. met some cool people in the taxi and these were our posey for the first day on the river.

As you can see form the album cover me and Nicky were first down to the rivers banks and look sheepish but ready for the challenge. After getting stuck on the rocks for the ebst part of 10 minutes we were plain sailing our way down to the first bar, about a 5 minute float. Approaching the wooden bar it didn't look capable of holding me and nicky let alone the other 30 people piled on and brimming off the sides, buckets , beers and bottles of lao Lao Whiskey amongst the array of arms and legs. Ducking and diving to avoid the party goers flying into approach lane on the flying fox swing we were pulled in by the local bouncer who loved us after 2 weeks straight of tubing and even made us a lovely rice dish on my last day of tubing. Fun and games started straight away as Nicky thought he was in the clear and up onto the rocks before I flung my ring his way and he was back ear deep in the swash. Bucket and two big Beer Laos sounded like a great start for the tubing experience but we were not to know how lethal these bucket concoctions of Tiger Whiskey, red bull (M150) and pepsi were to be. Spent a good half hour polishing off the drinks and fun and frolicking with the ladies and party goers and the flying fox swing. Back on the river then after a shot of lao Lao Whiskey which didn't go down well at all and defo needed a moment to suck in the air and keep it down.

Back on the river tubing away and just kicking back and relaxing in the sun. Second Bar had to have a good paddle to get within reach of the pole to drag us in. Well good rope swing here where you swing out and fling yourself from about 15 metres high down into the river, again watching out and timing your release in accordance with the tubers passing by below. This was is where all the artwork started, me and nicky were both feeling the effects of the first bar. Another bucket and few beer Laos but no Laos Laos shots this time. Good times at the 2nd bar though with Hassan and the rest of the crew we picked up on the Tuk Tuk ride to the start off point on the river.