We arrived in Vang Vieng, ready to move on from Vientiane. We booked a nice guesthouse near the river. The town has a strange air about it, there are many young westerners and many open air lounge restaurants with double tv’s blaring recent dvds. Luckily we are away from the noise. On two island in the middle of the river are bar/lounge places with open bungalows to sit and relax. The main activity is being driven up river a few kilometers and then tubing slowly down the river for a couple hours

 

 stopping occasionally at the thatched hut bars that have popped up along the route. Each offers beer lao, mixers, food, and occasionally a zipline or giant swing  that propels you above and into the river. 

 

This one was our favorite spots

It was alot fun just swinging out and splashing into the water. we actually caught some swings on video for yall to see. We will share when we get a chance to upload it.

 In the evenings the sun puts on a spectacular show as it sets behind giant limestone cliffs just across the river.

 

We enjoyed this leisure activity for the past two days,a little indulgent but it was a nice break from long hours of traveling and we are now ready to hit the road again. Tommorrow we head North past luang prabang, to Nong Kiaow. We will post again the next time we have internet, in a couple of days.