(As written 28/02/2011)
It was time to make like Jenson Button and pull over for a pit stop. We'd reached Vientiane: capital of Laos. The city of Temples, wide roads and a mean Greek salad. But it wasn't easy. The plan been to Kayak down the Mekong from Vang Vieng and escape the world of drinking for something at least resembling culture. Drinking had done to our livers what Elephants do to peanuts and after ignoring its whines for a while it was probably right that we needed a break. Yet, as a result of a friends weakend stomach and even weaker balance it was not to be, as he passed out limper than a Wet Wet Wet fan running into Marti Pellow in a hotel room. Unfortunately, this guy passed out of the kayak, face down into the river. It wasn't worth getting back in so we took-took a tuk-tuk all the way down. For a capital city Vientiane was surprisingly small. More European, than Asian - it was the perfect place to recharge those Duracells and and make our belly's better with a stomach full of feta. After a day or two we were feeling spritely and energetic, so fittingly jumped in a bus that wouldn't have looked out of place on the forecourt of Barbie's mansion. The destination: Thakhet, known for some beautiful caves. As it turned out they were 200 Kilometers away - but we decided: Thakhet let's do it anyway. We packed into buses and boats with new 'one day' buddies. Travelling is the easiest way to make friends. Even if I dressed as a teddy bear with a 'free hugs' t-shirt, giving out glasses of Pimms I still son't think I'd make friends as easily. As for the cave: What a hole.. in a good way of course. Next on the Samgenda was to head down south. But we were feeling adventurous, we were feeling exploratory and most importantly we were feeling cheap. So we made like Arthur Dent, stuck out our dirtied traveller thumbs and Hitchhiked. About 3 hours, 3 journeys and only about 30 Kilometres later we decided that it may be simpler to get a bus. It was. After a brief one night stay in Pakse, we headed south in a Tuk-tuk that was packed tighter than a pringles packet. Despite a few avalanches of meat saleswomen, we arrived at 4,000 around midday. A short boat ride later and we were in a paradise of riverside huts and hammocks. Days drifted casually as we rode bikes, floated on rubber rings and drank more fruit shakes than can possibly be described as innocent. Having felt like I'd been there Don Deth, I left for Cambodia feeling as chilled as those ice cold shakes.
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Samuel FryTraveller Archives
June 2011
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