Laos: Vang Vieng aka Spring Break SE Asia

Transportation may be cheap in Laos, but you'll understand why once you've taken a 10-hour bus ride from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. Ana and I arrived at the bus station a half hour before the scheduled departure time, cutting it pretty close ... or so we thought. But in Laos, "departure time" is more of a suggestion than a schedule, so we sat on the bus, without the air conditioning on, for a good two hours without so much as a word of explanation. Finally, after acquiring as many passengers as possible -- even setting up plastic stools in the aisles once the seats were filled -- we heard the blessed sound of the engine starting up and with collective sigh of relief from the passengers we were on our way. But the road soon turned into a snaking, winding track between the cliffs on one side and the sharp drop-off on the other, with giant potholes and breaks in the cement every few meters. The bus lurched along slowly, and people began reaching for their plastic bags, including the guy next to me. After ten hours on a bumpy bus ride with a puking seat partner, we found ourselves in Vang Vieng and not a moment too soon.

What is there to do in Vang Vieng, you ask? Why, TUBING of course. That's right, Vang Vieng is like Cabo Spring Break, SE Asia style. Tubing is the main attraction, at least for the younger crowd, and involves 200+ backpackers floating down the river on innertubes and stopping off at strategically-placed bars along the banks. It's one big party on the river, with innertubes and water slides. And booze. Not exactly a cultural mecca, but fun for a day. Sounds dangerous? That's because it is. Case in point: I decided it would be a good idea to take a flying leap off the high swing and, twisting mid-air, landed with an ungraceful face plant which left me with a hefty bruise all along my inner thigh ... a memento to take home with me. By evening I'd had more than my fill of tubing and was quite ready for a hot shower.

Next stop: Vientiane.