Day 128 - Seriously, it's so quiet here. Is this really Vang Vieng?

This is what I've floated down but with a much faster current!

Day 128 - 29th October

So I woke up and went downstairs just after eight. No one around, it's so quiet here I thought maybe 28 Days Later had come true.

I headed out for breakfast and had an American breakfast with juice and did a little research for things to do. I'm decided on some relaxation here and a little trekking. The tubing doesn't really appeal to me anymore now I'm here.

I met a German chap and we discussed his caving plans for the day over breakfast before he headed off at eleven.

And then my brain kicked in. My friend, Jenny said to me before I went travelling 'Experience it to the full. You might never be there again.'

So I ran back to my room, put on my swim shorts and headed barefoot across town to the tubing rental service. Big mistake as it's all stones and cobbles but I made it. There I signed my life away, literally, and grabbed a tube before loading up in the mini bus to go a few km down the river to the starting point.

I spoke to an Austrian couple who had met before travelling and we're now together. A real life love story!

As we reached the water's edge, I spoke with Tom and Jade, an English couple from Worcester who shared my apprehension at the speed of the current. Two guys, Maurice and Tim laughed and said it would be fun!

So we jumped on our rubber rings and floated down stream. It was barely 200 yards before we reached bar one on the river. Tim and Maurice from The Netherlands took us on as the England team at beer pong and we lost heavily.

The rest of the afternoon was spent acquainting with each other, finding out more about each other's lives and enjoying each other's company.

Finally around 5:45pm we reached the end and reported back to drop off our tubes. 

I had a quick dinner at the Champalao Villa, a delicious pork fried rice filling me up. The German guy reappeared and it seemed my afternoon was more eventful than his caving. So we both headed out to meet my new contingents at Sakura Bar around 8:30pm.

Beyond that the night was consumed with lady boys chasing me and Matt down the street, a prostitute dancing with me, Tom 'nudging' a girl down some club steps and Jade and I putting our stances down about North v.s. South! I'd call it a tie. Top that off with me and Matt having awesome sandwiches at 2am and my day was complete.

Turns out this sleepy place does have more to offer than I first thought!