The wheels on the bus

We all know the song right? Well, this version is slightly different - it's the bus-ride-of-death-in-Lao version. The wheels on the bus go round and round...except when it stops, and the minivan driver has to get out to make sure the hubcaps are still on after going over countless potholes. The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish...as if our ride up and down the mountain and making tight turns so we don't fall off the cliff wasn't enough, rain is added to the mix to make it a more muddy and slipperier adventure. The horn on the bus go beep beep beep...to swerve past near collisions with oncoming traffic, and when we have to come to a screeching halt to avoid water buffalo crossing the road. The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down...which just doesn't do what our bodies had to go through for 6 hours justice. It's like riding on those old rickety wooden rollercoasters at Wonderland. You know? The ones that shake your insides and rattle your brain? Never been to Wonderland? Then think Shake n Bake. Except, the minivan was the bag, and we were the chicken.

Ok, enough with the song. But really, it was seriously the WORST ride that I have ever been on. And it's really a shame that we were riding in the dark, because I think the scenery outside would have been really nice. Nevertheless, we have arrived at our second destination in Laos - Vang Vieng, so famous for its tubing down the river (while drunk or high, or both, as some would like to have it) that it's become almost a right of passage for backpackers who travel in South East Asia. We weren't sure if we were gonna stop here at all, but figured might as well and check it out. The landscape's supposed to be stunning.

Oh, and just when we thought we were past the dangers of the minibus ride, we arrived at our hostel room, and were greeted with this:

Red rum, much? Yeah, we thought so too.

Happy December everyone!