Laos is neat.

Hello. My apologies for the lack of blogging this week. I have been in Laos. Such an amazing place. The people, the scenery and the food where all just delightful, unlike old Vietnam. I just got back to Vietnam today, not too long ago actually. I took a nice little 28 hour bus ride from Vang Vieng, to Vientiane to Hanoi. I am sleepy to say the least. I guess I havent updated since I left for Laos, but there really isnt all that much to say besides Laos made the trip to South East Asia. Coming back to Vietnam was just painful. Within seconds of getting off the bus you are hassled and people are trying to scam you and rip you off. I was warning some English guys about it, and sure enough as soon as we got across the border and stopped for food, they got ripped off by this crap restaurant. I was the only non-Vietnamese of the bus who had been to Nam already and so after that they all wanted to know what I had to say. And sure as day within seconds of getting off the bus it was all becoming true. Even the freaking guys trying to sell sunglasses appeared. SO annoying. But Lao was remarkable. Vientiane is a neat little like French colonial town with a lot of European ties. Some unreal Italian and French places. And the pastries... yes please. I dabbled in a few while I was there, just to make sure it was safe so I could tell you all about it. I had an extravagant filet mignon wrapped in bacon with a nice bleu cheese sauce and mashed potatoes with some fine French wine one night for a little under $10. It felt special. I spend only a few days there before heading to Vang Vieng, which was completely different from Vientiane. Vang Vieng is a quiet little town that is developing into this full tourist get away party zone. Which is sad truthfully because its so pretty there, and all the development they are planning is going to totally take away from how cool and small it is. There is a lot of money to be made there by investors, the Chinese are getting in there already. But ethically, I would feel horrible being a part of something like that, destroying such a beautiful landscape. The people there too where so awesome. Everywhere you go you hear "Hi Buddy," in their funny accent. They, unlike another country's inhabitants which I may currently be in right now, were always smiling and talkative and very friendly. The tubing experience there is the main attraction. And let me tell you, it is wild. There is about 10 or so bars lining the river and each one has its own massive rope swing, or slide or something funny. They have some weird drink specials too, like buy a bucket of whisky and get the second free. I, of course,maintained my manners and was the responsible one. I met up with these Chilean guys and this Dutch fellow and I had to find our way home... having never been on that river or seen it before in my life. We didn't get back till it was black outside. It was pretty hilarious to me, but they were all freaking out. Drifting down the Mekong in inner tubes, blind, and no idea what was coming. Sometimes you would catch a butt cheek on a rock though, that wasn't too fun. Watching drunk guys trying to impress chicks on the rope swings and stuff was by far the most entertaining. Every other guy thought they could pull a backflip. I don't think I saw one successful one. Just belly flops, face plants and back flops. Some of the rope swings are massive, you are up about 50-60 feet and if you let go at the pinnacle you go about 70 feet up in the air. Most of the sissy boys would let it come back and forth before jumping so they wouldn't get too high. When I gave my first attempt I thought I would go for height. I failed. I executed it perfectly, and I am sure I looked amazing, but I knocked the wind out of myself. I had to pretend like I was made of steel till I got behind the bar and keeled over because I thought I collapsed a lung. I recovered quickly. Nobody saw me in my moment of weakness. I felt bad for some of the girls too that thought they would step up and be brave. It was like sick entertainment watching some of them. They would go for it then start freaking out and screaming and not want to let go. Then they would always let go at the first time, like as it was swinging back, so they would just flail onto their faces. I liked the ones too that didn't realize that it required arm strength to hold onto the bar, and as soon as they picked up momentum at the bottom of the swing they would just get ripped off the bar and explode into the water. I shed some tears from those. Overall very funny and entertaining. From Vang Vieng I went up to Luangprobang. But I was only there for 1 day because on the way up there I realized I had left my passport in Vang Vieng... that was a fun experience. I am pretty sure I thought of every single scenario of what could happen. My imagination went wild. At first I thought I would have to bride them to get it back, or that they would deny my staying there and steal it and I would miss y flight to China and I would be stuck in Lao. I had about a thousand. I tried to call the hotel too when I got to Luangprobang, but their number was not listen anywhere, I even called other hotels in the area to ask for the number and nobody knew. I was not happy. So I just hopped on the next bus back down there, another 7 hour bus ride, and as soon as I turn up the lady working just laughed. Its times like those that make you realize that not everyone in the world is out to rip you off or rob you.. but then again it was Laos and not Vientnam.... freakin nam. From what I did get to see of Luangprobang though, it was beautiful. A total hidden little gem. I would go back there to check it out again. That was the other bummer about losing the passport, I was supposed to fly from Luangprobang to Cambodia to go to Angkor Wat. But it didnt work out this time. I will or sure be back to see Thailand though, and in that trip I will go back to Lao again for certain and see Angkor Wat. That was the other thing, Laos is so cheap its amazing. I stayed in this room in Vang Vieng for $9 a night and it was one of the best rooms I have stayed in this trip so far. King size bed, full AC that kept the room like a freezer, tv, huge hot shower, comfy mattress and soft sheets. I was in heaven. The place was called Vilayvong Guesthouse. Destroyed the $12 room I had here in Hanoi. It killed the expensive hotel I stayed in when I was in Tahiti. I highly suggest to everyone that they get to Laos before that gem becomes over developed. It is one of the best landlocked places I have ever seen. And I know I was all amped on Nam too, but that was because I hadn't really experienced that much yet, or gotten the full taste. Now that I have, my advice is avoid it. Don't waste your time, money, patience, effort, or sweat. And I am sure some other people have had great times here, they may love it, not me. And on the bus to Laos actually we were all comparing Vietnam stories, and it was pretty much unanimous, nobody was going back there by choice. They were all pretty amazing by my getting robbed by the little girl story too. I dont want to talk about nam anymore. I leave here tomorrow and I am so excited. I have heard so many good things about China. I like hearing good things. Adios.

PS I made a photo album in Laos because Facebook finally worked there, but the blog site didn't... now the blog site works but Facebook doesn't again. I will post the album on here when I am out of south east Asia.