Vang Vieng

The guesthouse in Phonsavan offered to take a group of us back to the bus terminal in a van. We were in a rush and they pointed to an old van with a flat battery. "If you push, it will start". We were staying outside an old Russian airstrip and everyone joined in pusing this van around the strip. A Dutchman finally said these vans won't turn over on a push. A jeep was pointed out. "Go in that!" We piled in but all couldn't fit. Lorna took off running to the main street to track down a tuk tuk. Those remaining decided to take over the jeep. We could get it started but no one could drive it so back to pushing the van. Suddenly they could take us in a real van if we paid an exorbidant amount. No! So the man who orignally was going to take us ran away and hid. Luckily Lorna came back with a tuk tuk. We piled in and made it to the terminal with a minute to spare. A "VIP" bus turned out to be an old crappy bus with rice bags and boxes down the isle and live chickens on the seats. Only 5 hours of driving through the mountains and locals being sick and we were in Vang Vieng, one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. We are right on the river and will go tubing down the river this afternoon.