Things on our travels don't always go well and here is my story of how NOT to go tubing in Vang Vieng in Laos - yes it's a great place but there are dangers and things can just go horribly wrong...I'm advising travellers to stay safe and careful!
Vang Vieng is a party town so head there, meet new friends and party the night away without a care in the world. Just be aware that you are going tubing the next day and you want to be in a fit and able state for that!
After the night up, it was up and ready for a crazy day of tubing. Everything was going well and a truck took us to the first bar of the tubing.
The next few hours were crazy and amazing - meeting new people, drinking, partying, dancing and singing. It was all good fun!!
First up - don't buy one of those waterproof tubing bags. They are useless. I made the mistake of buying one and taking my camera and wallet with me into the tubing. Big mistake. After partying in the first two bars I made it to the tube but couldn't grab the rope for the next bar, as they pulled me in I got tangled up and lost my green waterproof bag. My entire wallet and camera had now made their way into the Nam Song river and were gone forever...
When the waterproof bag headed deep into the Nam Song river, it took with it my wallet, my cards and my camera. It was a disaster. I made it to the next bar to meet my mate Chaz but I was down and out with no money or anything.
My mate kindly bought me a drink but I wasn't in the mood anymore. I still had my flip flops and my Northern Ireland flag but I had lost my wallet and camera. Crazy.
While my camera and wallet were busy floating away on the Nam Song, I managed to grasp on and keep a flag (my travelling Northern Ireland flag) and a pair of flip flops. I didn't even want the flip flops. Later I would learn I also picked up an ear infection from swimming in vain after a wallet I couldn't even see. I had lost my entire money for this trip. I was lucky my passport was back at the hostel and that I was safe and well.
As everyone else partied in the fourth or fifth bar, I simply walked alone alongside the river looking in vain for my wallet and camera. I knew it was gone forever. Travelling on a budget, I had blown the lot on one day of tubing. After walking for a while I realised I was in the middle of nowhere and it was getting dark.
By chance I came across a local Laos girl with a motorbike. Her name was Mickey and she gave me a lift back to the hostel in the town called Vang Vieng. I was actually safe and healthy, but gutted to lose the wallet and camera. I hadn't had fun tubing the way most people do.
In Vang Vieng you can get all sort of drinks and drugs. Mushroom and Opium shakes are the buzz. I met loads of people off their heads on drugs.
Here's the lessons I learnt from the horrible tubing experience in Vang Vieng, Laos:
- The only thing you need to take tubing is money. You could even do it naked as long as you have money!
- NEVER take a camera (it will either get destroyed or lost. Others will have cameras - ask for their photos.
- NEVER buy or take a useless waterproof bag!
- Go easy on the alcohol consumption
- Avoid drugs
In closing - head to the town of Vang Vieng and go tubing but be very careful - it's dangerous, people die tubing every year.
You will still enjoy the town of Vang Vieng!
Enjoy your trips!
Living the tubing dream in Vang Vieng...
Don't Stop Living!
Vang Vieng is a party town so head there, meet new friends and party the night away without a care in the world. Just be aware that you are going tubing the next day and you want to be in a fit and able state for that!
After the night up, it was up and ready for a crazy day of tubing. Everything was going well and a truck took us to the first bar of the tubing.
The next few hours were crazy and amazing - meeting new people, drinking, partying, dancing and singing. It was all good fun!!
First up - don't buy one of those waterproof tubing bags. They are useless. I made the mistake of buying one and taking my camera and wallet with me into the tubing. Big mistake. After partying in the first two bars I made it to the tube but couldn't grab the rope for the next bar, as they pulled me in I got tangled up and lost my green waterproof bag. My entire wallet and camera had now made their way into the Nam Song river and were gone forever...
When the waterproof bag headed deep into the Nam Song river, it took with it my wallet, my cards and my camera. It was a disaster. I made it to the next bar to meet my mate Chaz but I was down and out with no money or anything.
My mate kindly bought me a drink but I wasn't in the mood anymore. I still had my flip flops and my Northern Ireland flag but I had lost my wallet and camera. Crazy.
While my camera and wallet were busy floating away on the Nam Song, I managed to grasp on and keep a flag (my travelling Northern Ireland flag) and a pair of flip flops. I didn't even want the flip flops. Later I would learn I also picked up an ear infection from swimming in vain after a wallet I couldn't even see. I had lost my entire money for this trip. I was lucky my passport was back at the hostel and that I was safe and well.
As everyone else partied in the fourth or fifth bar, I simply walked alone alongside the river looking in vain for my wallet and camera. I knew it was gone forever. Travelling on a budget, I had blown the lot on one day of tubing. After walking for a while I realised I was in the middle of nowhere and it was getting dark.
By chance I came across a local Laos girl with a motorbike. Her name was Mickey and she gave me a lift back to the hostel in the town called Vang Vieng. I was actually safe and healthy, but gutted to lose the wallet and camera. I hadn't had fun tubing the way most people do.
In Vang Vieng you can get all sort of drinks and drugs. Mushroom and Opium shakes are the buzz. I met loads of people off their heads on drugs.
Here's the lessons I learnt from the horrible tubing experience in Vang Vieng, Laos:
- The only thing you need to take tubing is money. You could even do it naked as long as you have money!
- NEVER take a camera (it will either get destroyed or lost. Others will have cameras - ask for their photos.
- NEVER buy or take a useless waterproof bag!
- Go easy on the alcohol consumption
- Avoid drugs
In closing - head to the town of Vang Vieng and go tubing but be very careful - it's dangerous, people die tubing every year.
You will still enjoy the town of Vang Vieng!
Enjoy your trips!
Living the tubing dream in Vang Vieng...
Don't Stop Living!
About the Author:
For more amusing adventure stories and tips like Tubing Going Wrong in Vang Vieng head to Jonny Blair's extremely recommended website A Lifestyle of adventure.
No comments:
Post a Comment