Laid Back Laos

Well we succeeded! After 30 days we braved three countries: Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos! For someone who has a difficult time finding his way to the PDX airport, I am quite smug with both Michelle and my navigational skills. Shout out to my homeboy Christopher Columbus! 

Both Michelle and I made our way to Laos and spent a day in the sleepy town of Savannakhet. This place while simple had a lot of charm. We grabbed a couple of bicycles and cruised around town. We sped along the Mekong River and stopped to check out the Dinosaur Museum. It was a little underwhelming but the price of admission included free bathroom facilities. Score!! This town's claim to fame are the bone remains of prehistoric dinosaurs. Still today, paleontologists flock here to do research.

Trust us, it's not any better than the real stuff!!

 Sugar cane drank- Not my favorite

We left the following day to the capital city of Vientiane, where a slower pace of life is still existent. We read that there was a bowling alley in town and Mich and I were game. Bowling, second to only tennis, is a sport where "the idea of playing" is actually more fun then "actually" playing. Several gutterballs later we left wondering why we didn't just use bumpers?! No one would have ever known.

 Granny shot!! SSStRIke!!!

Sightseeing Time! 

 Laos Riverside Monument

 Pha That Luang - I guess if there is a must see Laos landmark it would have to be this monument that represents the country's freedom and Buddhist beliefs. Originally built in 1566, it is said to house Buddha's breastbones.

Buddha Park - The invention of Luang Pu Bunleau Sulilat and his craftsmen, the statues combine several religious icons and idealogies. It was an hour on motorbike to get there but it was cool.

Patixai - Replica of Arc de Triomphe built in 1969.

The one thing that Michelle and I were looking forward to the most during our time here was tubing in Vang Vieng. With deaths occurring every year and just as recently as the beginning of February, it is extremely dangerous. To put it in words, I would say that it is a mixture of a break neck water park combined with a no holds barred frat party. It was the closest thing to MTV Spring Break that we had ever experienced. Tubing gets a bad reputation as many claim it is a chance for Westerners to get wasted and shows disrespect towards the Lao culture. Sure there are a few bad eggs that can ruin everything but most are just trying to have fun on their holiday. Plus it generates several dollars for the local economy.  Obviously when water and drinking combine you have to have your wits about you and we held eachother accountable. Neither of us got hurt and we had an amazing time!

Welcome to Vang Vieng

Q Bar on the river

In between tubing, most people relax/eat in local restaurants that have bed type lounges that have either Friends or Family Guy on constant replay. Unfortunately being short on time and curing a slight hangover we were unable to check out the town's caves. But it gives us a reason to return in the future.

 Oh Rachael! lol

 Drugs are bad! Illegal drugs are in constant supply. Here's to Officer Rennings, my DARE officer!

Surprisingly, Mich and I kept running into Canadians. And despite their strange affinity for hockey and their confusion over genuine breakfast bacon, they actually were all really chill people. We merged together as the North American Continent to defeat the Swedish in beer pong. It wasn't even close and the Swedes were good sports even though we made fun of their goofy haircuts.

 We are the Champions!

 Losing side

We left leaving happy and somewhat reminiscent of our university days. I also left a huge fan of Friends. I can't believe I never watched that show before.

Tomorrow we are heading back to Bangkok to meet up with Michelle's parents before we make our way south to Hua Hin! Crossing my fingers that I can find an elephant riding expedition and Mich is looking for a Thai cooking school!