Home » Laos » Swinging in Vangers

Vang Vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Saturday, Jun 03, 2006

Swinging in Vangers

David Murray
2007-03-04 09:58:18

Displayed times (last time: )

Student had not shown up for his lesson, so I walked over to his hotel, knocked on the door, and there was no answer. So I gave a harder knock, and Student appeared. He was looking messy, and said he would come in 5. I told Welf, and after 5, Welf was ready to go himself and drag him down, then Student appeared. We loaded up the truck, and off we went. Student was looking very grey, he definitely needed lessons in life !!! Once at the water, Colin and George in one, Lucy and me in another, Student and Welf had single ones, and there were a group of other people as well. We went through some rapids and it was all good. Then we were pulling over at our cave stop. The first cave was a water cave, and there is a rope to pull you through on a tube. The water was brass monkey material, but we managed. There were a few stalactites hanging down, and after half an hour, we re-appeared. The second cave was a big let down. There was meant to be a stalagmite that resembled an elephant. Personally, I think the guy who found it had smoked a little to much opium !!! We did lunch, and then back into the kayak for a 15 K paddle. All was going well. The surrounding mountains were beautiful and it was so quite as there was no motor traffic. We had gone through quite a few rapids, and then during one set, our kayak wouldn't go right, and we went over. Luckily, we were wearing helmets and life jackets as we were taken by the river. Lucy was dragged in by the guides, whilst I went on a river run. As it got lower, I tried standing up, but it didn't work, so I let the river take me before a guide caught me and dragged me into the boat. Once in, we were practically at the trapeze swing, so we pulled over, and grabbed a beer. Student had been having a good day and decided that it was now time to be the master as he had done the swing loads of times. Up he went, back and forth, even putting his legs over the handle. I went up with him, he gave me the tip, and I ...