Vang Vieng, Laos 2/3/2009

I kept passing this bus as it chugged it's way up the hills, and then it would come up and pass me. This bus had a REALLY loud horn that made me jump out out of my seat every time the driver blew it.  I think he was doing it on purpose..........

Vang Vieng is still a nice place. I was here 3 years ago and it was a lot different. I can't believe how much it has changed. Most of the roads are paved now and they have TWO ATM machines in town now compared to none before! A lot of new guesthouses and hotels, internet cafes all boasting high-speed internet, that just creep along. There are lots of cafes and restaurants up and down the main street, but I think they're all owned by the same people. They all have the same stuff, same prices, some have the exact same menus, but different names. That's OK, it's all cheap and good. They all have DVD players and TV'S to get people into their places which is good I guess, but why are they all showing episodes of Friends? It's like a Twight zone episode. You walk down the street, look into these places, and see people in these places glued to the screen watching Friends. This was happening 3 years ago as well. I never liked that show.    Very Strange....... When I was here before this place had a kind of sleepytown, wild west feel - most of the roads were unpaved, there was less development. No ATM'S - if you needed cash, you had to go to the bank and get a cash advance on our VISA or MasterCard. Now you can sit in a cafe and watch people arriving all day long. Since the Tsunami, a lot of travel focused on Laos, so things have changed a bit. That's OK - no Starbucks or McDonalds here yet..... The reason I'm here is for the breathtaking scenery, stunning landscapes, and amazing sunsets. Karst peaks carved out of limestone over hundreds of centuries are a mighty impressive sight. A good spot to find a hammock and just kick back next to the river and forget about the world for awhile. I've taken a lot of pictures here, but it'll be a while before I can upload them. I'll probably have to wait till I get back to Thailand. The connections here in Laos are very slow. It takes forever to get your email. Oh well, just one small price to pay for paradise.... I can deal with that........ In the meantime you can see pictures I took here 3 years ago - Click here........