It's our anniversary today! It's crazy to think that we've been together 5 years already. Sometimes it feel's like a lot longer & other times it feel's impossibly like it's been no time at all.
We leave Luang Prabang today & head to Vang Viang on a mini bus that the hostel has organised for us. We've read lots of various experiences about this part of the journey & know it could take anywhere from 5 hours to 10 hours. Im hoping it's more like 5, we ideally dont want tot spend the whole day in the mini van.
We're picked up at 8.30am by the driver & we get into the 15 seater mini van, where another 4 people are already waiting. We then spend the next hour driving around Luang Prabang slowly picking up more people until, finally at 9.30am, the last seat has been filled.
It's obvious that the driver is trying to fill every seat in the van. There is no roof racks & the luggage of 15 people is uncomfortably placed on the van floor around us & our laps. Its very squishy & very unsafe. There are 4 people who are french and are causing a commotion at the last stop & arguing with the driver. We are all unhappy about the consigns of the mini van, but I dont think we have much options. Unless you book a private driver & car, this is the only option.
They eventually calm down & the driver gets in.
My uneasy feelings about this trip only increase when the driver reveals to be a bloody maniac! There is no typical engine in the van, it sounds like it is turbo charged. He drives excessively fast, brakes at the last minute & several times he has pulled out into the road to overtake without having a clear picture & has had to slam on the brakes.
I audibly gasped when he pulled out into the middle of a dirt road, after being behind a large truck & nearly hit a cow.
On a few occasions people in the back yelled at the driver to slow down.
It was a very unpleasant drive & we eventually arrived in Vang Vieng. This was the worst transport experience I think we've ever had. Including all the bus's we took through India & Nepal! This driver is a real risk to himself & other people when he is behind the wheel.
Our accommodation was 1 km away from the place where the van dropped us off in town. We booked something a bit nicer than our standard level of accommodation for our anniversary.
We had a large private queen sized room with it's own balcony & mountain views.
After we checked in we got some beers & relaxed. We didn't have much planned except a nice relaxed dinner & a heap of drinks.
Tom picked the venue, which was a place called the Australia Bar. It had happy hour cocktails, bourbon & raving reviews about their veggie burgers. It was perfect!
We spent quite a few hours here together, sitting in a quiet booth together, drinking, eating & talking.
It was a great night! So great that we spent over 400,000 Kip! It was good to relax & let loose.
- Alli
We leave Luang Prabang today & head to Vang Viang on a mini bus that the hostel has organised for us. We've read lots of various experiences about this part of the journey & know it could take anywhere from 5 hours to 10 hours. Im hoping it's more like 5, we ideally dont want tot spend the whole day in the mini van.
We're picked up at 8.30am by the driver & we get into the 15 seater mini van, where another 4 people are already waiting. We then spend the next hour driving around Luang Prabang slowly picking up more people until, finally at 9.30am, the last seat has been filled.
It's obvious that the driver is trying to fill every seat in the van. There is no roof racks & the luggage of 15 people is uncomfortably placed on the van floor around us & our laps. Its very squishy & very unsafe. There are 4 people who are french and are causing a commotion at the last stop & arguing with the driver. We are all unhappy about the consigns of the mini van, but I dont think we have much options. Unless you book a private driver & car, this is the only option.
They eventually calm down & the driver gets in.
My uneasy feelings about this trip only increase when the driver reveals to be a bloody maniac! There is no typical engine in the van, it sounds like it is turbo charged. He drives excessively fast, brakes at the last minute & several times he has pulled out into the road to overtake without having a clear picture & has had to slam on the brakes.
I audibly gasped when he pulled out into the middle of a dirt road, after being behind a large truck & nearly hit a cow.
On a few occasions people in the back yelled at the driver to slow down.
It was a very unpleasant drive & we eventually arrived in Vang Vieng. This was the worst transport experience I think we've ever had. Including all the bus's we took through India & Nepal! This driver is a real risk to himself & other people when he is behind the wheel.
Our accommodation was 1 km away from the place where the van dropped us off in town. We booked something a bit nicer than our standard level of accommodation for our anniversary.
We had a large private queen sized room with it's own balcony & mountain views.
After we checked in we got some beers & relaxed. We didn't have much planned except a nice relaxed dinner & a heap of drinks.
Tom picked the venue, which was a place called the Australia Bar. It had happy hour cocktails, bourbon & raving reviews about their veggie burgers. It was perfect!
We spent quite a few hours here together, sitting in a quiet booth together, drinking, eating & talking.
It was a great night! So great that we spent over 400,000 Kip! It was good to relax & let loose.
- Alli
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