On the river in Vang Vieng

I did manage some time for the mountains and river in Laos! In the morning, local guide Hat took me up PahDeng. Its a steep Karst mountain overlooking the Nam Song River flowing by rice paddies with the town of Vang Vieng behind. Out on the road and upriver is where Hat took me next to one of the famous bars on the river. These bars have high rope swings, pump out loud music, and serve gallons of beer and cocktail to the white tourist 20-somethings who tube down. Its a sad scene really, but the novelty of it all is fun for a half day at most. I hit the rope swing, downed some beer Lao, and got a kayak driven further upstream. Up there, away from the house music, just the sound of the river and the birds. I tried hard to go slowly down the fast moving river and enjoy the tranquility before getting back to the beer party.