Backpacking in "Laos" at Vang Vieng (PART 2)

December 4, 2016

: Woke up a little late :

The next morning, the second day in Vang Vieng, I woke up late, feeling a bit tired. I had actually woken up very early in the morning to watch the sunrise, but it was raining lightly, so I quickly went back to sleep. I woke up again later and saw that the sky was still dark and cloudy. Thinking that I wouldn't be able to see the sunrise, I went back to sleep for a while.

The morning atmosphere at the accommodation is very refreshing after the rain.

Taking photos for fun in front of the accommodation, which is next to the Song River.

There are many accommodations along the Song River near the residence.

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Enjoying the scenery while waiting for the adventure to begin. The chosen package includes kayaking and a visit to the Blue Lagoon, which isn't as adventurous as it sounds. I'm more excited about kayaking. The pick-up time is 9 am, so I'm killing time by exploring the streets and grabbing some breakfast. The morning streets are peaceful, with everyone going about their daily routines.

Let's go kayaking.

The car arrived a little after nine o'clock and took us out of the city on a rural road.

Run into the dusty red clay road.

I was well prepared to conquer the dust, but I could barely resist it.

Fortunately, I read the reviews beforehand and came prepared with a face mask. However, it was not enough to withstand the dust. I had to close my eyes, cover my nose, and take pictures blindly, as the dust was too thick to see.

"Breathing is difficult." 55555

Soil and Dust Conditions

Before kayaking, the staff wrote a code on our arms indicating the activities we would be doing. Our code was K.B., which stood for kayaking with the Blue Lagoon.

Assembly Point Atmosphere

The vehicle transported us to the starting point for various activities. We were provided with supplies and water to carry with us. Other tourists were also preparing their equipment. There were many tourists, mostly from Asia.

A Japanese father and son are skipping stones on the water's surface.

I haven't seen many Thai people here lately. Among the people who came here, I only met 3 girls who came together as Thai people. We paddled the kayak together, so we talked, greeted each other, and took pictures for a while. The truck carrying the boat arrived, so we got ready to go.

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The ship is waiting for us.

It's time to row the little boat to the islands!

Navigating the rapids, both large and small, filled me with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. While I generally dislike whitewater rapids, these seemed manageable, so I continued paddling. Occasionally, my friend and I would disagree about which direction to paddle, leading to some mild frustration, especially when their paddling technique wasn't quite up to par.

: Oh, the heat! :
The heat is unbearable now. It's both hot and burning my face. I'm wearing long pants, but I forgot to wear a long-sleeved shirt. As a result, my already tanned skin is starting to burn immediately.

The heat made it less enjoyable, and we had to constantly splash water on our faces. In hindsight, it would have been better to go kayaking in the evening. Besides kayaking, those who enjoy soaking their bottoms in the water can float along with the current. There is also tubing, which involves floating on an inner tube. Both foreigners and Thais love it, and we saw several groups floating together. There are also bars along the banks with cold drinks and lively music to help you relax and unwind.

Approaching the destination around noon.

The paddling journey took approximately 3 hours to reach the designated destination, which involved paddling in a loop along the Song River without returning to the starting point.

Please provide the sentence or phrase you would like me to translate.

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Destination reached.

The lunch was served around 1 pm, which included a baguette. At first glance, the large baguette did not seem appealing. However, since it was part of the tour package, it was the only lunch option available.

Delicious bread with generous fillings of meat and eggs.

After finishing the bread, I asked to go back to the guesthouse to rest. It was not far from the pick-up point for the Blue Lagoon tour at 2 pm. I will walk back to the pick-up point at 2 pm. Now I want to sleep and miss the hammock in front of the room.

Please provide the sentence or phrase you would like me to translate from Thai to English.

Return to relax on the hammock at the house.

As the pick-up time approached, we factored in walking time to the designated pick-up point. We waited for the car to take us to the Blue Lagoon. The driver gave us almost 2 hours at the location.

- BLUE LAGOON -

The water is as blue as it appears in the picture. The water is very cold during this time of year because it is winter, but the tourists who are determined to jump into the Blue Lagoon are not deterred.

I could only take pictures, not daring to play or jump. The water was also very cold, so I sent a friend to jump a short distance as a representative, not on a branch, because they didn't dare either. Haha.

The atmosphere at the BLUE LAGOON

While waiting for my friends to play in the water, I decided to quench my thirst with a drink. The prices here are comparable to those of cafes back home, with prices starting at around 70 baht.

Order a blended punch to drink.

It's time to head back to the accommodation. The weather is getting cold now, and I'm starting to feel hungry. I should hurry back and find something delicious to eat.

The road back from Vang Vieng was stunning. I managed to capture 2-3 photos of the beautiful evening sky from the car. The overcast sky and cool breeze were a welcome change from the heat. Along the way, we saw many Western tourists cycling to the Blue Lagoon.

Return Route from Vang Vieng Blue Lagoon

- The back of the accommodation is a paradise for sunset lovers. -

After returning from the Blue Lagoon in the evening, I took a walk near my accommodation. There were mountains and rice fields behind, and I hoped to see the sunset that day.

Surrounding the rice fields, there are newly constructed resorts (which should be completed by now). Local residents raise ducks and chickens around their homes. The slow pace of life here allows for observation of their daily routines. Sometimes, all a person needs is this kind of happiness. Happiness is contentment with what we have.

The clouds are gathering in the distance on this side of the mountain range, while the last rays of sunlight are fading on the other side.

Watching the sun set over the horizon.

The long-awaited moment has finally arrived. The excitement is palpable, like a child's boundless energy, a familiar sight to friends who now stand watching, taking deep breaths. The light will empower us.

On the other side of the mountain, only clouds gathered instead.

Mist and light rain.

The fading light of the sunless evening still allowed for capturing the atmosphere of the trees, flowers, and blades of grass before walking out of the village. It was a race against time to avoid getting caught in the heavy rain. (imagined scenario)

Cat, flower, blade of grass, rice plant.

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Evening by the Song River:

Today's meal took us further from our accommodation, where, despite the similar food options, the tranquility, soft lighting, and music were noticeably absent.

The menu in my heart is spicy papaya salad and other spicy dishes. It will be romantic and the wind will always blow out the candlelight. Eating in the dark is also fine. Hahaha.

A relaxing atmosphere to enjoy dinner by the Song River.

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" Stay tuned for the next episode PART 3, a farewell trip to Vang Vieng. "

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