Farewell, Vang Vieng. I'm off to Luang Prabang.

Today, we are traveling to Luang Prabang. We chose not to book tickets in advance because we wanted to relax and not be constrained by a schedule. It sounds good, doesn't it? Well, it was. Even though we didn't get the tickets we wanted, it allowed us to relax as we intended. We woke up early (around 9:00 am) and took turns showering and getting dressed. The person who hadn't showered yet checked the bus schedule. Big booked a pick-up from the hotel at 10:45 am (not sure about the exact time, but it was around then).

The bus is about to leave...

We, a group of four, waited in front of the hotel for a long time. When we checked the time again, we realized that it was already past the scheduled pick-up time. We approached the person who had booked the tickets and inquired about the arrival of the vehicle. The staff informed us that the pick-up time was 13:45 (the exact time is unclear, but it was around this time). We were surprised and unsure of what to do next, as we had already paid for the tickets. However, we decided to make the best of the situation and went to find something to eat while we waited. As fate would have it, we ended up having sandwiches for breakfast, just like we had the previous two days. We also decided to indulge in some coffee, hoping for a change of luck. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed as we received our coffee and sandwiches.

I'm exhausted from the coffee, but it does feel like making coffee and drinking it at home. The sandwich may not look as good as yesterday's, but it's acceptable. We think it's probably better than other food.

Vang Vieng City Update

After finishing our meal, we still had a lot of time to spare. Big and I decided to take a walk around Vang Vieng, while Tone and his sister went back to the hotel to rest. We hadn't really explored the town center during the day, so we thought we'd take advantage of the extra time. We considered it a perk of having arrived late. Our first stop was the market in front of the town center.

The prices of goods at the market are not much different from those in Thailand. Big and I only walked around once because everything looked very similar to Thailand. The only difference seemed to be the style of clothing. The last picture you see is of the stage where they had an event last night. Seeing the condition now, it feels like the morning after school starts after a school event. Haha Haha The question in our heads is who will clean it up and when will it be cleaned up?

The sweltering heat and dust-filled air prompted us to seek refuge in the city. We embarked on a leisurely stroll through the unfamiliar streets, eager to explore every nook and cranny. With ample time at our disposal, we decided to immerse ourselves in the local culture by visiting a nearby temple. The intricate architecture and vibrant artwork offered a glimpse into the rich artistic heritage of the region.

This temple could be even more expensive. We think this temple could be made even more expensive. It could be made into another tourist spot. All it needs is to be cleaned and arranged better. Who knows, we're just thinking. After we took shelter under the Bodhi tree and the banyan tree to escape the heat of this temple, the two of us decided to walk on because we still had a lot of time left.

We continued walking, walking, walking, until we were out of town. We had walked so far that we were exhausted from the sun. It was both far and hot, so we decided to go back. At that moment, we realized that we couldn't walk back because we felt like we had come a long way. We thought it would be better to take a ride back, but we didn't know which car to take. Our mouths were like Google without internet. We stopped to buy water and asked the seller how to get back. We were told that we had to take a white or yellow two-row car back.

Our walk together revealed that the true gems are found outside the city. We shouldn't have wasted time clubbing in the city, specifically at the Sakura club for two nights. We should have gone to a local pub, a place where the locals hang out. For those reading this and planning a trip, we recommend experiencing the nightlife outside the city.

It's time to get excited.

We arrived just in time for the car to leave, but excitement struck all four of us again. The car crashed!!! Our van was hit by a pickup truck. We were all safe and sound, but it made us unable to continue. We argued for a long time about who was at fault. The person who hit us said they were not at fault, and the person who was hit said they were not at fault. In the end, we couldn't reach an agreement, and all of us in the car had to change vehicles. At first, when they said we were changing vehicles, we thought we would just change and go. But no, not at all. We had to wait for another car that was coming in, which would arrive around 4 pm. Oh, you read that right, and I didn't write it wrong. To make matters worse, it was raining.

It was a really, really, really bad day.

Rama Hotel: A Beacon of Hope in Luang Prabang

Four weary travelers arrived in Luang Prabang after a long journey, only to be met with a disheartening surprise: their pre-booked hotel had canceled their reservation. With darkness settling in and exhaustion weighing heavily, they embarked on a quest for accommodation. The search was hampered by one crucial condition: neither Stone nor his sister would consider a hostel.

Undeterred, they trudged through the streets, their determination fueled by the flickering hope of finding a suitable lodging. As if guided by divine intervention, a beacon of light emerged in the form of a sign: "Rama Hotel." This serendipitous discovery marked a turning point in their evening, offering a haven of rest after their arduous journey.

Tonight, we stayed at a hotel that we really wanted, which cost a little over a thousand baht per night. "God is always on time," but I'm so tired today. I'm about to fall apart!!

Good night