Up early to get to the bus station to catch the bus to Vang Vieng. A journey of about 7 hours on our VIP coach, and our first experience of Lao roads between places.
The coach turns out to be bigger than a minibus, but smaller than a regular bus. It has these fold down mini seats that occupy the aisle as well as the 'normal' seats. This means that when the bus is full, it is Very Imaginably Packed... and indeed it was!
That's right folks this is all about VIP.
The roads are full of curves, switchbacks and potholes. At one point we thought that VIP meant Vanishing Into Potholes!!
Yvonne and Mike spent many happy hours thinking what VIP stands for in Lao speak. Here are some of their thoughts....
Vot Is Problem?!!
Vertical Into Precipice.
Vomiting Is Permissible.
Very Impotent Passenger.
Etc..... There were more but we will spare you.
The road to Vang Vieng goes up and across a mountainous region. In fact Lao is very hilly/mountainous. The roads are cut into the hillside. Every kilometre, or less, part of the slope either falls onto the road, or the road falls into the valley below.
Of course this is only a real problem when it rains, and boy did it rain....
The driver was skilled, and seemed to know every inch of the road. We stopped for lunch.
Part of being on a VIP coach is that lunch is provided. I use the word 'lunch' very loosely here. Imagine a big pot containing a grey, greasy bubbling mass with objects, we think chicken bones, breaking the surface from time to time. Our Chinese and other European passengers got stuck in, the British had a beer some cheese crackers and a magnum ice cream, lol.
Arrived in one piece. Safe and sound with wet rucksacks.
The information we had said the guesthouse we were interested in was only a short distance. Short distance is about as accurate as VIP in Laoernese. Time for some light exercise... 4 km later we arrive, lol. Worth it as we have a fantastic view from the balcony of our a/c room. (see last picture)
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