Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng, formerly known as the drunk tubing destination with riverside bars, has chilled out quite a bit.

You can still rent tubes and alcohol is plentiful, but the town offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Laos. This is what I was after.

I only had two quick days there and really wish I had allotted more. All the cafes are open lounge style with platform 'beds' to recline on and watch never ending Friends or Family Guy reruns.

My first day I hopped on the back of a guy's scooter and visited a waterfall outside of town. We went swimming in one of the pools and little fish nibbled at my legs. Tourists pay for this in major towns and here I was getting an exfoliation for free!
Laos is beautiful jungle and I relished being surrounded by green and running water.

I admit I got sucked into one of the cafes for a bit. My accommodation was a very simple wooden hut with a fan. It's amazing how much I've realized I don't need to be comfortable and I am thankful for that realization.
The next day I hiked out to some caves, passing by the river and old Soviet bridges. There were other bridges too that I declined to try: pieces of bamboo lashed together high above shallow streams.

I wish I had time to rent a bike and go  out to the lake, but alas, I quickly had to turn around and go back to Vientiane.