A Backpacker's Right of Passage

The past two days have been extremely eventful as I have been partaking in two of Vang Vieng's greatest activities... tubing and rock climbing.

I woke yesterday to a massive hangover and promised myself I would not drink for the rest of the day. This however is not how things are done here, you drink all day every day. So I made my way down to the river with everyone to grab our first beverages and begin the tube loop...tubeless. I have heard from several tubing veterans that you don't want to get a tube because most people steal them. So a lot of people just dive into the river and eventually someone throws you a rope and reels you into the next stop. The 6 mile river route can takes anywhere from 3-6 hours based on how many times you stop. The entire route is lined with several bars with each one offering their own special activity and "special menu." There are swings that launch you 15-40ft into the air where you jump off into the river, zip-lines, cliff jumping, mud pits, and dance floors. On the "special menu," tubers can purchase joints, mushroom shakes and tea, space cakes, brownies, happy shakes, and buckets of booze. Because the crew I was with all work at Q Bar (in town) and Bar III (on the river), we pretty much stayed at the top of the river all day partying and jumping off stuff. Bar III is notorious for covering you with marker, spray paint, and bracelets which prep you for your messy day and solidify your right of passage. Before I knew it, 5 hours had passed and it was time for everyone to head back to town for dinner and a pre-night-rally.

Fortunately, I didn't stay out too late so I could actually get some sleep and have a productive day of climbing. I met up with my buddy TG who is a certified climber and has been itching to find someone to climb with for a while. We both rented hot pink single speed cruiser bikes and then TG took me to the last bar on the river which has a lot of walls and a small gorge that make for some of the more popular climbs in the area. It also conveniently has a bar so we could drink and a snack between climbs. Since I haven't climbed in years, nor have I ever belayed anyone before in my life, this was going to be a real adventure. TG walked me through the necessary protocol for climbing 101 and we got right into it. The first climb wasn't too hard but the second one did me in good. I tried to climb it 4 times and couldn't do it. Each face had slight overhangs and jagged rocks that's if not held onto properly, cut up your hands. So after about 3 hours of climbing, I left the rocks drentched in sweat, with cut hands and arms like jello.

We returned to town just in time for the sunset and now I can finally take it easy...