Every year thousand of Aussies fly over to Thailand for a couple weeks and let loose. In search for the biggest and wildest parties, Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Kho Pangang are the favourite destinations. However if your prepared to make the trip there’s another location that’s gradually starting to be recognised as one of wildest places to visit. Depending from where you begin your journey, Bangkok, Chang Mai or Koh Samui. Veng Vieng in Laos can be a 19hr ride cramped in the back of a minivan, or a 9 hour train ride followed by a 4 hour bus ride. But it’s worth it! Don’t expect much from your accommodation, the beds should have been replaced decades ago, the bathrooms are 3rd world and the door to your room is opened and closed by a little padlock. Luckily you will spend barely anytime there. Where most of your time will be spent is on the river. Tubing in Veng Vieng is an experience that differs from anything you’ve ever done. After getting a tuk tuk to the start of the river, party goers are welcomed by buckets of mixed alcoholic drinks, deafening music and swings and zip lines hurling people into the water. This is not a destination for the sight seeking family. This is the first of 5 bars spread along the river. As the day progress people float down the river from bar to bar progressively getting drunker and drunker. As much fun as you might have, drinking, swinging ropes and a river can also be a recipe for disaster and it’s important to be careful as the Veng Vieng hospital is not world class and very expensive. After spending the day drinking on the river, the party then proceeds to the many “clubs” on the river where travellers can party until the local police want to close it down. Once the police come, LEAVE, don’t argue or the only way to avoid a night in jail is a $US 500 bribe. This all said Veng Veing has the potential to be the highlight of your trip, just ensure you stay with your group and keep an eye out for each other.Wednesday, 24 August 2011
About Veng Vieng
Every year thousand of Aussies fly over to Thailand for a couple weeks and let loose. In search for the biggest and wildest parties, Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Kho Pangang are the favourite destinations. However if your prepared to make the trip there’s another location that’s gradually starting to be recognised as one of wildest places to visit. Depending from where you begin your journey, Bangkok, Chang Mai or Koh Samui. Veng Vieng in Laos can be a 19hr ride cramped in the back of a minivan, or a 9 hour train ride followed by a 4 hour bus ride. But it’s worth it! Don’t expect much from your accommodation, the beds should have been replaced decades ago, the bathrooms are 3rd world and the door to your room is opened and closed by a little padlock. Luckily you will spend barely anytime there. Where most of your time will be spent is on the river. Tubing in Veng Vieng is an experience that differs from anything you’ve ever done. After getting a tuk tuk to the start of the river, party goers are welcomed by buckets of mixed alcoholic drinks, deafening music and swings and zip lines hurling people into the water. This is not a destination for the sight seeking family. This is the first of 5 bars spread along the river. As the day progress people float down the river from bar to bar progressively getting drunker and drunker. As much fun as you might have, drinking, swinging ropes and a river can also be a recipe for disaster and it’s important to be careful as the Veng Vieng hospital is not world class and very expensive. After spending the day drinking on the river, the party then proceeds to the many “clubs” on the river where travellers can party until the local police want to close it down. Once the police come, LEAVE, don’t argue or the only way to avoid a night in jail is a $US 500 bribe. This all said Veng Veing has the potential to be the highlight of your trip, just ensure you stay with your group and keep an eye out for each other.
Monday, 15 August 2011
When to Start My Season in the Snow
Every year tens of thousands of people pack their bags leave home with the intention of spending a season at their ideal snow resort. Whether it’s in Whistler or Banff in Canada, Vail or Aspen in the United States, many arrive at the start of the season with the intention of spending their time tearing up the slopes, running amok in all the bars and occasionally having to work in a bar, as a ski instructor or as a lifty. However, the harsh reality is that over half of the people who arrive at the begging of the season in November are home by the end of January. Ski towns are notoriously expensive with local businesses prices targeting the cashed up family of tourists there for week or two. Many travellers find themselves dipping into their savings a lot quicker than they first thought. After currently spending a season in Whistler, Canada, I witnessed the arrival of two thousand or so cashed up, enthusiastic travellers high off the excitement and adventures that a season in a ski town promise’s. Unfortunately for over half of these people there dream season isn’t all that they expected. Arriving at the begging of a season is really arriving too late. Jobs are hard to come by and the jobs available are still available for a reason. Lines of over 500 people queuing up for over 3 hours in the freezing snow for a 3 minute interview are common sights during a job fair at the beginning of a season. The hospitality company which I worked for interviewed over 650 people over 2 days for 30 positions. Ski instructors and lifty’s are paid minimum wage depending on experience and 1st year workers generally find themselves standing at the top of the mountain freezing for 8 hours getting paid $9 an hour and struggling to find shifts. This is not who you want to be!
The best time to arrive for a season in the snow is before everyone else! Get there as early as possible and allow time to get set up, get a job and find affordable accommodation before the season kicks off. This will ensure that you don’t spend your time waiting in lines job hunting for days only to find that you were ‘lucky’ enough to get a job shovelling snow at 4am. Spending a season in a Ski town can be one of the best experiences of your life but you have to be smart. To make sure you get the best out of your time there, get there early get set up and it will be you whose having a beers after an amazing day on the slopes, while others are lined up outside in the cold searching for work.
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