Originally a rest place for travellers from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and then a USA airbase during the Vietnam war,we drove along the old runway but now it has become a party town for backpackers who would come here to do tubing. unfortunately it got out of hand with unlicensed bars but now most of them have been closed down but as today is part of the 4 day new year festival it still is party time. We visited the water and elephant caves running the gauntlet of the water throwers so we were a bit damp but it didn't matter as to visit the cave we had to sit in a big tube and with the aid of a rope and flashlight on our heads we entered the cave. The water is a bit warmer than uk water so we were ok but the others in our tour thought it a bit cold.We travelled about 200 yards in the dark looking up at the fissures in the rock,there were a few stalactites and at the end of the cave we were in total blackness. Quite eerie.
Our guide cooked us a barbecue lunch before we visited the elephant cave,so called because the rock formation looks like one . It is also a Buddha temple.
Then it was time for us to try kayaking which has now taken over from tubing.We stopped halfway home where the locals and tourist were having a huge water party. tables and chairs were set up in the river,people were swimming and walking in the river and chucking water at us! Rock anthems were blaring out to entertain us. We continued down to the town where we landed right by our hotel. We have a lovely view of the limestone cliffs that dominate the town across the river. There is a water party going on but this time with a lao rock band.
When we arrived at our hotel our tour leader uploaded his laptop as we have been without internet for two days to find that the company has ,in the light of the death of the tourist in the boat sinking,all tour members on the Mekong will have to wear life jackets. As usual the official story doesn't tie up with with the information we gleaned from the survivors and others.