Tubing

Tubing: Using inner tube of truck tire. Floating down river. Stopping at bars that drag you in with large bamboo pole. Have a few beverages. Then jump from high swing in to river.

This is "tubing".
Chris, Lisa and I donned our swimmers, old baggy clothes (all that I own), a large rubber tube and headed for the river. We jumped on in to the Mee Song river and stopped at the first "bar". It's more a wooden bench on the side of the river bed than a bar. Here we decided to have our first beer Laos and jump from a platform in a tree in to the rapidly flowing river. I opted for the flying fox. Which I was not so successful at on first attempt. My hands slipped and I crashed in to the water only half way down the wire...Hahaha. The man who owned the bar said it was because I was fat, so I went back on determined to show him what a fat chick is made of. It was great fun. Splashing in to the river and being fetched out on a bamboo poll. After that bit of fun we floated on down some little rapids and landed ourselves at the second bar. This was a little more sophisticated than the first. It had a redstart, a bar and some bamboo platforms that looked out over the river and the giant swing!
Chris was the first of the dare devils to leap from the platform at the top of a high tree with the trapeese swing. He swung out and up high on the other side before he let go. On landing he smashed his poor bum hard on the water. This caused a shriek of laughter from the onlookers...Even us! Always laugh at others misfortune I say.
Than there was me. After my first attempt on the flying fox, I was worried that my hands weren't strong enough for me to hold on to a trapeese and jump 15 meters, off a platform and back up the other side. Well I was right. Making a complete tosser of myself I leapt off the platform, squeezed my eyes tight shut and proceeded to land face first, half through swinging like George from the jungle. This caused a great ruckus laughter from the peanut gallery. Not deterred by having just made a complete idiot of my self and always willing to entertain the masses. Also wanted to try and at least see if I could hold on a bit longer. I was up the tree even before the water could escape from my nose. (which was full due to face plant) So off again, palms bleeding and grazed from first attempt, I swung out again. Feeling the wind in my hair I face planted yet again and all attempts at flying were put to an end. That was enough for me for one day....At least I thought. Lisa was really reluctant to get up there,, because of the height but after a good bit aof peer pressure she was standing at the end of the platform. Off she went and the scream was probably heard in the town. She screamed all the time she was on there! She also refused to jump. She had every intention to let go on the highest point but when it came to it she just couldn't. It took at least 4 pendulim swings for her to let go and hit the water. I laughed and laughed. I thought this was fair considering I was the one who raised a fair bit of fully belly chuckles myself.
Then there was Mick. An Aussie guy from Melbourne who was out with a death wish. 4 times he attempted a bomb dive on landing and 4 times he landed flat on his side. Winding himself and practically breaking a rib or two. When will boys ever learn. Well, he coaxed me up the 3 ladder again, promising that I would be able to hold on long enough to swing to the other side. Why don't I listen! I hat that water at exactly the same spot as I did two times before but this time I think I just caused my breasts some long term damage! That was it I was beaten and big enough to admit it too.
Back on our tubes (well two attempts from me and I was) we were off down the river and at the next bar. This place had a little swing like jump that you haul yourself on to, stand up on the seat, they pull and you jump. I attempted to haul myself up and fell flat on my face! So second attempt I was up and ready when the guy gave me a pathetic little push and I just had a little jump off. This was one step away from a spinal injury as there was heaps of rocks under me. I was glad that I had only fell of the swing rather than jump other wise the day would have ended differently!
Sitting at the bar, drinking my water, I listen to some Idiot British guy say that he found Australia a disappointing Country! When I asked him Why it was disappointing he couldn't actually tell me why. So, after I apologists for not bringing out the Can Can dancers when he arrived and not organizing a million dollars worth of fire works in a welcome display, I thought it was time to leave. Some people just don't realize...Even if you don't like a country, you don't sit there and Bag it whilst a person from said Counrty is sitting in front of you. Perhaps they actually like it?
On and onwards we went where I met up with Mick and told him what had come of my last conversation. Wrong move...A very Drunk, patriotic Aussie ready to defend his country, fists and all. After some reassurance I had dealt with said Loser and a big swing on a big swing, all was forgotten and Mick was on his way to being pickled, sore ribs and all.
after all the excitement of the day Chris, Lisa and I decided that the sun was coming down rapidly and we had already well gone past the 4 pm curfew....
Maybe we should float home.
Off down the river we attempted top stand on our tube, have races down the river, and practically act like lunatics. This I'm sure the locals are so use to watching as many foreingers come here to Tube!
absolutely soaked through, water logged and resembling a old prune, we had a fantastic day on the tubes!