In other parts of the world, fashion trends come from the usual sources: celebrities, fashion magazines, film, and of course designers. Here in South East Asia the fashion trends are a lot less refined. Here your attire mainly has to do with where in Asia you were last. Which is why, as you meet up with your fellow backpacker on the trail, you can easily decipher exactly where these vagabonds have been, just by checking out their apparel.
After a while you look around and realize that everyone is essentially wearing the same outfits. It is a little reminiscent of high school. But instead of Ugg boots and Abercrombie and Fitch, the South East Asian uniform is the t-shirt. The cheesier and more touristy the better.
If you have been to Thailand you for sure own a "Beer Chang" or "Singha" t-shirt. If you have been to Indonesia you most likely have something that says "Bali" on it. If you are a traveler that has journeyed to Vietnam you pick up some type of top that has the Vietnamese flag on it, or says "Good Morning, Vietnam" after the American film about the Vietnam War. The list goes on and on.
After a while you look around and realize that everyone is essentially wearing the same outfits. It is a little reminiscent of high school. But instead of Ugg boots and Abercrombie and Fitch, the South East Asian uniform is the t-shirt. The cheesier and more touristy the better.
If you have been to Thailand you for sure own a "Beer Chang" or "Singha" t-shirt. If you have been to Indonesia you most likely have something that says "Bali" on it. If you are a traveler that has journeyed to Vietnam you pick up some type of top that has the Vietnamese flag on it, or says "Good Morning, Vietnam" after the American film about the Vietnam War. The list goes on and on.
Well, here in Laos there is one shirt that every self-respecting back packer cannot live with out. That is the singlet that says : "Tubing in the Vang Vieng, Laos". Everywhere you turn you see travelers of all shapes and sizes reping this t-shirt. It is the holy grail of travel tees in South East Asia. Therefore being the fashion plate that I am, I was on a mission to get this necessary garment.
Vang Vieng is a small town in the North-West of the country that draws in the backpacking scene because of its beautiful river the Nam Song. Here you rent a tube and flow from a high point on the river down to Vang Vieng, stopping periodically at the copious amounts of bars along the river banks. At these river side bars they have set up rope swings, zip-lines, a water slide and other water attractions for you to enjoy, and for you to watch others drunkenly make fools of themselves on.
We spent three days swimming and tubing, jumping off the rope swings, getting rowdy and having a grand old time. It is beautiful scenery down by the Nam Song river and Vang Vieng is a complete blast of a town. But most importantly I am no longer a social outcast at the hostels and guesthouses we arrive at, I have the ultimate cheesy t-shirt: "Tubing in the Vang Vieng", Laos. Making my mama proud.
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