Lao lao Laos

Had a great week in Laos. Vang Vieng to be specific. Second time around.

Hit it with my bro & Klang Kenny. As soon as we strolled outta d airport in Vientiane, we were on da road to VV. The three-hour journey took longer due to d many Beer Lao stops, as well as sourcing for bites.

Food over there is consistently great, whether local or foreign. The street-side grilled pork ribs are insane!

Spotted a bbq goin on, so told d driver to turn back.

Dog BBQ anyone?

Oops!

VV seems exactly the same as it was two years ago, thankfully. Beer Lao, which used to cost 10,000 kip, is still 10 grand, or 4 ringgit. But its even cheaper now, coz we spent mostly in US dollars, whose value has dropped. So a large bottle is only RM3.60 now. Haha!

On d road

One of d many stalls we checked-out had bbq bats.

Decided not to try, coz i dont like d smell of bat shit!

Crashed at our usual spot, the Other Side Bungalows (huts), which lies across the Namsong River, which runs thru VV.

Rickety bridge over wide river

Got up to lotsa activities. Drinking, partying, eating, hammocking, tubing, bacon, kayaking, climbing, biking. My skin got well-roasted.

The bridge by day (left) dat leads to our pad

Chilllin at our 'VIP hut'

Sumtin for d heat

We headed to this great riverside spot that i once went to.

Spot d Beer Lao

A hut for a break

Some of d boys remembered me, so we partied. They brought out some major firepower, ie lao lao. Rice liquor, similar to our langkau.

Kenny waiting for his turn after Thiang to down lao-lao (breakfast)

Buffaloes take a dip, as a hot-air baloon rises over VV in d distance

We went back again d next morning coz they organized a bbq party for us. We had baby birds, freshly-caught fish, wild jungle soup (which was awesome!), and sticky rice, plus whisky, beer and lao lao.

Boys catching our brunch

Babies are crunchy

They caught a few puffer fish, that blow up when threatened

Diggin in. Except for d rice, everything was wild

Tubing (or kayaking if u prefer) is also a great way to spend a day. Ur dropped off several km upriver of VV, then u just cruise down in a tube. There’re loads of bars n party spots on d riverbank, where u’ll be thrown a line n pulled in if u want. A whole day could go by!

Cruisiiin

Climbed this crazy steep limestone hill near our huts

Dipped in here. COLD!

Ready to kayak

Peace

Some dude who gave us free shots of dunno wat

Had to do some fucking-big-centipede liquor shots

Jump off d platform if u dare

The sun sets over Laos

Great place, even greater people. Might even do it again!

.

Brain damage: 8.5/10

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Es Para Ti

Es Para Ti (7713-3615) is a Mediterranean/Spanish restaurant-bar in Damansara Perdana, PJ (Emerald Plaza East). It’s been open a few months, and i checked it out recently. (Same block as Friendscino: map, or refer to website)

It’s got a classic and cozy feel, with the use of bricks and wood adding to the ambience.

Spacious

To warm-up, a pint of Franziskaner was in order. This is probably my fave beer at the mo, a German wheat beer. Unlike Hoegaarden (Belgium), this one has similar flavours, but more body, and less fruity.

There are loads of beers on tap here – eleven varieties, with stuff u normally cant get on tap.

Starters

Erdinger white and dunkel (dark), Franziskaner white and dunkel, Leffe Blonde and Brune, Stella Artois, Blackthorn, Hoegaarden, Connors and Carlsberg. Plus 23 types in bottles.

Erdinger is a light-tasting wheat beer, lighter than Hoegaarden. Extremely easy-drinking, with a low finish – an easy intro to beer for anyone.

Dammit. Salivating

I also had the Franziskner dunkel draft. A more toasty and aromatic wheat beer.  Any pint of Franz/Erdinger costs $27 nett during happy hours (5-8) and $32 after.

Food. There was  a buffet goin on, and the joint was full. With more than 20 varieties lined-up at only 35 bucks per person, its unsurprising. Takes place every Fri/Sat, booked up till next month!

Tap-filled island bar

Had a peep – there was stuff like pizza, white wine mussels, lamb cuts, pork schnitzel, paella, Italian meatballs, pork sausages, and even pork knuckle! We sampled some – all were good, especially the calamari rings – fresh, tender, with a crispy outer.

Stuff-your-face buffet

Anyway, started our meal with a Seafood Paella ($60 net for two). This was a hit, and the crew couldn’t stop havin a go. Loaded with seafood like large prawns, plus spicy Chorizo (sausages). Just the right amount of greasiness and goo-iness, and well-balanced with spices and herbs.

The Spaghetti en Papillote ($68) rocked as well. This is oven-baked, sealed with foil, and inside are squid, prawns, mussels, clams, anchovy fillets, capers, olives and assorted veg. The pasta’s consistency was perfect al dente, and the loads of garlic chips just sealed da deal.

For two pax

Then came the Little Piggy. Danny of Es Para Ti brings out a suckling pig. Looked kinda alive. I tickled his ears but he didnt react. The quarter hog ($55) was done just right, still juicy. The clincher was the volcanic chili that comes with it! Insane.

The guys gave approving nods while they munched into all the bites. From others’ feedback, i hear the roast duck and steaks are good too.

If ur interested in the buffet, call and enquire, as its kinda popular, and walk-ins might not get it.

Look at dat shine. U need a blusher man

Portions are generous. All prices at Es Para Ti are nett, which is cool.

Standard liquors are between $280 and $300, and there’s a good range of single malts.

There’re shitloads of hot and cold tapas. Hours are noon till ‘very late’ daily, and the kitchen’s open till 12am, but snacks are available till much later.

Wide choices of wines

One of three private lounges

I almost charged into the 'cellar'

Unfortunately, after dinner, we got so stuffed that there was a leftover, which Homey swallowed:

Yo, dont HOG it niga

.

Brain damage: 7.5/10

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Drilling for wine

Here’s a new device to make wine-drinking a whole lot easier. Its a power-drill corkscrew, by the nice folks at Bosch.

Doesn't work on Night Train Express

Drunks and power tools?? Excellent mix.

It’s of course cordless, powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batts.

State-of-the-art

Comes in a cool set, a special edition ‘wine-style’ wooden box packaging.  It also doubles as a portable torture device. Stick it over a dick and drill another eye.

U can get it for US$60 (RM180) from Amazon UK. Great as a gift for your mum. Also, handy for wine winos and wine events. You could get a high BPM (bottles per minute) rate.

It's called the Ixo Vino

As for me, i prefer them screw-cap bottles.

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