Mekong IndoChina Hash

Condom took it upon himself to misorganise MIH XIII from 14 to 16 October and decided that an “Outstation Hash” would break up the monotony of hosting the event in Vientiane every 5 years. Everyone agreed that going to Luang Prabang was a great idea and left it in Condom’s capable hands.

A pre-lube held in Vang Vieng, half way between Vientiane and Luang Prabang got everyone in the mood with a triHashlon of running, mountain biking and kayaking through the karst scenery and along the infamous River of Bars.

The World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang offered some great Hash territory. The only problem was that Condom forgot all about having to organize trails. Literally the day before the Saturday Run, a couple of Hares went out to scout trail, which turned out to involve long climbs up big hills and long slippery descents but, by and large things went relatively smoothly even if the Circle Site had to be changed at the last minute. Sunday’s short “Hangover Run” was held in the vicinity of a well-known waterfall but the locals employed to set the trail were not Hashers and did not quite understand the requirements. What started off as a pretty trail meandering through the streams that fed the waterfalls, turned into a marathon so that even Condom started to get worried when people failed to show up at the Circle site two hours after setting off. Various trucks and busses were dispatched to pick up Runners who, after running for more than 15-km were still several kilometers from the finish.

Those still in need of another Hashing fix were offered the Full Moon Run 3½ on Monday night. The trail took the pack through some little visited atmospheric parts of some of the city’s lesser known areas as well as some of its much more famous ones. The traditional Full Moon Circle and a great party at the riverside followed.