A British backpacker believes a spontaneous decision to extend her stay in Cambodia may have saved her life after several tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. Tash Moore, 21, was originally scheduled to be at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng on the night that two Australian teenagers, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, allegedly consumed contaminated drinks that led to their deaths.
Ms. Moore, who had heard rumors of the deaths and received warnings about the hostel, decided to rebook her stay at a different location. However, she noted that even after the deaths became public knowledge, bars in Vang Vieng continued to offer free shots, raising concerns about the ongoing risks.
“In the clubs they were offering free shots and if you didn’t take them they’d look at you, like ‘why won’t you have the free shot?'” Ms. Moore recalled. “It felt so morbid and things carried on as normal.”
Ms. Moore’s experience highlights the challenges faced by travelers in navigating safety concerns in unfamiliar environments. The suspected methanol poisoning incident in Vang Vieng has raised questions about the regulation of alcohol and the responsibility of businesses to ensure the safety of their patrons.
It has also emerged that online reviews warning about the Nana Backpacker Hostel were seemingly deleted before the deaths became widely known. Screenshots of these reviews show the hostel’s management dismissing the claims as “slander” and urging reviewers to contact them.
Despite these concerns, the hostel’s owner has denied any involvement in the poisonings and has maintained that the alcohol served at the hostel is safe. However, the deaths of six tourists, including Ms. Bowles, Ms. Jones, a British woman, two Danish women, and an American man, have cast a shadow over the popular tourist destination.
The incident serves as a stark reminder for travelers to exercise caution and be mindful of the potential risks associated with consuming alcohol from unregulated sources, especially in regions where methanol contamination may be a concern.
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