La La Laos pt. 2

Well after our disasterous trip with local Laos transport we opted for the Minivan at 110,000 Kip each. And that wasn't much better at all, we nearly lost our lives maybe 3-4 times, but we did gain a few more friends to our international group. Som (French/Laos guy and his name means organge in Thai sii som) and 3 japanese girls.

We got to Vang Vien at about 7-8pm ish or there abouts, in our car there was a couple who had travelled here before so that was good, as they pointed us in the right direction. After our 6 or so hour trip I was really thankful to get out, I was car sick most of the way, but I didn't see my breakfast twice thank B!

Can I just say that Laos has the most amazingly beautiful mountain range I have ever seen! I couldn't believe it, the mountains were simple spectacular. I wish the photos I took gave it justice.

Vang Vien has is for me little to be desired, it was very touristy or rather it was full of youths, so drunk and probably high that I was so disgusted that I couldn't wait to leave. But one of the main attractions there is to go tubing down a river, tubing for Australians is Li-Lo-ing. I did it growing up in the Blue Mountains and on camping trip so I opted out. But the others went and had a amazing time, but as a heads up if your going there are bars that line the river and various other activities. Be careful, alcohol and swimming can be a dangerous mix. Its a beautiful place though.

The next day we caught another minibus to Vientiane, I strategically located myself near the door for 2 main reasons, I didn't want to be car sick again and also then I would have leg room. It proved to be the best decision ever as the others were so cramped that they could barely walk when they got off the bus.

Vientiane, is the capital of Laos. Its quite a beautiful city, heavily doused in French architechure and styling, it was really weird to see writing in Lao and then french underneath. Like most cities it was quite expensive to stay and eat there (compared to other places in Laos and Thailand). But thank to the Lonely Planet belonging to Som and Auralies absolutely destroyed one we were able to get around and see quite a lot. Vientiane was essentially where our international group of travellers were to leave one another. But it was an amazing time.

Z.

La La Laos

Wow what a trip its been amazing...

On Monday I went to Mae Sai to get what I thought was easy enough was my Non-Immigrant visa extension. But apparently not. So after a wasted trip I ended up back at Mirror with no extension and a piece of paper dictating what I have to bring to get my extension (mind you it was written all in thai). After much descussion between Thai officials (on the phone), Thai Mirror staff, Thellie (our resident farang who speaks thai) and myself, or rather I was just listening, the conclusion was for me to now go to Laos.

I had 12 hours til my songthew (thai taxi) came to get me at 6am Wednesday to take me to Chiang Rai town where I caught a mini van with other farang to the border town of Channg Khong. We were then put on a longboat which took us across the Me Kong river. When we entered Laos we had to do all the visa paperwork and pay the immigration officers.

Welcome to Laos
$30US later we were put in another minivan where we and our new guide took us to the slow boats dock. Myself and a couple from Switzerland Auralie and Dameon had decided not to take the slowboat and opted for a bus which took us to our destination in the one day... supposedly.

Laos Transport
On the bus maybe 2 hours into our trip (which is like 11hours long) the bus broke down in the middle of nowhere! After a few hours we were hungry and decided to walk to a village I saw not too long before we broke down. We got some food and drinks and headed back to the bus.
7 hours after breaking down (and meeting new friends) we were able to bribe our way onto another bus VIP bus. Cramped in the asile on the floor was little tough but the driver had offered me this bed area behind the driver seat, so myself and Duarte from Portugal went and stayed there. We pulled into our destination at like 10am-ish. A total of 30 hours later we got there, the 2 day slow boat pulled in 4 hours after us. Go figure.

Mama
We found a guest house (loving Lonely Planet right now) which was run by a lady named Mama (or i think thats just what everyone called her). She was so amazing, I loved her, she would teach me Lao and we would both speak in thai together. She really looked after us.
While here I went to visit a few temples, a stupa, the National Museum and just hung out. I found so many people were amazed when I spoke thai and then would say "you know thai?!", it was funny. The the conversation would start and my little brain would freak out and all I could say would be "Mai lau" (I don't know). Thai and Lao are very similar. Same same but different.

But sadly we had to leave the beautiful town of Laungpra Baan (sorry spelling is a bit off) and off the rest of Laos, all 5 of us.
Duarte and Jorge from Portugal,
Auralie and Dameon from Switzerland
and my little old self.

Z.