Getting to Laos
Today, we are starting our way to Luang Prabang in Laos.
Got up early, said goodbye to our lovely Chiang Mai GH host (I was really sad) and started the long drive to Chiang Khong at the northern border of Thailand. We went in a minibus and met some really nice people along the way. Got to Chiang Khong late night and stayed in a really manky guesthouse there - yuck and barf! - but we went out for a few drinks with the people we've met, which was good fun.
The next day, Phil realised that he lost his wallet, so we spent the morning trying to find it and then cancelling the cards - Thank God all in time! After this excitement, we were ready to get on our boat which would take us from Chiang Khong all the way to Laos on the Mekong River - I was really looking forward to the trip!!! It takes two days on some pretty seriously hard wooden benches to get there, but it all adds to the fun.
Day 1 on the boat was spent playing cards and getting drunk - they were selling beer on the boat and marihuana. Needless to say, it was a very chilled out journey for some! We were hanging out with the guys from our bus up, Tom and Matt and also two girls from Belgium, Ines and Wendy. Really good fun! Stopped at a place called Pak Beng for the night and that's where the trouble started.
I really didn't feel well... the loo was my best friend... how am I gonna get on that boat tomorrow? It does have a loo, but it's basically a bowl with a hole... not good. Luckily Phil was fine, so he looked after me, while I drugged myself up on loperamide and antibiotics. Yummy.
Day 2 on the boat didn't start off too well - we were in a new boat that was very small and overloaded with us, so we were really deep in the water. While trying to pull out, we rammed another boat and made a hole into it. It was funny though...
Survived and then finally got to Luang Prabang which is a gem. I love Laos! Our guesthouse is super sweet and cheap, run by Mama and Papa and we are paying 2.50 pound per night for a room with a private hot shower, free tea and coffee and bananas! What more do you want or need?
Our group from the boat is staying there together, so plenty of fun to be had!
Got up early, said goodbye to our lovely Chiang Mai GH host (I was really sad) and started the long drive to Chiang Khong at the northern border of Thailand. We went in a minibus and met some really nice people along the way. Got to Chiang Khong late night and stayed in a really manky guesthouse there - yuck and barf! - but we went out for a few drinks with the people we've met, which was good fun.
The next day, Phil realised that he lost his wallet, so we spent the morning trying to find it and then cancelling the cards - Thank God all in time! After this excitement, we were ready to get on our boat which would take us from Chiang Khong all the way to Laos on the Mekong River - I was really looking forward to the trip!!! It takes two days on some pretty seriously hard wooden benches to get there, but it all adds to the fun.
Day 1 on the boat was spent playing cards and getting drunk - they were selling beer on the boat and marihuana. Needless to say, it was a very chilled out journey for some! We were hanging out with the guys from our bus up, Tom and Matt and also two girls from Belgium, Ines and Wendy. Really good fun! Stopped at a place called Pak Beng for the night and that's where the trouble started.
I really didn't feel well... the loo was my best friend... how am I gonna get on that boat tomorrow? It does have a loo, but it's basically a bowl with a hole... not good. Luckily Phil was fine, so he looked after me, while I drugged myself up on loperamide and antibiotics. Yummy.
Day 2 on the boat didn't start off too well - we were in a new boat that was very small and overloaded with us, so we were really deep in the water. While trying to pull out, we rammed another boat and made a hole into it. It was funny though...
Survived and then finally got to Luang Prabang which is a gem. I love Laos! Our guesthouse is super sweet and cheap, run by Mama and Papa and we are paying 2.50 pound per night for a room with a private hot shower, free tea and coffee and bananas! What more do you want or need?
Our group from the boat is staying there together, so plenty of fun to be had!
posted by Phil and Tanja @ 1:09 AM
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