Originally posted 1/13, 5:00 PM
Converted 4000 Thai Baht for just shy of a million Kip. In my hands, a big wad of money, but is like holding a US $20.00, 2 $10.00's 3 fivers and 65 $1.00 bills. You may think you are holding alot of money, but most of it is like holding a wad of $1.00 bills.
Met my travel partners at the Old Bus Station in Chiang Rai and had a nice second class 4 hour bus ride from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong, on the Lao border, through many fallow rice fields. Is winter here, monsoon is several months away and the rice is not yet planted for the summer crop. Temp about 72, comfortable with the bus window open and air blowing in the face as we head northeast to the Lao PDR and the Mekong. The 4 hour bus ride was about $2.00 US.
Traveling with aquaintences Rondi and Andy, the Portland couple that I met several weeks ago at the Janispour Guest House. They are on vacation from their work as trecking tour managers in Nepal.
Most of the view on the bus ride was either residential, small commercial or rice fields. Nothing spectacular. Road traveled through a wide valley with 2000 to 3000 feet high hills lining the route, about 20 miles on either side of the road.
Upon arrival in Chiang Khong was required to depart bus and load all of the luggage and about 10 travelers - French, British, Germans and The 3 Americans in the back of a pickup for the ride to the border. Being larger than most of the other travelers and older, was allowed to ride in the back seat of the older double cab pickup instead of in the pickup bed with all the luggage and backpacks. Age has its benefits. Rode about 6 miles to the border in the pickup for 50 Baht, just under $2.00 US.
We cleared Immigration Control exiting Thailand then got on a another bus for a several mile ride through "No Man's Land" to the Lao Immigration Office. The bus had the color scheme of a French Whore House, but then the French did have quite an influence on the region.
Went through Lao Passport Control, paid the $35.00 passport fees, filled out a bunch of paperwork, got the Passport stamped for a 30 day visit iand after about 30 minutes we were in Lao.
Poured into the back of a tuktuk with the 2 German brothers, the English couple and Andy and Rondi. About 5 miles later we checked into a hotel overlooking the Mekong. A nice room, with AC, TV, cable, and only 100 feet above the Mekong for $30.00 US. The river is maybe 600-800 yards wide, appears quite swift, is muddy and has the occassional long boat plying the water.
Settled in to the room, started charging all the electronic gear then went to the restaurant and ordered a Beer Lao, about 20 oz, for 10,000 Kip or about $1.25. Sat at a shady table and watched the boats on the river. Looking due west across the Mekong and into Thailand.
This is Lao. Much poorer than Thailand. Another Lesser Developed Country like Myanmar. Hope to board the deluxe, first class Shompoo Cruise Long boat for the first day of a 2 day cruise downriver
tomorrow.
The route by bus today from Chiang Rai is in red, below. The 2 day boat route east to Luang Prabang is in blue.
Keng Tung, Myanmar, is also on the map. The place I got sick.
Cough lingers from the pneumonia, but feel strong and ready to travel. All in all, an uneventful day so far.
Greetings, from the deck of the Riverside Houayxay Hotel in Ban Houayxay, Lao, across the Mekong from Chiang Khong, Thailand. as the sun slowly sets on the Mekong.....
Wow....the Mekong.......a river that rings notorious in the ears of Americans over 50....stay on the boat a little longer and you'll land in the delta....maybe run into John Kerry....or perhaps far more interesting.....see some wildlife rarely seen anywhere else.....
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