Thursday, September 11, 2008 @ 10:09 PM
Day 10 - Hue to Lao Bao Border; Lao Bao to Savannakhet, Laos
We hired the Innova car to send us to Lao Bao border because we didn't wanna squeeze with the locals on the local bus. The hotel was quite bad because they didn't tell us that another 2 guys will be going with us so they could familiarise with the route. AND THEY CHARGED US A FREAKING USD70 if i'm not wrong! Wa lao!!! I tot I could sit in comfort in the last row again. This time we were sardine pack lor. I am bu shuang I pay for this 2 other strangers to share the car with me. And I cannot talk loud loud or sing or gossip as freely as I want to!But anyways, they drop us off fast fast at the immigration and zoomed off with speed as fast as lightning. Then we also quite lost because we dunno where to chop stamp and everyone looked at us as if they wanna slaughter us. Especially the super black face immigration officer. Totally scrutinise us as if we were illegal immigrants.Anyhoos, we still took a pic at the border. 
The route to Lao's immigration check point.Did you know that insurance do not cover you if anything were to happen to you when you're in between borders? Hence, we walk damn fast and tot that the immigration was far. Look at the picture below and you tell m how to not worry??? The road are not well paved and there's barely a soul.
Luckily, it was really nearby only la...
This buggers take money with passport. We saw the locals slipping money with the passport and we'e so lost as to what to do. We didn't know we had to give 7,000 kips (Laos currency). It's about S$1++. And we didn't prepare any kips with us. So we changed with the ever-ready money changer hanging ard us. I think they cheated us la but we also cannot do anything what. It's not singapore! We end up giving USD also. Super cheater bug cus they dun give back change one lor!
After this Lao's border was then the challenge! We didn't know how far away was the next town. We walk and walk and walk.....I forgot how long but it was definitely not very near la.
Finally reached a small town called Houay Alone... weird name indeed!
Looked high and low for transport to savannakhet and we're really blessed to have this guy to help us source for car cus he said the local bus just left not long ago and the next bus is tmr. But the car was super overprice!
Then again, I think luck was on or side. The local bus passed by when I was about to ask whether the guesthouse had rooms for us. DAMN HENG CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here comes the most hilarious part. Pay bus fares!
As you know, we dun have kips with us. So we ask what other currency se accept. The worst part was we didn't know what each other was saying. We were like chicken and duck again. So we just take out whatever currency we had and show her la. We used up all the Dongs we had and she didn't wanna accept thai baht cus it's not at the Thai border. So we paid partially with dongs and partially with USD. Kuku la...
Met thes 2 guys who were travelling alone. one's from Norway and the other from Britain I think. I still think the one on the left is shuai lor!
And when we talk abt local buses, we talk abt ducks. These poor ducks were literally suffocating and I wonder what if a few of them get bus-sickness...hahahaha!!!!
Many stops along the way to drop locals off. I think this guy who got off this stop actually shifted provision shop here cus there were many and I really mean MANY cartons of stuff. We stop long enough for Lun to capture quite a few pictures.
Finally reached Savan after more than 5 hours of pain ass ride!
In the process o looking for lodging, we saw this.
Their pasar malam selling all kinds of food with house flies. A million of them!
We wer famished so we settled for this pub like place. Food was alright. Most impt it's cheap! I think Laos food is damn cheap!!!!! I miss the cheap food!
Day 11 - Savannakhet to Mukdahan; Mukdahan to Nakhon Pathom; Sacred temple in Nakhon Pathom
Oh ya...our guesthouse which was stayable and air-conditioned!
At the entrance of the bus terminal...
The Laos-Thailand Friendship bridge which saved alot of hassle queuing for boat across Mekong River.
Thailand Immigration was so much better! Even their officers don royal yellow uniform.
Our really classic bus from Mukdahan to Nakhon Pathom.
You see how I didn't have any legroom space for like 2-3 hours. Then th bus door was open so i was quite scared this other fellow's bag will just fly out. 2 really old monks were sitting right behind us and they always give the peaceful face..haha
We took the tuk tuk to the hotel.
Checked in to Viewkong Hotel...It's facing the Mekong River...damn shiok! I know it's not the Caribbean but better than nothing right???
Then we took a bus to the most sacred temple in Thailand. A huge temple with lots of statues and it just looked majestic!
On another local bus back to our hotel.
Day 12 - Walking around our Hotel; Bus to BKK in the evening
Another temple near our hotel...
Before we left, we drop by Tesco to buy phone card and have dinner. The trolleys attracted every attention in the mart. We're tourist la ppl and bag heavy so of course push la!
Our super VIP bus to Bangkok! Leave on the dot one leh...mai siao siao!
And we're on our 11-hours bus journey to BKK! Shopping awaits us except Lun who totally dreaded this part of the trip. Well, guys are guys so we understand...hahaha
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