Visa run

After almost one month in Thailand it was time to cross the border and get my visa renewed. It was Jodie, Rani and Martin and I who all came to Nong Khai the same day who went to Laos together. Since the Mekong being the only thing separating Thailand from Laos, it's possible to just cross the friendship bridge and back again within a couple of hours. We figured like many others that since we're so close we might as well check out what Laos has to offer. After a somewhat chaotic experience at the border where I was squeezed into a bus with what felt like 400 others and alone had to keep track of everyones bags (long story), we got to the Lao side. We took a taxi to the capital, Vientiane, in what by far is the crappiest car I've ever seen. It made those old american cars on Cuba look like brand new Bentleys. However, it did its job and got us to Vientiane, which I must add, has to be the most boring capital on earth. I guess a few decades of communism kind of brings down the vibe a bit. After one night and one day in Vientiane with some temple sightseeing , and a visit to the local market, we headed north for Vang Viang, a backpacker place in the mountains about four hours from Vientiane.

Vang Viang was a small town crowded with backpackers. Guesthouses would attract customers by showing the Simpsons, Friends and Seinfeld and pretty much every popular sitcom and also having the option to lie down while eating your breakfast/lunch/dinner watching TV at the same time. Pretty much all my prejudices about backpacker hangouts were confirmed, and when we got there at night it was hard to tell why this little town had become such a popular place. The next day when woke up and saw the mountains and beautiful surroundings it made more sense.

The town it self didn't provide much more than a place to eat sleep and have a few drinks, instead people go there for trekking, tubing or any other nature experience that could be offered by the many places organizing tours for the visitors. We didn't have much time so we decided on a one day tour including some trekking, tubing through caves and kayaking along the Mekong with a stop along the way for some relaxing and the option to swing into the river, very fun I must say.


The next day we just took a little walk, took some pictures and then it was time to get on the bus back to Vientiane and later head back to Thailand and Nong Khai.



Laos was a lot different from Thailand with a lot more poverty, fewer smiles on peoples faces and infrastructure that had seen better days The country seemed more quiet, and people more reserved than in Thailand, but still had a nice atmosphere. It was interesting to see though and even if we didn't have much time it was a different and new experience and we all had a great time.