In Vientiane we seem to be. It's a rather odd place in that it is the capital city of Laos and it is no bigger than Burton or Cheddar, perhaps double the size of Romsey but that's pushing it!
Everything here is French, obviously because the French were the last to colonise the place. Which is fantastic, it's French without the French. I'm beginning to like this place already.
However I have befriended a fair few bratpackers (a new term used {by me} to descibe people who either are here on their parents money and/or are just here for the stamp in the passport). These people annoy me because everything is a pissing contest. Chossing not to go to a popular backpacker haven is like proclaiming to the customs man that you intend to smuggle 50 tons of fresh ivory, blow up the plane it was on and go to his house raid the cookie jar and have some late night fun with his wife. Maybe they find out where you're going and they give you the complete lowdown, the exchange rates and every emotion they went through before suggesting a "better" place to go, that they themselves have not even been to as it's listings have not yet made it to the dizzing heights of a Lonely Planet.
It's not all like this, we have met some thoroughly interesting people ranging from a honeymooning couple from Israel, a Norwegian merchant sailor, a gay Russian, John from Manchester who had an incurable disease in the shape of verbal diarrhea and a Submarine and diving expert from the US Navy. Admittedly some more useful than others but all entertaining characters nethertheless.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
It's not happening Nigel!
From Luang Nam Tha, we took a bus to Pak Mong (6 hours) and then a taxi to Nong Khiaw a sleepy little village on the Nam Ou River. We stayed the night in a little quient bungalow by the river. The bungalow itself was made of paper mache with holes in the floor and wall for every creature of the night to pay it's respects.
Next day we awoke and took a slow boat (5 hours) down river to Luang Prabang. The water was that calm (and murky) that it looked as if we were tearing through wet sand.
Before Luang Prabang there are a colleciton of Buddist caves at Pak Ou. We knew a specific tour out to them from Luang Prabang would cost us time and money to retrace our "steps". So a few extra kip found their way into the skippers back pocket and we got to look around Pak Ou.
The next day was spent on Wayfarer bikes as we toured the surrounding area before retiring to one of the finest Saag curries I have ever sampled.
On Tuesday we leave for Vientiane, the country's capital.
Next day we awoke and took a slow boat (5 hours) down river to Luang Prabang. The water was that calm (and murky) that it looked as if we were tearing through wet sand.
Before Luang Prabang there are a colleciton of Buddist caves at Pak Ou. We knew a specific tour out to them from Luang Prabang would cost us time and money to retrace our "steps". So a few extra kip found their way into the skippers back pocket and we got to look around Pak Ou.
The next day was spent on Wayfarer bikes as we toured the surrounding area before retiring to one of the finest Saag curries I have ever sampled.
On Tuesday we leave for Vientiane, the country's capital.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Kunming didn't want to say goodbye
It's amazing we got here as we missed our overnight bus to Mengla (from Kunming), or we thought we had. . . .
Our bus departs at 19.30 yet by 19.00 we were no closer to the bus station. Taxi drivers it seems do not like Western passengers. So we hop the three bus after our guide (a lady from our hostel) had come out with us in the poring rain (18.30) to try and secure us a taxi . . . So now it's 19.15 and the bus stops dead in traffic.
19.20; we had given up all hope, I had the address in Chinese written on a scrap of paper and showed it to the couple next to us also informing them of our deadline. We ditch the bus and they make us believe we're still in with a chance.
19.30; having already walked the best part of a kilometer and no where near the bus station I'm ready to give up. It's 19.40 and we arrive, everything runs like clockwork in China, except for this bus!!!!!! We run through the security checks with officals yelling at us, excited at the fact we had still made it. Back out and into the rain where the girl of the couple had ran ahead and maybe stalled the bus, smilling, clapping and jumping with that overjoyed sense of achievement.
The bus departs from Kunming at 19.50, happy and thankful as we leave the couple that had helped us in the rain.
Whoever you are, we thank you for your kindness when we had given up.
Our bus departs at 19.30 yet by 19.00 we were no closer to the bus station. Taxi drivers it seems do not like Western passengers. So we hop the three bus after our guide (a lady from our hostel) had come out with us in the poring rain (18.30) to try and secure us a taxi . . . So now it's 19.15 and the bus stops dead in traffic.
19.20; we had given up all hope, I had the address in Chinese written on a scrap of paper and showed it to the couple next to us also informing them of our deadline. We ditch the bus and they make us believe we're still in with a chance.
19.30; having already walked the best part of a kilometer and no where near the bus station I'm ready to give up. It's 19.40 and we arrive, everything runs like clockwork in China, except for this bus!!!!!! We run through the security checks with officals yelling at us, excited at the fact we had still made it. Back out and into the rain where the girl of the couple had ran ahead and maybe stalled the bus, smilling, clapping and jumping with that overjoyed sense of achievement.
The bus departs from Kunming at 19.50, happy and thankful as we leave the couple that had helped us in the rain.
Whoever you are, we thank you for your kindness when we had given up.
Hello Luang Nam Tha
21 days later, we now sit in a town within Northern Laos (Luang Nam Tha) after making a short hop over the border. It's hot as hell here but at least we can see the sky, something of which feels like a novelty.
Going on a trek with David Attenborough tomorrow, I offered to narrate or make some ape calls, he just looked at me funny and insisted that we both keep a wide berth.
Probably heading South on Friday, maybe as far as Nong Khiaw, we'll see how that one goes.
Going on a trek with David Attenborough tomorrow, I offered to narrate or make some ape calls, he just looked at me funny and insisted that we both keep a wide berth.
Probably heading South on Friday, maybe as far as Nong Khiaw, we'll see how that one goes.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
You know when you've been winked at by Chris Eubank's Winking Willy
I haven't been able to blog because of China's restrictions on such sites. . . until now :D.
We sit now in Kunming, the gateway to the South having endured 14 hour trains in a 4th class carriage with no seats or aircon, sat in taxis that seem more happy on the other side of the road and battled days with stifulling humidity.
We will move out to Laos in a few days time, I cannot wait as China hasn't been all I'd hoped - it definately is not Japan's younger brother, but more like a distant cousin who's tie with the family does not run in the blood.
Apparently, if you can travel through China, you can travel anywhere. . . .
We sit now in Kunming, the gateway to the South having endured 14 hour trains in a 4th class carriage with no seats or aircon, sat in taxis that seem more happy on the other side of the road and battled days with stifulling humidity.
We will move out to Laos in a few days time, I cannot wait as China hasn't been all I'd hoped - it definately is not Japan's younger brother, but more like a distant cousin who's tie with the family does not run in the blood.
Apparently, if you can travel through China, you can travel anywhere. . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)