We just got back from a trip to Vientiane in Lao to get a new visa. We only got one for 3 months so we are not ready yet... beside an extension we also need a work permit what is a pain in the neck. Luckily we have wonderful help from Paul from the Khomloy Foundation in Chiang Rai.
Vientiane is an amazing city! As soon as we walked around on the first evening to find a place to stay, we were in love with all the French colonial style buildings what gives the city a real charm and a feel of class to it. It's not big what makes it comfortable to get around and to get to know everything.
During the journey we met a American and we had a nice dinner together on the Mekong. It was wide now but a lot of dry sand showed how big it would become during the rainy season.
We had soon discovered the one bad side of the town and that are the police man! Wow after driving on our rented bike for a few minutes we were taken of the road because the u-turn we made wasn't right. The man told us he was going to keep the bike and so we had to walk that day until we could pick it up and pay,, hi hi hi hi. He was laughing all the time and thought it was most amusing. We produced some sheepish laughs ourselves because that's what you do in Asia.
We got away from them WITH the bike but I had to drive because Ben's licence was stolen a few months ago. With some shocking starts I managed to drive of with Ben on the back while we were still smiling.
In the evening we were caught again and this time we were charged with driving to red pedestrian (by any other red light you actually can turn right any time with care,, except this one); no licence and driving through after the whistle of the police. Well, we didn't see no police man , yes we heard a whistle but we saw more traffic and we really thought we didn't do anything wrong! This time the fine was 200,000 Kip (only 20 Dollars) BUT we had to go to the police station to face the charges on Monday,, that day was Friday.... We explained in Thai that we had to go back to work and really couldn't stay. After quite a while he knew we were not going to leave and that I really wanted back my Dutch licence. So the charges changed into less bad once so we didn't have to show up on Monday but we still had to pay the fine. Ben went to find a ATM machine while I was kept there. The police man was getting really friendly and started to chat away and took of his helmet and did his hair. I was smiling a bit and tried to keep him in a good mood. The other police men were chasing people on and of,, what a business! Ben took a while but than we were excused to go... Never again we will rent a bike in Lao!!!! Just use the special tuk tuks I guess.
Back in Udon Thani in Thailand we wanted to take the night bus to safe some money. On the station we were told that two buses are leaving daily,, one with toilet and one without. When we asked to the ticket salesman we were told that there was only one bus so that night we came with our luggage but saw that there was a better bus for the 12 hour trip! Ben was furious because the already very dodgy man had lied because there were two companies and he sold only for one.... Not that he didn't have a enough business,,, there was a queue of people hoping that people didn't show up. Ben normally very easy going in these situation but he insisted on getting back the money. Unfortunately the other bus was full so within a few minutes we were back in the tuk tuk to the hotel. We than decided to fly back.....
We met Joff from Melbourne in Udan Thani what was a rather surprise. We weren't sure were he lived in Thailand with his Thai wife and baby but there they were! Very nice to catch up.
Udon Thani is not really recommendable for a visit we think, it's a soul-les city with so much prostitution and a certain type of Falang man. We were happy to come back to Chiang Mai and now to Fang!
We saw the Rambo 4 movie and knowing I just never watch anything violence, I would tell people to watch it. It's set in Burma and is focused on the raids from the Burmese soldiers on the Karen villages. Just horrible, horrible hearth breaking. But that's what's happening there! Of course the Rambo aspect has made it a bit more Hollywood action but this happens there to Karen, Shan and all the minority groups on a daily bases.
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