Thailand to Laos

We landed back in Thailand (Bangkok) with about 2 hours to spare for our connecting domestic flight up to Udon Thani (northeast of Thailand). On getting through customs we get to the domestic terminal to find out that our flight had been delayed and will not be leaving until 8.40pm (6 hours away)....great more down time in an airport. The flight went well except that they don't allocate seats so it's a mad dash for the best places (we were up the front!!!!). At Udon Thani we were approached by a German guy that owned a Guesthouse. IT was only 550 Baht for the night and he said he would drive us in the morning to the bus stop.....score. The place was so nice we decided to stay 2 nights and just chill before using the dreaded buses of Laos.

Come day 2 in Udon Thani "Thomas" as he said he would, drove us to the bus stop giving us instructions on what to do when we get across the boarder into Laos (also on what not to do!). I have to say that "Udon Thai House" in Udon Thani needs a good comment. The whole time we were there we felt looked after and the atmosphere was brilliant. Big thumbs up to Thomas the German as he has an excellent place that I would not hesitate to use again....enough of the free plug for UDON THAI HOUSE.....that's......UDON THAI HOUSE!!!!

We get across the friendship bridge into Laos within about 2 1/2 hours from Undon Thani. We get a taxi for 220Baht that will take us to Vientiane from the boarder. The taxi driver drives up with what can described as a "Smash up Derby" car. It's this old Toyota (don't know the model it's that old) that would have failed a warrant in NZ back in 1960 (that's when you could buy them down the local pub for $10/year). Needless to say the little bomb did the job and got us (Carly, myself and the lady that scammed a ride) to Vientiane and the driver even took us to an area that had good guesthouses.

That night we went down the Mekong River for dinner. Very cool to sit and watch the sun set over the river while all the local people are out flying there kites. After a very good meal of Chicken Wings, that Peter would be stoked about, we headed back to the hotel.

On the way back Carly still wanted a couple more drinks at this pub we ended up walking past. Being that I'm getting over the flu (man illness) I thought it would be rude not to. While we were still into our first pitcher we saw Steve and Claire (who we travelled with heaps through Vietnam) walk into the pub. It just so happened that they had replied to an email Carly had sent them saying they would meet us at that pub (Of which Carly had not seen yet). Well we must have looked like 2 losers waving like idiots when they were expecting us...oh well nothing new in that regard :-)

Yes we had quite a few drinks and by the time we walked out were arm in arm promising to meet each other in Vang Vieng (the next stop in Laos).

All in all Laos so far has been good. There does not seem to be the poverty that is in your face like Cambodia. I think 1 more night here then off to Vang Veing.