We are in LAOS !!

In contrast to the Chinese border post the Laos one is a collection of shack-like buildings. The Visa on arrival guy was not yet at work (time zone change meant we were in Laos just before 8h30) but one of his associates provided us some forms to start filling in (well V fills in all the forms). The 30 day visa was a simple matter: 2 forms, 1 photo and around £28. On completing the immigration procedures were ushered into a full, but not packed, minibus for the ~2 hour (20 000 Kip) ride to Louang Nam Tha. I think the road was very good and the scenery was thick forest but can’t say for sure because I nodded off immediately and woke up as we pulled into our destination.

The driver conveniently dropped us outside the one guest house we were interested in (Thoulasith Guest house). What a win ! Double room with en suite, western toilet, wifi and all the trimmings for £2 each ! We like it here already. Not wanting to waste any time we booked a 2 day trek in the jungle starting tomorrow and after a shower we headed into ‘town’ (a few hundred meters up and down the street) to find a bank and food. The bank gave us a better rate on our remaining Yuan without the funny business and we we able to draw a fist full of cash at the ATM. It’s going to take a while to get used to a new currency.

The town, for some reason, feels like it should be on the Natal coast and it’s hard to spot the French influence. Quiet and laid back with palms trees and fine sand collecting in dents on the pavements. Hot, humid and sunny with buildings that vary from definitely Asian to decidedly Durban – odd, but that is how it feels to us. Lunch was absolutely brilliant – I had a fried rice dish the way fried rice is supposed to be done and we both enjoyed our first Lao Beer. We’re not sure if it was the slightly stronger beer or the anti-malarials but we got very tipsy and had no choice but to head back across the street for an afternoon nap.

In the evening we strolled around town. It’s low season at the moment so the place is almost deserted. The only visitors to the provincial courthouse were a few chickens loitering on the front steps. Unfortunately the lack of tourists meant that nobody else has signed up for the jungle trek so the price is a little high but we are still going.

So after just a few hours here we can say that we love it. Here’s hoping he leeches (yes, really) and mozzies don’t eat us alive in the jungle. We’ll be back in town the day after to tomorrow.

[Pictures: V with our Lao beers. Hangover to follow !]

– Posted from my iPhone via Wifi