We left Luang Namtha after a bit of confusion over our minibus booking. I really need to keep reminding myself that Laos is laid
back otherwise I’ll be getting stressed and annoyed for no reason. To his credit our driver left dead on time and even though there were only 3 of us in his luxurious Hyundai people carrier he didn’t spend ages trawling for more passengers. The roads were excellent but soon turned windy. Trying to type a post I started feeling sick and it wasn’t long before V got it too. Three motion sickness pills and hours later she was feeling better. We pulled into a taxi stop just outside Huay Xai after four hours and hopped a short tak-tak to town.

The town was deserted and our first stop was the understated Gibbon Experience office – it was closed for lunch so we did the same, but once open we were able to secure a spot on tomorrow’s expedition (We realized later how lucky we were to get on one without a booking). To pay for the trip we needed to go to the bank – a novelty to draw 4 million of something 🙂 This will be our ‘spoiling’ for Laos.

Our hotel is good stock standard (the Sabaai-dii) but no one in town seems to have WiFi. Odd. We had an excellent dinner overlooking the Mekong as the sunset lit the clouds over Thailand on the opposite river bank. So close, but at least a month away for us. Laos is incredibly easy for travel. English everywhere, tours conveniently geared to western travelers and cheap(ish). Maybe too easy. Hope we don’t get bored !

[Pictures: V in the Tak-tak. Sunset over Thailand and the Mekong]

– Posted from my iPhone via Wifi