Collecting those passport stamps

I finally had an uneventful travel experience in Thailand!  I had to cross the border to renew my 90 day visa stamp while I'm waiting on my work permit.  Savannakhet, Laos is about two hours from where I am living.  In talking to people and doing some research there is not a lot to do on the Laos side of the border.  But Mukdahan, on the Thailand side had some cool things to check out.  Since my bed is basically like sleeping on a board and I really didn't have much going on this weekend at home, I booked at a room in Mukdahan.  It was only $27USD.  Can't really beat that.

I left my place at 6 am, got to the bus station at 6:15 and got on the minibus that left at 6:30.  No matter what mode of transportation I use in Thailand, I always feel carsick.  I think it's a combo of the constant speeding up and slowing down driving and the sides of the buses being all window and the landscape just whizzing by.  We made it to Mukdahan by 8:30 and before I could even step out of the van, I was being accosted by  tuk tuk drivers - Farang to the border. 200 baht.

I bought a bus ticket for 50 baht that would take me across the Friendship II bridge into Laos.  First I had to go through immigration to depart.  The first line had a sign that said Thai.  The second line was not very long and said passport control.  Line 3 was longer and said the same thing.  So I got into the second line.  When I got to the front the lady told me to go through Line 1 next time.  I tried to ask why since I'm not Thai, but she just kept saying line 1 next time.  I made it through that and the bus showed up shortly after that.

The MeKong River separating Thailand from Laos

A funny mistranslated sign!

Once on the Laos side I had to get a Visa on Arrival.  But the window was closed.  I asked around and was told one moment.  One guy did give me the paperwork to fill out.  When I handed it back to him, he said that the visa officer was on his way in.  I was told that a Laos visa was 1,500 baht and that I could get the passport sized picture taken there.  The visa officer finally showed up and he asked for my passport sized picture.   When I told him I was told to get it there, he just made a copy of my passport and cut that picture out.  I handed him the 1,500 baht and he said you pay 100 more.  I only had 60 baht and 1,000 notes on me. I said why? He said something like overtime.  Pretty sure he was pissy he had to come in on Saturday (even though immigration is open on Saturday...) and was making me pay for it.  I told him only 60.  He took it.

The paperwork I had to fill out to get into Laos

I didn't actually need to go into the town.  I could have just turned around and walked right back through and gotten my new 90 day stamp.  But I was hungry, and figured I should go ahead and do something while I was in the country.  I really didn't have any place I needed to go, and the cab drivers were confused so I just pulled up google and pointed to the first cafe I saw on a travel site I'd been using.

We got into the cab and I realized they drive on the same side of the road we do.  Which was both confusing and comforting at the same time!  The driver drove me through town and pointed out a cafe that he said was good.  We get to the cafe I had pointed to and it was closed.  It was only 10:30 am.  He said he'd take me back to the other cafe.  It was really cute.  It was London themed.  I ordered cheesy garlic bread and a watermelon smoothie.  There was a note that said they only give change in Laos kip.  When they brought my bill the total was in kip, baht and USD.  I had a $20 bill in my purse that had writing on it, so no one would exchange it.  The total was 12.25.  I got rid of that $20 bill and got kip back.  I walked around the water front a bit and got a tuk tuk back to the border. He took the kip that I had back as change...I probably way over payed for that tuk tuk ride, but I don't plan on being back in Laos anytime soon!

Driving on the correct side of the road!!

Sign at the cafe where I ate

While in line to leave Laos, a man asked if I had a pen he could borrow.  The only pen I had on me was my absolute favorite pen.  It writes so smooth and I just love it.  I was a little reluctant to hand it over, but went ahead.  There were still about 10 people in front of me, so I figured he'd be done before I got through.  Except he didn't. I couldn't decide if I should wait on him to get done or just go ahead.  I realized it was just a pen and I could get another easily.  But I was also hoping he would make it through the line and onto the same bus as me and give it back to me.

And he did!  He was the last one on the bus and it was standing room only, but he came over to where I was sitting and handed it back and thanked me.  I got back to the Thailand side and waited in line there.  For some reason, I also get so nervous in immigration lines.  I've never had an issue, but I always worry they are going tell me I can't go through or something and I'll be stuck in no man's land.  The two ladies kept looking at me and then at my passport and talking in Thai.  I was starting to get nervous.  Finally, they stamp it and hand it back to me with a smile.  I checked to make sure they'd given me a 90 day stamp (when I got to Thailand the first time, immigration did not give me the right stamp and it was fixed, but a small hassle). All was good!  I saw my pen friend over at some benches and went over and asked him if I could get a tuk tuk there.  He asked where I was going and I told him the name of my hotel.  And he said my friend and I will take you.

And I did something I would never do in America.  I got into a car with two strangers and had total confidence that they would take me to my hotel.  I was reading an article earlier in the week about traveling alone as a female, and it mentioned that your ability to read people becomes better when you're traveling alone.  I've always felt like I've been able to read people and honestly, I usually just assume negative about a person.  But since being over here and being in situations where I have to total rely on strangers that don't speak the same language, I'm learning that the majority of the time, people want to help the farang!

We exchanged Line (the texting app that everyone uses here) usernames and made tentative plans to go out to dinner that night.  They worked for a Thailand beer company and were planning on going out to a few places I was also wanting to check out.  After they dropped me off, I took a nap.  Then I got up and walked down to the huge market, and walked around there.  And it was hot.  I'm not sure if the sun was hotter than where I live or if I'm just not used to being out in it in the afternoon or what. But I was getting a headache and dizzy.  I went to 7/11 to try and find some Gatorade and got some Advil and took a tuk tuk home.  I slept some more and woke up starving, but still with a headache.

My hotel room and the comfy bed!

Just a small example of all the things you can purchase at the market

I'd read a few reviews about a restaurant that had the best hamburgers.  Even a few Americans said they were the best hamburgers they've ever had.  I got a tuk tuk there and if I had been feeling better I think it could have been an awesome time.  The hamburger was ok and there was a band setting up. But I just wanted to get back before I started feeling sick again.  Damn sun! I also missed a few messages from my new friend, which I felt bad about.  They were actually at the pool at the hotel right next door to me.  I could hear the DJ from my room and it sounded like it was a fun time.

I woke up on Sunday and got around and got a taxi to the bus station.  I got there at 9 and the mini bus left at 9:30.  And I was back home by 11:15.  While I didn't get to do as much I originally wanted, I did get a night away in a comfy bed for cheap.  So, really it was still a win.  And it was a smooth trip.  Which I consider the biggest win based on the last few times I've had to travel!!!

Maybe this trip went so smoothly because the van had these monks to look over us, literally!