Sarge's 1999 holiday - Bangkok to Beijing Page 1

Sarge's 1999 holiday
Bangkok to Beijing

Page 1: Bangkok to Ban Muong Le(Laos)

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2 Months holiday, and the decision of where to go....a few visits to travel agents and I discover Intrepid offer trips from Bali to Beijing... which takes 3 months but I could join in Bangkok for 2 months (and living in Indonesia I had seen most of Bali -> KL anyway)

Bangkok

As with every holiday, this one had to start somewhere, and this one started in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok, also known as Venice of the East has many canal's and we went via Gondola across the main river and down many canals. Near the river was Wat Arun, a famous temple to watch the sun rise (ha.... you dont know me very well if you think sun rise is a time to be experienced)
Bangkok, is famous for its temples, and we visited Wat Pho the largest temple in thailand. These temples are all Budhhist, and very elaborately decorated. Inside Wat Pho, there is the famous reclining Buddha, but also many other Bhudda

Chiang Mai

That evening we took a train trip to ChiangMai, in Thailands north. The train was hot and my sleep punctuated with many periods of being jolted awake. In ChiangMai, we went to many craft villages and to a temple on the top of the hill. Chiang Mai is confusing and I got lost walking around the street. (As lost that is until a tutuk was found to take me back to the hotel.

An excellent curry at Fred's bar, and many drinks later I ended up at a traditional dance show with a wide variety of hilltribes and main stream thai dances. The hilltribe dancewere outside and consisted many elaborate costumes and wierd musical instruments.

Chiang Khong

We then took a small bus to the bus station (and a flat tire later) caught an 8 hour bus ride to Chiang Khong, a small town in on the Laos/Thai border about 100 km from Myanmar. Our hotel on the river bank afforded our first view of Laos. A stroll along the riverbank including a strenuos half hour game of one on one basket ball, and visiting some of the local restaurantsmeant a nice relaxing way to end the Thailand part of my holiday

Laos

A boat ride (more like a motorised canoe) across the river and we entered Laos. We then took a larger boat down the river for several days. The Mekong river, as brown and murky as it is famous, was our home. Our boat reliably made the first day (with a few toilet stops for people to clamber up a steep embankment) to Pak Beng, a small sleepy town. Our accomodation was basic, and the people friendly, and our first introduction to Laos and Laotian food. If you expect quick service and food coming all at the same time, then perhaps Laos is not for you, but the food was reasonably delicious and we became quickly accustomed to Sok Dee.... which means cheers and is usually followed by emptying your glass of Lao Lao... a rice whiskey with more than a little alcohol content

The next day, complete with complimentary head ache, we had a choice of Speed Boat or the same slow boat. The speed boat would go for about one hour and then we would wait for the slow boat and rejoin. 6 of us joined the speed boat, including Mick (right) and Mike (back) our tourguide. The 3 mikes, as opposed to the 3 gorges.

Ban Khok Ek

After one hour on the speed boat, we reached a small village of Ban Khok Ek, but we hadnt passed the slow boat, so we were a little worried. This village was made of simple houses but not much in the way of facilities. The people were shy, and didn't want their photo taken, and due to a lack of Lao language, and their lack of English, only simple communication was possible.

A smile goes a long way, and we were soon invited inside and then later offered a meal which we politely refused...too much laughter. Not many tourists come to this place.

After what seemed like 8 hours, (it actually was about 2) the slow boat arrived (having broken down 3 times) and we made our way further down the Mekong. We stopped at a small village on the other side of the river (the river had ceased being the border hours ago) named Ban Muong Le , which obviously was related in some way to our Lao guide... this village made Lao Lao, and we saw the whole process, but the people were not shy of foreigners, and the village kids were asked to lineup.