Originally written Saturday October 16, 2004

We awoke early and spent an hour packing all our belongings into our packs, ready to cross the border into Laos (pronounced L-owww as in owww, I just hit myself with a hammer, except with l infront). We paid our bill at MutMee (2624 BT, or about 30? a day CDN for food and lodging) and hooked up with Marvin and Rebecca with whom we had arranged to take a tuk tuk to the ‘Friendship Bridge’ [one of only 2 bridges to cross the Mekong, the other in China or so I am told]. As usual, the tuk tuk driver tried to scam us a little and get us to get our visa’s from travel agents along the way so he would get a commision. We wouldn’t have it and he reluctantly dropped us off at the bus station where we were to await a bus that would take us through Thai Customs, over the bridge, and then drop us of at Laos customs. » Read the rest of the entry..

October 15, Day 11 (written October 15, 2004)

We again tried to get to the sculpture park with the crapy map the Mut Mee people had made. Peddling on rented bikes down the mekong, then up side streets and across the highway, we knew we were getting close. One of the side streets, this little cute black poodle came out and stood in the middle of the road. I knew there would be trouble. Once I got close, it started after me trying to bite me as I attempted to ride by. At this moment I contemplated the wisdom of renting a girls bike (named the LA LADY and pink with a basket) with the seat too low. I couldn’t peddle away from the dog with the bike so I started to half heartedly kick it, trying not to get a toe bitten (I was wearing sandles). Of course I was also thinking of Heather trying to distract the dog so she could ride on to safety leaving me to deal with the beast. Finally, the dog let up and we rode on. The dogs master began calling it off of me and it let up. » Read the rest of the entry..

We awoke at 7:30 am, yay! We made it past 3, and 4 and 6 am. However, I did wake up many times as I was sweating while I slept. We had a cool fan and a breeze from the window, but a comforter! not a bed sheet. I am going to have to learn to sleep without any covers. Alas, I had a shower, it was a sandal’s on kind of place, only because the last occupant had his/her shoes on and they left muddy footprints everywhere. The shower had the option of hot, but I chose luke warm. I used my quick dry towel as there were no towels in the room, something to get used to I’m sure. I asked at reception for a towel and was given one, so that Kirk could also shower.

For breakfast Kirk had an egg and cheese omlette and I a “sexy omelette” (basically an omelette with chicken, onions and barbecue type of sauce in it). We also had bacon (just not the same, not even like precooked bacon). I think will stick to cooked thai dishes for breakfast. The omelette was good but nothing like my Dad’s or like the rest of the thai food we have had so far at our guest house.

After a leisurely morning we rented bikes from our guest house and travelled around town. A super way to see the town, cool breeze, and great sights. Lots of kids waved from their homes or on the street and said allo (hello). Very friendly. We were off to see the town and maybe find the sculpture park. We didn’t locate the park (as our map had no street names) but we saw life in Nong Khai. See the gallery for some pictures of oxen (cows?) we saw crossing the road. » Read the rest of the entry..

Our overnight train trip was very easy. The swede accross from us was talkative, although hard to understand due to his way of speaking low and mumbling while barely moving his lips. Sleeping was easy, I was out by 10, heather an hour later so she says. She had the upper bunk and I the lower. We slept with our packs to prevent theft of which there was none. » Read the rest of the entry..

Written October 12, 2005

Our last day in Bangkok (thankfully!). We checked out after a leisurely morning and left our packs at the hostel as we had to return that evening to pick up passports with newly acquired vietnam visa. First stop was lunch at the Whitanhya (spelling?) building. It is a school of some type and we ate in the cafeteria. Heather had something (we don’t know what it was because the menu was in thai) that tasted like licorice a bit with rice and some crunchy sweet thing. I had a spicy chicken dish topped with a fried egg, it was very good but very spicy. Spicy + 33C temp + high humidity= extreme sweaty kirk, not pretty. » Read the rest of the entry..