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Dust? Anybody, Anybody, Dust?
Ah the sleeper train, it was so surprisingly comfy that we both had a really good sleep! The rocking and the rattling of the train was actually quite soothing and being on the top bunk made us feel like we were in little cubby holes tucked away from everyone else. Chris felt a little chilly though because the air-con was switched on and he chose not to wear a jumper. He still slept well though. I was clever and wore my long sleeve top, hoodie and full length leggings so I was very cosey. I got up once during the night to use the toilet, it wasn't a normal toilet and it wasn't easy! I banged my head a few times as the train rocked and I almost missed the seat completely! There was no flush, just a hole that showed the tracks under the train. I hate littering so I felt bad for the poor people that lived right next to the tracks, all that tissue waste and the rest right on their doorstep, what made it worse was that I could see them and they could see me through the large open window as I was doing me business. In my head I told myself 'just smile, they don't know what your doing' lol.
A Monk slept in the bed next to mine, we both wondered if he even botherd to get changed for bed, I mean he's already wrapped up in a big blanket so what's the need!? I wouldn't mind walking around wrapped up in a blanket all day!
I woke up at about 8am, Chris had been up since half six. We had breakfast in bed. Shortly after we arrived at Nong Khai station, Thailand's border with Laos, an hour and half later than planned. We got our passports stamped, changed trains and went to Thanaleng station where we had to go through the visa process. There was a short que and a few people in front of us were having problems. It turned out one couple didn't get their passports stamped so had to go all the way back to the other station. We quickly double checked our passports but they were fine. Another guy didn't have enough cash to pay for his visa. There were no cash machines around as the station was in the middle of no where and they wern't accepting any type of cards. Luckily for him some people behind kindly lent him the extra money and agreed to go into town together so he could pay them back. Chris checked how much money we had and we were faced with the same situation! We looked around hoping someone would be kind enough to do the same for us, we really didn't want to have to get a train back but also didn't want to ask. We were in luck, a Swedish guy named Andreas who was sleeping below my bed kindly lent us the money. So we made it through and went to the capital Vientiane together. A girl named Jess who was travelling on her own also shared the tuk tuk with us. She was travelling up to Luang Prubang to teach in a school while Andreas wanted to hire a motorbike and travel around the whole of Laos by himself! Good luck to him. We didn't want to stay in Vientiane so we got the next available coach to Vang Vieng from the bus station. Fortunately we didn't have to wait too long, Jess could have got on the same coach as us which would have carried on to Luang Prubang but chose to wait eight hours for the next one, all because she had no accommodation for the night! I think she was mad.
Once we were on the coach we suddenly realised we were the only tourists on board. It was a pleasant journey, the Laos people were so friendly offering to share food with us and one lady in particular gave us menthol patches to stick on our bellys, she said it would help us breath better. She also shared her fruit with us, to be honest she wouldn't take no for an answer lol.
The coach journey took just under five hours when it should have only taken four. This was because we stopped a few times to pick up other locals and then the driver stopped to allow passengers from another coach that broke down in front on with all their goods. They rammed a motor bike, about fifty different types of tupper wear, boxes, kids toys, loads of shopping bags and a mattress on! We were worried about how we were going to get our rucksacks out but luckily the driver had rearranged it so they were at the front. Once we were on our way again we drove around windy roads high up in the mountains so were able to enjoy the views of the sun setting behind the misty mount The views were very different to what we were seeing up close outside our window. Everything within ten meters of a road was coated with a rusty orange layer of dry dirt. At first I thought the tree's leaves we're dead but then realised the houses, shops, cars even the dogs that sat too close were all covered in orange dust! I guess it's because it's the dry season right now. The roads are full of pot holes so it was a very bumpy journey from the capital to where we are in Vang Vieng. We have only been here for a couple of hours and already our clothes are turning colour. But not all is just dry and dirty, beyond the roads and towns are those beautiful green mountains, full of caves and waterfalls that we hope to explore in the next couple of days. There's also the tubing down the river which we have heard is a lot of fun.
We have just checked into the Sisavan Guest House. It looks very nice outside even though the front is covered in dust. Our room is clean but we are not, so time for a shower and bed I think.
Charlotte &. Chris
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