Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
The next part of the journey was to make our way to Laos via the slow boat. The first part was to Chang Kong, stopping at natural hot springs and also the White Temple along the way. We stayed at Boom guesthouse and it wa definitely the worst accommodation we have stayed in yet. Sheets didn't look clean, walls were dirty, bathroom had a hole in it (just the right size for a rat or mouse) so needless to say I wasn't happy. But this was included in our package and since we had already overspent our Thailand budget, I just had to suck it up. (But slept inside my sleep sack.) We had arrived at 5 and dint wasn't until 7, but we weren't too optimistic about that so Kenny got some street food that they told him was chicken, he suspected it was chicken hearts. As we walked into the town we found a 7/11 and had our regular toasties and stocked up on some snacks for the boat trip. On our way back to Boom, we saw guards with machine guns in their hands, smiling away at us. Made me just a little nervous. The dinner was as expected, not great, the chicken looked a little grey, but got to meet a few of the people we'll be doing the trip with. I had the most uncomfortable and noisy sleep ever, topped up by waking in the middle of night with a really sore tummy, so I got up to go to toilet, and thought that was me sorted.
The next day, I had used the toilet twice before breakfast, I couldn't eat breakfast, and felt soo sick that I thought I was gona pass out. I had a wee cry, and talked to myself about how I was gona get on this boat for 6-7 hours. I took every pill I thought might help from the first aid kit, and had to go. The 1st ride was on the back of a Toyota Hilux with all the luggage, then though Thailand emigration, got the bus over the friendship bridge to Laos immigration. It was an easy enough application, we attached a picture and $35usd, and it was ready within about 20mins. Then waited another hour before getting the 20baht bus (we literally had 40baht left!) that took us to the boat. On which I puked into a bag, how embarrassing. Only there was nothing in my stomach so just green bile. (Sorry for the details). Next I had to use a thai toilet; that got messy. But we made it onto the boat and got relatively comfortable seats. They were like car seats that had been cut out and put in rows. If you were on last and one of the unfortunate ones, you had to spend the 6-7hours on a wooden bench with a pillow. Wouldn't have fancied that. The river trip featured really beautiful scenery, and we seen the people and animals who lived along the riverbanks. But unfortunately, the only way for me to take my mind off my bowels was for me to sleep, so that's what I pretty much did the whole way. Then we arrived in Pakbeng with the promise of a tuk tuk to the hotel. This was not the case, but I jumped in the front seat of the luggage van and got a lift. We stayed in Villadonsek hotel after the man at the Laos immigration gave us some speal about safety etc and everyone else was signing up. It was also pretty crap, but I'm assuming ok by Laos standards, and an improvement on the previous night. They didn't turn the water on until an hour after we arrived, it was warm but had no pressure. Kenny got buffalo curry for dinner, I turned away as the smell made me feel sick. I had French fries but they were disgusting, so today I've had a total of two coconut biscuits and four French fries. I must be sick if I'm not eating!! I ate like a pig the whole way through Thailand. The night was interesting. Since arrival, until the morning, I used 2.5 toilet rolls. From 11.30pm to 4.30am, I must have gone to the toilet every half hour, not pleasant! But funnily I woke up happy enough and had my first proper food, a jam baguette.
- comments