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Last day in Laos for the time being. They put on a big leaving party for me at COPE. It was great fun, lots of eating, drinking and karaoke!! Quite sad to leave them really, it's been nice to have somewhere to call home for a few weeks. I will miss Julia who I've been living with, and all the guys at work. I set off this morning heading for Thailand, just across the friendship bridge, about 22k from Vientiane. With a slightly thick head I didn't manage to set off as early as I'd hoped, but with the rain and cold weather I've had over the past week it wasn't too hot so my 10am departure was ok. It took me an hr to get to the boarder, once I got there it was chaos! No signs, no people directing traffic just loads of people and cars everywhere. It took me over an hr to get across the bridge with all the faffing about. Hello Thailand! I always find it strange crossing a land boarder- it just an arbitrary line in the soil, but so much changes from one side to another. I had got very used to Laos, almost forgotten it's such a poor 3rd world country. Thailand reminded me as soon as I set foot on her soil! Almost a culture shock coming back to the western world! Decent roads, signs, adverts, big cities. I cycled 55k to the closest town, Udon Thani. A long flat straight 3 lane highway with very little traffic and a cycle lane. The miles swept by easily. I arrived in udon at 2.30 after a couple of coffee breaks making my ride about 25kph. Udon is a big city, the largest I've seen since leaving Hanoi, it even has a tesco!! Nice to be in civilisation again! Staying in a cheap crappy hotel for the night- no mirror in the bathroom- no biggie I hear you cry get, it wasn't to me either. Had a shower- cold, still no problem. Got dressed, and headed out to a swanky shopping mall. Spent about an hr walking around buying maps etc before I headed to a department store, smelling perfume checking out the hottest thai fashion with all the super glam Thai women. Aware I was getting some odd looks, assumed it was my wet hair, and un ironed dress, when I caught glimpse of myself in one of the massive mirrors. Only had mascara ALL over my face!! Emergency sunnies on inside moment, before dashing to the closest corner to sort myself out! So funny! A few things I can take from this... 1, always was make up off before going to bed; 2, always wash face when u get up in the morning; 3, ALWAYs check yourself before leaving the house regardless of where and what your doing. If i didnt feel like a dirty traveller before i certainly did after that! Very funny!
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