Laos... the Trip and the City

The trip was awful.  We took an 8 hour bus ride to northern Thailand to a city called Udon Thani, waited for an hour and caught the next bus which took us to the Laos border.  We then proceeded to go through the customs lines and such.  Our purpose was to get a Thai visa so we can stay in Thailand for a year without having to exit or leave the country again.  Well, it was 1030pm and we were worried that we wouldn't be able to make it through the border.  We didn't have a Laotian Visa!  But, we made it through because, and it was a miracle because no office should be open that late!

So, we made it to the border, got stamped and everything and then realized we had no

 transportation to the hotel.  There were only two tuk-tuks at the place and their prices was extremely expensive, but we had no more energy to barter for prices.  Plus, what were we going to do?  Say no and wait for the next one to come around?  We jumped in the tuk-tuk and enjoyed the twenty minute ride into town.  It was fun to see Laos, except it wasn't much different than Thailand.  But still, a new place!  We were awfully tired, so we just checked in to the hotel, which only cost $15 dollars (American) a night!  

I was exhausted, but I told myself everything would be okay.  When I noticed that there were numerous tiny black bugs in the bed, I wanted to cry.  And, it didn't help that I thought the shower was for midgets!!  I had to crouch down in a cold shower.  It was not a fun experience.  I cuddled up to Leah the whole night, I was barely in the covers because I feared waking with my body infested with foreign bugs.  

Tuesday was better.  We met up with the other SMs from Bangkok!  Yay! We had just seen them last week, and we were blessed to see our friends again!  So, we all journeyed the visa process together.  The line was huge!  We got to the embassy half an hour early and were already really far back in the line.  The line was filled with angry people, it didn't help that it was super sunny and hot!  The gates opened fifteen minutes late and everyone started pushing their way through the the four foot doorway.  The fact that a line had formed didn't occur to

some people!  Oh well, we made it through and got our paperwork finished!

 

Then, we had to go in another building- this one was air conditioned. That was nice, but it was such a tiny room and it was filled with too many people.  This was the place where you paid for your visa.  The little lady at the desk called out your name.  I swear she whispered the names.  The people in the room did not seem to care if they hear their name!  Every time she called out a name, I did not understand her. I kept looking at Leah, trying to see if she understood what the lady was saying, her face was a expressing everything I was feeling!  We waited and waited, finally my name was called.  And it wasn't even my name, she called ASHLEY.  Weird, but it worked.  Everyone paid and everything was okay.  

Next, we had to spend the rest of the day wandering the streets of Laos in search of food and entertainment.  We went to the local mall, bought some mini muffins! Yum, and looked at all the overpriced blankets and DVDs.  We chilled at the hotel for the rest of the day (Leah and I moved across the street to join the other SMs in their NICE hotel with hot showers and clean beds). We all read or talked about music.. it was fun hanging out!

 

That night we went out to eat, found a burger place, got some food, ate... it was good, but really expensive!  Oh well, "It's all about the food", as Mark Velasco says... I've got to eat somehow!

And, there were absolutely no Seven Elevens, which was devastation to us because that's what we live off!  The next day, we finished up the details of our visas by picking them up at the embassy, and heading back to Thailand.  We were glad to be leaving Laos, we all missed Thailand!