Cycle Touring Laos (9)
964 Kilometres – 19 DaysNong Khai, Thailand – Vientiane, Laos – 29 km
As it was drizzling, I was in no hurry to get underway, so I chatted
with the lady who owned the guesthouse. Eventually, I left and cycled
to the Thailand immigration office, where checking out was easy.
Entering Laos was slightly more complicated as I needed a visa,
which usually is a breeze, but this time, they charged me $50 instead
of $30. This was a scam, but there was little one could do about it, as
it’s the immigration office.
Pissed off, I cycled into the city, with the result almost everything
after that pissed me off. Still, I strolled to the riverfront, which was
nearly flooded, as the Mekong was in full flood. Lots have changed
since I was here six years
prior, some for the better and some not.
Vientiane
I woke to a drizzle, a drizzle which continued throughout the day.
Later, I grabbed the umbrella and searched for a lens cap for my
camera, which I lost the day before. It just wasn’t my day. I also
wanted to get another mirror for the bicycle as I was in a country that
drove on the opposite side of the road to Thailand. These two simple
tasks kept me busy almost the entire day. In the process, I strolled
past some of the oldest temples in Laos and numerous eateries, all
offering traditional Lao food as well as international cuisine. Still,
mostly, there was the ever-present baguette, which I enjoyed.