The Tip Hotel Nong Khai

... that we were all fit and well, and once again we got hit with another "tax", this time they wanted 2000 dong or $1 ($1 actually equates to 17,000 dong). Again we were told that all non-Vietnamese had to pay this. It seemed pretty legit as we were given receipts for the tax. We then had to go to a 3rd window to get stamped in to the country and have our Visas checked. The 3 soldiers on the window clearly did not like westerners and did their very best to annoy us by ignoring our ...

Sept 8th 2009 - The start of a 10 day road trip around the North East of Thailand (Isaan).

Me, Corinne, a Pick up Truck and a supply of Hersheys chocolate nuggets!!

One thing to mention before I start is that the majority of Isaan people have never seen foriegners before, therefore throughout this road trip we were the star attraction wherever we went and were never, at any time, away from peering eyes, being the subject of discussion or the object ...

Bang Fai Phaya Nak (Naga Fireball)
This extraordinary miracle always occurs at the beginning of the full moon night in the eleventh lunar month (End of Buddhist Lent). It can be seen along the Mekong River in the districts of Mueang, Phon Phisai, Pak Khat, Bung Kan, Tha Bo, Si Chiang Mai and Sangkhom. Bang Fai Phaya ...

Nong Khai is a long thin province running along
the Mekong River, providing the main access to Laos. Originally people went by boat from Tha Sadet, but the building of the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong has made Nong Khai a major centre for transport and trade with Laos. Attractions include Wat Pho Chai, renowned for its large seated Buddha ...

... et fout nathalie dans la riviere qui, elle, nage a contre-courrant en tentant desquiver les crottes d<elephant (eux ils prennent au peid de la lettre l<expression Faire sa toilette !!!). Les Mahouts se tordent de rire. Celui qui prends des photos avec ma camera a meme croque la scene !
Re-retour au bercail. Je descend de ma monture...avec la demarche d<un cowboy (c<est large, un elephant). DOuche et bouffe ! ET fin de l<aventure. Et quelle aventure ...

... br>
After an hour of walking circles with out eyes shut and trying to sit still we headed out for a whole group meal minus the swine flu victims. The restaurant was a good laugh and the food was of a high standard. After this we headed back to the hotel and the majority went up stairs to bed or to watch Rambo where as I got stuck with this.

Overall trip is going great, heading back to Thailand tomorrow and then down to chill on the beaches of koh toa.

... all I bet there were 50 young people out there with ages ranging from 8 to 18 playing either vball or soccer before the wind picked up and everyone saw what was heading our way, a big dark cloud dumping water on some unfortunate town across the river in Thailand. Seeing all of those kids playing sports was great, made even better by the fact that there was no adult supervision, they didn't need it. It kind of reminded me of my childhood when kids used to play outside more. I remember a ...

... in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued ****** with a ***** weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it's hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut. "

We're off to enjoy some cold ones, get some rest and get the camera sorted and will do some proper blogging with pics soon. Love to all

C n S

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Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep moronsontour

... seemed to prevail. However, we even encountered a concrete truck at one stage and decided that 'might is right' all right. It was nice to be able to tootle through the countryside at a reduced pace and soak in some of the scenery.


The monotonous periods were spent trying to remember some of the names of towns by corrupting, shortening, spoonerising them so that they would stick in our minds for the next turn off. All ...

... creature, Ganesh, and a plethora of others. I had a lovely time and took some great pictures. There were no other people there because it was still so early, by the time we left a few tour buses pulled up. glad we missed them. Next up was a tuk tuk ride to the border. We crossed over, got our Laos visas and headed into Vientiane. I decided to go straight to the Thai embassy to apply for a visa; 4 grueling hours later the mission was accomplished. The Thai ...