Chumphon - Gateway to Ko Tao

Laos was amazing, we had such a great time there, its a spectacular country, rural and mountainous, great food and great people, we savoured every moment there, knowing that when we go back in a few years it certainly wont be the same as tourism increases.

Soi Rambutri Bangkok

Vientiane was a funny capital, so small and so very quiet, we walked out to the Lao version of the Champs Elysee (no disrespect but they have a long way to go!) and climbed the very impressive Patuxai, which was great and offered fabulous views over the city, we also went to the Lao revolution museum which was interesting and gave us a great insight into the country's history.

Then we left, and that was Laos over with, it went so quickly! We took a tuktuk out to the border and spent the last of our kip, and crossed back into Thailand via the Lao/Thai Friendship Bridge. As soon as we crossed the border we knew we were back in Thailand! Sealed roads, 7-11's all over the place, so much more modern. We went to Nong Khai bus station and had missed a bus to Bangkok by 5 minutes! Just our luck! We sat in the bus station munching on the last good bread, cheese and pate we will have in a while! and waited 3 hours for the next bus, we left at 1630 and arrived safely into Bangkok with very sore bums at 0330 the next morning, we headed back to Banglamphu the area we always stay in and searched for a decnt guesthouse! We were shocked to see everything still happening as it does in Bangkok at anytime of the day, and smelt the dirt, pee and pollution that actually we had never noticed before! We found a lovely air con room on one of the sois and headed up to our room (despite it being 4am by this stage, we still had to pay for a full night for the night previous because we were checking in before check in time! imagine the cheek!)

We slept for just 3 hours, we had a list as long as your arm to do in Bangkok, first off was to head to our favourite cafe for a scrumptious brekkie, then we headed out to Silom area. Silom is home of the infamous Patpong area, skyscrapers and shops, people with too much money and sleazy old men!

We ate food from the streets and retired to bed, only to awake at 0330 this morning and get ourselves to the bus station, which we did, only to sit on a bus we thought was leaving at 5am, until it left at 6am! Our plan was to take the 5am bus south to Chumphon and then get a ferry to Ko Tao, our bus dilly dallyed about and we missed the boat so to say! Tonight we are here in Chumphon, and in the morning we take the ferry at 7am to Ko Tao...Great stuff!!!

Hugs

Ali n Matt

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