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  Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Arrived in Laos after 22 hours on a bus. Journey started with an emergency motorbike taxi race through Hanoi. Steve and Craig's passports were late back from the embassy and we almost missed our bus. Had to get motorbike to the bus, because a car wouldn't get through the insane traffic quick enough. Squashed on bike with backpack. Already late and my taxi ran out of petrol, so had to drive super fast to catch up. Not at all safe, but kind of fun! My helmet was too big as usual. It blew off my head with the strap catching it around my neck and almost strangling me.

Bus had luckily been held for us. Initially I had 2 seats to myself and was enjoying spreading out. The luxury ended when the bus picked up a whole load of locals. Vietnamese are so noisy. The peace ended and my ipod was drowned out by their shouting and awful music. Was surprised (but pleased) that they didn't start playing with their mobiles. They had so much luggage. Overloaded bus. Boxes under seats, huge bags of rice in the aisles and backpacks piled up on the back seat. Bags falling everywhere, so they were thrown up onto the roof of the bus and attached with a few ropes.

Chaos at border into Laos. Vietnamese against foreigners in scramble to get passport stamped first. Queuing does not exist in Vietnam. We had to join in their game of knocking people out of the way, shouting and pushing passports to the front of the pile and sweeping others to the back. Non-Vietnamese had to pay to get exit and entry stamps in passport. I didn't have visa and it seemed like everyone else did. Got a little worried, but luckily was able to get a 30-day visa-on-arrival.

Scenery driving through the mountains into Laos was beautiful. Sudden change in temperature. Hot and sweaty on bus. Vietnamese man kept falling to sleep on me. I barely slept, but the journey wasn't as bad as I expected. Bus dropped us out of town. Sat in back of truck into city centre. Found accommodation with no problem. I'm sleeping on campbed in Steve and Craig's room. So far Laos people seem friendly and a lot more chilled than Vietnamese.