Pak Beng - no Electricity, no ATM, no Money!

Trip Start Feb 04, 2008
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Trip End Jan 19, 2009


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Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Sunday, March 9, 2008

Ok so the plan was to get up early, catch our slow boat and tootle off up the river with the breeze in our hair and not a care in the world.  Only we hadn't banked (no pun intended!) on both ATM's being broken.  Hmmmm - do we wait another day or risk going with the cash in our pockets - just enough for the boat ticket, a room in Pak Beng but nothing else?!

We, obviously, chanced it and went with Plan B!  After a leisurely 9 1/2 hours on the river we arrived at the lovely little fishing village of Pak Beng, climed up the hill to the main street and set off on a mission to find (a) an ATM or (b) somewhere that took VISA!  In a town where the electricity shuts off at 10pm sharp this was never likely so we had to spend right down to our last pennies on a cheap dinner (which came to $3 including drinks!) and a couple of sandwiches for lunch the next day.  We were told by our guest house owner, who took pity on us and gave us a room for cheap when we explained how little cash we had, that there would be an ATM in Huay Xai (the border town and our destination for the second day). 

The second day arrived, a beautiful misty morning that Will couldn't stop taking pictures of.  We hopped on our boat for the second leg with 2,000 kip to our names (that's about 12p!) and hoped for the best!
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Comments

nickgoodie
nickgoodie on Mar 11, 2008 at 01:03PM

The Littlest Hobo's!!
AHhhhhhh Are You Hobo's Now?!? Travellers Was One Thing Now Tramps Is Something Else!!
Sounds Like Your Living On The Edge!!
Off To N.Y. For My Birthday, So I'm Starting My Travel's, I'll Catch You Up When Your Back In The Land Of Electricity, More Than $6 Buck Dinners & More Than 12p In Ya Pockets!!
Miss You Guys!!
Take Care,
N
xx

lauralou20
lauralou20 on Mar 12, 2008 at 07:23AM

Poor Little Mites!
I hope your 12p saw you through to the nearest available cash point & your little tummies weren;t rumbling from your smaller than usual dinner!

Thank you for my lovely birthday card! Didn't expect that! Well I've started reading the Thailand book Sarm gave me & I'm already scared of how easy it is to offend people by pointing your feet at them etc! I'll be the politest English girl in Thailand!!!

Lots of love, can't wait to see you! xxx

annat1980
annat1980 on Mar 12, 2008 at 05:03PM

On a shoestring!
Hi guys! That gives a whole new meaning to 'Southeast Asia on a shoestring'. You couldn't even get a shoestring for that! Hope all went well and that you have found an ATM :) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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