April 16 -about the 14th and 15th

Wednesday I was in Champasek. A small village. There were several guesthouses,
but none that I saw had air conditioning. My guesthouse, The Kham Phouy Guesthouse, cost 30,000 kip a night, ($3.57) and had an overhead fan, attached bath and toilet, 2 nice windows with no screens, a big bed and a mosquito net.

It was VERY hot yesterday, after touring the temple site I just wanted to cool off and rest, but my room was just too hot, so I went to a restaurant that was on the Mekong River. It was hot there, but with help of a fan and a little river breeze, it was an improvement.

I ordered a fried meat and vegetable over rice dish, which looked and tasted like all the other dishes I have had. I hung out at the restaurant for an hour or so, but the chairs were not comfortable, so I went back to room. I just wanted to lay down!!!and rest a little!!!

It was hot - and outside my room was a garden with a couple of cement benches and tables, NOT comfortable either. So I pulled the curtains in my room, took a cold shower and did not dry off. Instead I laid the towel on the bed under the overhead fan, and just laid down wet and in my birthday suit. Now, that was cool and comfortable -- what I was looking for.

I did this a couple of times, and then the sun started going down, and the world began to cool off a little. Later in the evening I went back to the restaurant - the only one I could find - and had some kind of dish with fried noodles, an egg, peanuts and vegetables. It looked like all the other plates - but didn't taste as good, but it was so hot I didn't have much appetite.

I drank 7- 750 ml bottles of water, about 3- 1/2 liters. The night was okay - I got a good night's sleep. I opened the curtains, the windows, turned the fan on high, and slept with no cover, no t shirt, just my shorts, on top of the sheets, under the fan.

The next morning , up bright and early, and ready to catch something back to Pakse, I stood on the road in front of my guesthouse, and a taxi/truck/bus came by with a trip to Pakse for 20,000 kip ($2.50).

The trip back stayed on this side of the Mekong on a new road still under construction and very very dusty. We crossed the Mekong at Pakse.

I went straight back to the Lankham Hotel and was happy to pay 90,000 kip for an air-conditioned room!

That afternoon the streets filled with young people throwing water on everyone in the streets. Most of the people in the streets were young people going from place to place in pickup trucks getting water poured on them by the ones on the street. They were having a great time, and it went on til dark.

It will all start again this afternoon, if not before. This is the last day, but after two days of throwing water - I am interested to see how many come out again today.

No close up pictures because of fear of getting my camera drenched!

I plan to leave Pakse today and go to a small village. If I am away a few days, it is because there is no internet connection. --But I'll be back .
All for now from land of the New Year celebration! Water throwing!

Pakse and around- April 12 - 15,2010

I'm getting kinda lost on this blog calendar. When I post - it has the time in US time, and it's not even the right date. and then I go get in places with no internet - and get behind.
So - whatever - I'm throwing everything I've got into this blog - Hope you enjoy.


This was written Tuesday afternoon, I think.

I'm still in Pakse. Waiting for the Holidays to end. Not much going on.

Went to a factory yesterday to visit a friend. It was a 10 kilometers out of town,
so I decided to take a (I'm not sure what to call it) motor scooter with a side car on it.

I like it better because you can see everything going on. In the TUT TUT you can only see out the back. On the scooter it's like sitting on the front bumper of a car!

The first price was 70,000 kip ($8.33). ... I went into my facial expression act of disbelief mixed with my "I've done this many times before" look, and offered 30,000 kip ($3.57). That's the price my friend told me. ... The driver looked a little disappointed and came back with an offer of 40,000 kip.

With that thought of keeping the driver on my side, and knowing I usually pay
"the foreigner price", I agreed and we took off. The ride itself, had it been at SIX FLAGS, would have been worth it.

Of course now that only got me there. The driver waited, and charged me the same going back! I had failed to negotiate a round trip price!!!!


The next day in Pakse, I saw a notice in my hotel lobby about a van to Chapasak, leaving at 8:00 for 50,000 kip. ($6.00). It was 7:15, and I decided to GO. Upstairs - get my bag, come down to restaurant and order - NO - no noodles, I ordered fried eggs and a baguette., I did take my own coffee that I had made in the room.

At eight a Van with full occupancy pulled up - most passengers were going much farther than me. We took off- and 30 minutes later we were in the middle of the road with a flat tire, or rather a totally destructed tire.

But it was no problem - 20 minutes later we were on the road again. And in less than an hour I was on a canoe crossing the Mekong River. There I was informed that the other 3 people with me in the canoe had bought a package tour and were going now to see the Temple - dated around 600 a.d.! A big deal here.

So I joined them, and went direct from the boat to a tut tut that took me and the other three to the ruins - the temple - the whatever.

We toured that for two hours - I'm glad Anna wasn't there, and I'm sure she's really glad that she wasn't there!! It was HOT... no shade hardly at all and a lot of looking at old stones.

Have some photos from the day.

I am now in this little town, I got a room with fan - no AC - for 30,000 kip. I hope it works!!

Here are some photos..


The pictures are 1.)a sandwich I had for lunch - red pork (sliced barbeque) with vegetables which were bean sprouts and carrots, I think) ,
2.) my scooter ride getting a liter of gas,
3.) Flat tire on way to Champasek

4.) a woman doing something at a stone statue

5.- ferry across Mekong to Champasek

6. Home port of ferry

7. Me at ruins site obeying the rules

8. River yatch

9. me at the ruins again

In the little town, there was an internet --it just wasn't working.

And I got my first example of the water throwing . We got hit going out to the Temple thing. AMBUSHED by a bunch of kids with buckets of water, balloons of water and super big water guns. Quite a surprise the first time - then we learned to look out for them.

be back in a little while.

Sunday night -a VIP air conditioned sleeper bus.

I signed off yesterday - waiting and wondering about by upcoming bus trip

In India I had ridden a sleeper bus that had a full berth like
on a train.

In Thailand I have ridden a sleeper bus, and it just had large
seats (only three across instead of the usual 4) that laid
back almost level and were very comfortable and  easy to get
in and out and spacious.

I was in full anticipation of what waited us on this trip, but
expected a good ride.

Well, it all worked out great!  No disappointments, but
definitely one surprise! The truck that picked me up  had
about 18 other travelers, mostly from Europe and at least
half of them couples.

When we got to the bus terminal it was a mad house - buses -
people - horns - lights - and lots and lots of more peoples.
This is the main holiday of the country.

Well, we all got off the truck and followed  this man to
our bus. Then He started asking for our ticket, and when we
showed him our ticket, in no particular order, just as we
stood around him in all the confusion, and he gave us a new
ticket.  Well, the new ticket had seat assignments
on them.

So when I got on the bus, and went up a curvy staircase to
the second floor, I noticed how big the berths were.  I said
to myself and to anyone around me - "WOW, what a bed!!"  and
everyone agreed, we were all excited.  The bus was cold,
and had these large beds.

Then we found out the beds were for two people - not one!
Amazing how fast a large bed can get smaller! So then all
the couples started finding where their ticket was, and who
swap with who  so couples would be together and single women
would be with women, and the same for us men! It was quite a
social mixer especially on the narrow aisle of a bus!
Everyone met everyone else and found out who belonged to who.

It was quite fun, and everyone had a good time finding their
bunks and swapping this bunk for that bunk and on and on.

My bunk mate was Blue, from England. We did fine, and he was
not bother to me, and I hope me none to him.   We all got a
good night's sleep.  It was cold, but we had a nice cotton
quilt and an okay pillow.  I put on my socks and  my
windbreaker and was very cozy in my 1/2 berth!!

Oh yea, no one had mentioned anything of this to any of us
when we purchased our tickets.

Arriving in Pakse this morning about 7;30, me and two other
travelers took a tut tut to town. The new bus stations here
are all the way out of town - (kinda like airports), and it
provides jobs for tut tut drivers).   like the train station
at the border!)

It cost 10,000 kip each, about $1.25.  The driver took us
to a guest house that I'm sure he gets a commission from,
and the other two stayed there.  I went on downtown, to a
hotel whose restaurant was full, and people all around.
It reminds me of the old Hotel Colquitt in Moultrie -
maybe in it's hayday.

I got a room - full package - air conditoning, cable TV,
overhead fan, hot water,and bath and toilet.  It cost
90,000 kip- ($10.71)the same as Vientiane but this has
a bath, and windows.

Oh yea - I heard it had been 105 degrees in Vientiane
this weekend. I did not see a thermometer but having
been there --- I believe it!!

After checking in and having a shower I came down to
the restaurant for breakfast, and almost everyone eating
were Asian, and they were all eating soup and noodles.
A couple of European women were eating granola and yogurt.
I just could NOT do it again!!  I ordered my eggs, baguette,
and black coffee.

For lunch I did eat the soup and noodles and plate of
something green. Tomorrow -- I going to try again to
order the Laotian breakfast.                  
My breakfast cost almost
$2.00, my lunch was $1.50.

The picture is
of my lunch.



















The other two
pictures are
1.)

of a nicer internet
cafe in Vientiane,















2) and me and
Blue in our
bunk on
the bus.



It's hot here
also - don't
know how hot -
but it is
kinda melting
out in
the sun!



All from Pakse
for now.

Vientiane, Laos Saturday and Sunday 11, April 2010

April 11, about Saturday 10 and Sunday11

Sunday in Vientiane, Laos

Finishing up a lazy Saturday in Laos, I went to a local restaurant
and ordered "crispy noodles and fried vegetables for dinner. It was very good and filling
and cost 12,000 kip, ($1.42). I think it is my favorite meal.

I had had noodles for breakfast, but just couldn't do them for lunch, so I got a Hamburger from a Hamburger street vendor stand. A nice set up,
kinda like you see at County fairs and craft shows. AND it was a good
hamburger. I had to instruct them, however, to heat the bun on the grill
before preparing it! good burger needs a HOT toasted bun. It cost 15,000 kip which is
$1.74.

I didn't do much Saturday - lot of walking and looking, but the HEAT really just sapped the energy from me, and after I ate dinner, I was hoping I had enough steps left in me
to return to my AC room!

Made it to the room and was out at about 7:30 or 8:00, and wide awake at 5 this morning. One thing about traveling alone, there is plenty of time to sleep!

I couldn't do a Laotian breakfast this morning, and instead opted for my usual, eggs and toast and black coffee. I guess I have to be in a place that does not even offer American
breakfast .... before I switch! --- 2 hard fried eggs and a baguette cost 12,000 kip and a
cup of coffee cost 6,000 kip. A total of $2.14.

At 8:30 I walked to the church here that I had attended a wedding at on my last trip. On
the back row they had ear phones and interpreted into English. There were about 6 English
speaking visitors.

The church attendance was less than a 100. It was a good service, and was finished in a little less than 2 hours. I met several Americans, and a couple I
had met on last trip.

Tonight I am leaving Vientiane on a night V.I.P. sleeper bus. It is supposed to have AC ,and a toilet, and then berths instead of chairs. And someone is to pick me up at my hotel
about 7:30 this evening.

This bus cost me 180,000 kip, but I bought it from a travel agent,
so I guess I'm paying a little extra . It is a 9-hour bus trip and a AC hotel room all in one, so I figure the bus only cost 90,000, because my room last night cost 90,000.
180,000 kip is equal to $21.42.

Once again, with a poor memory of bad events in my life, I'm looking forward to a very
comfortable and pleasant trip down to PAKSE, in the southern part of Laos.

Folks ask me about how I handle long airplane trips. But the real question, how does one
handle the in country - waiting on a bus - time! ...... Today, after I go to the Internet
cafe, and upload this blog, check email, try to download Rush Limbaugh to my MP3 player,and
read all the news sources, I will just find a cool place to chill out, read my novel, work
Sudoku puzzles, study Laotian phrases. It is very hot outside - too hot to walk around -
plus I do not want to get all hot, sweaty and dirty before my nice bus trip.

About the photos, one of a young boy sleeping on street.One of two guys bending rebar to
build a multi-story building.... just one bend a time! the electrical wire photo is for all
the folks at McLean Engineering --- showing "how it can be done"!!!!!

so till I arrive in Pakse , Sa-Baa-Dee (good bye in Laos - also hello)

Vientiane, Laos April 9, 2010

I put the pictures in backwards again. so the last picture is of the train station in Bangkok, then a local TUT TUT, then my hotel, the Saysoulee, then the beginning of a street party, and the first pic is of the internet store I am in.

In my last entry, I spoke of being glad I had an AC sleeper train trip for the night. WELL, sorta - I did have a sleeper train trip, just the AC didn't work!!!!

Man -- talk about being disappointed! But I was able to take solace from my fellow travelers who felt as I did. As it turned out, there were 4 tourist that I spoke with, and all of them were like me. They bought their ticket that morning! Unheard of during a Holiday season. We now believe that the coach we got was actually OFF LINE because of the AC, but due to demand that opened it up!!

About 2 in the morning the AC came on. It was not the pleasant trip I had hoped for - but as it turns out, coming here instead of my first choice worked out to benefit me very much!!

We arrived at the end of the track at the Laos border at 9:30, only and hour and half late - not bad. At the station, still in Thailand, when we got off a Thai rail official in uniform offered us tickets on a little 3 car train to the Laos immigration offices a few miles away. I bought it for 80 cents.

I noticed all the Laotians on the train did not get a ticket, and went and got on TUT TUTS and left.

When we went to Thai immigration then to check out of Thailand, the officer at the desk made me show him my train ticket on the little train before he would stamp my passport.

As it turns out - after about a 30 minute wait, the train takes us to a NEW Laos immigration point, and it is out in the middle of nowhere, 30 minutes from Vientiane!

And guess what - the only way to town is with the taxis waiting there. No TUT TUTS, no thing. there was no bank, restaurant - nothing. Just a place to rob tourist on the trip into town. On my last trip it had cost me a little over a dollar to ride a TutTut , this time it cost me $5.50.

But I learned . Next time I'm going with the locals, even if I have to buy a train ticket!


So, finally I got to Vientiane, and the driver took us to the "morning market." A center of market and transport activity in the city.

Now this is where I was brought to last time, and charged triple plus, to take me to my hotel. This time - I just walked. And it was very nice exercise at first - but man - then the heat caught me. My pack weighs 21 pounds and my day-bag about 4 pounds, so fortunately I did not have too much load. I shopped a few guesthouses along the way, and finally about 20 minutes later I found one that was really nice, without air, but had a fan.

It cost 90,000 kip ($10.71). The room was like rooms in Germany! It had a fancy lavatory, a large square shower head, an efficiency toilet, and in the room, another sink for the kitchenet. It had a refrigerator, microwave, and hot water cooker, plus a flat digital TV on the wall with cable TV. AND it had an AC, but I did not pay the extra 60,000 kip ($7.00) to use it. BUT there was no window.

I called my friend here, and set up a dinner engagement and then turned my clothes in to get washed, 2-1/2 pounds for $1.20. Took a good hot shower, then I crashed! After 5 days of travel, I was beat.

After dinner, I returned to the room, and it was hot-stuffy - humid! I went down to the office and got the AC turned on for $3.57! I decided it was well worth it.

Also after dinner I had a meeting with a new business associate and friend and got permission and directions to visit his production facility in a town way south of here. They make ceramic water filters.

So.... I am taking Saturday and Sunday OFF. and plan to enjoy Vientiane.
DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED if you want to adopt an AIR CONDITIONER for a room.
Use the PAYPAL option on the home page.

Doing find - enjoying the capital city of Laos on this HOT sunny April day!

Here I am again...

Well, here I am again, back on the trail! and I'm already 3 days behind in this diary!

People are always asking me _ "how long does the trip to Bangkok take".

And I'm always embarrassed to say I actually don't know! The reason has been that with all the
time changing, plus the International Dateline, and that I always change my time to be on time for the next flight I take, I just have never kept good records. This time I tried a little harder, and think that from the time I checked in in Atlanta, until I walked out of the airport in Bangkok,
it had taken 22 hours, with 5 hours of layovers, for a total trip of 27 hours.


Tuesday, April 6, 2010, Atlanta Ga, Til arrival in Bangkok, I had been on three flights - Atlanta to Seattle, Seattle to Tokyo, and Tokyo to Bangkok. The flights were all on time, had no
mechanical problems, the seating was "okay", and the food was good. It was all in all a very
good trip, and covered about 9,600 miles. It was a lot of hours to travel, but, boy, did I travel a long way.


Wednesday, April 7, 2010, Bangkok (It's Wednesday because we crossed the international dateline and lost what was left of Tuesday!) - - Arriving in Bangkok at 1:00 a.m. presented no problem.

The airport was busy enough that I didn't feel like the last one out, the taxi was easy, good,
cool, and the hotel was still open, and had a room for me!!! I'm at the "YOUR PLACE GUESTHOUSE", just across the road from the Hua lampong railroad station.

Although it is hot here, 86 degrees last night when we got off the plane at 1:00 a.m., I just got the FAN room, not the AC room, but I did get a bathroom with hot water. the room cost 600 Baht, $18.75.

The room with AC was 100 baht more,$3.15 more, and the room without a bath - where I stayed last time I was here was $4.00 less than I paid. --- I got a good hot shower, and 6 hours of good sleeping, the fan was very nice.

Thursday, April 8, 2010 - Bangkok - I arrived at the hotel at 2:00 a.m.. Took a good hot
shower,even brushed my teeth for the first time in DAYS! After 5-1/2 hours sleep
felt refreshed and ready! I had kinda wound down on the last leg of the flight from Tokyo to
Bangkok, and had gotten several hours of sleep - (not smooth uninterrupted sleep, but sleep my
body really appreciated!

After breakfast, this deluxe hotel includes it in the price, one poached egg (well done) two
pieces of white bread toast, coffee (good), and butter and jam, I walked over to the train
station and found out the train to the place I wanted to go was full for two days.

Disappointed, I started looking for the city bus to the Eastern Bus station, to check out bus schedules and tickets. Before the bus came - I thought of asking for a train to another location,
Vientiane, the capital, where I had gone last trip. I was able to get a ticket, and am glad to
get out of Bangkok.

Then I took a taxi to the Laotian Embassy, for my Visa into that country. That all went very
well also - except for the cost of the taxi to the embassy. The guy took me for a "RIDE.", and I
realized it - but what can you do? The meter had been set so the rate was okay - we just went a LONG way around to get there ...... so I decided - I made myself decide! - that it wasn't a big
deal and to just forget it. ouhh - that's hard to do!.... but I'm only talking about $7.00 so that
part wasn't a big deal - just the fact the guy was ripping me off! Returning to my hotel I got
an honest driver, and got back for 1/3 the price of going. $3.00 instead of $10.00.

But at any rate, everything has gone quite well, and as planned, (except for going to a
different border crossing in Laos.)

It is HOT HERE. I'm glad I got the AC sleeper for the train tonight, and I also got a lower
berth. 'PERFECT". The sleeper train cost $24.00, and takes scheduled 12 hours, actual 15 - 16
hours.So I get an air conditioned hotel plus transportation.

All for now - next contact I should be in Laos.
Johnny

Budget travel in Laos - April 5 thru May 3, 2010

Today is March 29th. one more week before departure. I am almost packed! Now... to scrape up the money!