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Posted by Jonny

Posted on August 10, 2007

I haven't really had time to write any coherent thoughts about the places we've been yet because we have so little time. But we'll have a quick run through our experiences so far. Ray you might wanna note some of this for your trip.

We started in Bankok. We had no hotel booked and arrived at the airport fairly smashed after a long flight. Straight away we were getting shafted. When you arrive at Bangkok airport you have to go down one or two levels to get a taxi. The taxis are multi-coloured (pink or yellow/green), we hit the top floor which is the deleuxe taxis. A taxi to town should only cost 400 baht approx or else you are being ripped off!

On Cheevers' advice we hit T.A.T. (the "Tourism Board"), except there is two TATs... T.A.T., who are imposters, and TAT the real tourist board! We went to the former and probably spent 50-100 euro over the odds. We booked 2 nights in Bangkok, a VIP bus to Chiang Mai, 2 nights in Chinag Mai, a 3 day trek while there, our visa to Vietnam, and the slow boat to Laos for 2 days. All this cost 250 euro, not bad at home but you can always haggle! Ask to see the exact amounts and breakdowns and question them.

Bangkok is crazy, ping pong shows, Westerns and Thai girls, bars, scam merchants and expenisve shopping malls. It's an experience and aclimatises you to the haggling world and the seediness of the place.

So off to the bus station for a 9 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai, near the north border with Burma. We got the VIP bus which costs 800 baht. If the travel agent tries to charge more say no I'll get the ticket myself and ask for the whereabouts of the bus station.

Chiang Mai is nice and quiet. We had a nice place and it was cheaper than Bangkok. We hit an "Irish Bar" and the market while there. Nice enough to see. We then went on our trek. You can be lucky with the trek. The quality of the experience depends on so many things, the people you are with, the distance you cover, the weather, the path you take, and the guides. We got lucky, great guides, great people and the weather wasn't too bad. Ponchos are a must in this season! We also got elephant rides and bamboo rafting as part of the trek. All in all a great few days.

When we got back we hit the town with the trekking crew and one of the guides. We had the guide drunk after 2 pints and a whiskey and he was off home. We stayed out and hit a night club. Good craic, seediest joint I've ever been in. Somehow we managed to get 6 in a Tuk Tuk after and neary broke the thing. The guy was not happy.

Next day we were up early for the slow boat. Books, iPods, PSPs as well as cushions are a must. 7 hours the first day and 9 the next. Laos is a lovely country, a complete change to the hustle and bustle of Thailand. We haggled a VIP boat the next day for $200 amongst 15 of us. This was a great plan. We had airplane bucket seats and a cooler of beer. Made the trip fly and we arrived before the other 60 peeps in LuangPrabang and got the choice of hotels in the area. Paid 400 baht for a room with four of us (8 euro). Some of the crew hit the waterfalls and they looked spectacular here. Blue water and deep plunge pools that you can dive into.

We hired a "VIP" bus to ViangVien. It was hell! No aircon and a 5 hour ride with no leg room! ViangVien is the tubing spot. Best laugh ever! Will post pics soon as I get them off Dave the Kiwi who brought his camera. A waterproof bag is a must BTW. Very handy for waterfalls and rivers etc!

On to the capital of Laos then, Vientiane. Nice place. Not much to do and quite expensive to stay. We had to pay $15 dollars to stay in a place because we arrived at like 9 at night. We got a flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Beware, you have to pay to get out of both Vietnam and Laos, no cost in Thailand. We had spent all our Kip in Laos so had to take out dollars!

In Hue now, waiting to catch a bus to Hoi An. 12 hours to here only to be told to get off the bus and wait for a 2 o'clock bus to Hoi An, another 5 hours. Playing pool in a bar with some Vietnamese now. Good laugh to pass the time. Oh and it gave me a chance to write some collective thoughts about the last 2 weeks and 2 days... Mad, 3 countries in 2 weeks. Check out our progress on a map of Asia. We've nearly travelled around Ireland 6-7 times in the number of Kms now. Oh the joy! We're getting suits done in Hoi An for a few days. Mum there'll be some suits heading your way soon! Whether I'll actually ever be home to wear them is another story!

YES YES!! Bring on Natrang!

And yes in defence of the waterfall pic, we were there about 6 days most of which was on a bus and of not with factor 50 involved. We're not on package holiday, it's backpackers tan all the way; arms, face and tops of the feet only! Meath farmers would be so jealous!

Filed under Jealous?, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam >< 3 Comments