Destination Laos: Part 2 Friendship Bridge

Caught the earliest bus from the BKS (Bor Kor Sor - acronym for some government owned transport company) station to Vientiane. Udon Thani did seem more appealing by day, but it still felt like the Air America base of old - very like Johor Bahru ( "affectionately" JB) in Malaysia, just sandier and colder. Classic border town feel to it, but authentic in its ruggedness and unpretentiousness.

Unexpectedly cold morning in Udon Thani, but still a fun day out zipping around Udon on a moto and later a Skylab, albeit a little cold.

Touched by the kindness of a stranger at the BKS station. This Thai lady who lives in Seremban, Malaysia and spoke fluent Mandarin offered to pay my fare of 80 baht when i didn't have enough baht on me and they did not take dollars, what with the money changers all closed this early in the morning, i was fretting about not being able to board and having to spend another (boring) day in Udon Thani. Paid her back later, but it really was a heart warming experience.

Up to that point ill admit i was a little disappointed with this trip, this part of the world where the ticketing system necessitates you to hand over your passport, take a seat, and wait for your name to be gruffly called before you could buy a ticket, and this whole procedure figured out by observing people and trial and terror processes with my limited Thai and the ticket clerk's grunted replies and his obvious I-havent-had-my-coffee-this-morning-so-bugger-off mood. But its these little moments, these acts of kindness by people you have never seen before and probably will never see again that makes me feel that life can be so simple and beautiful, and that i want to travel as long as my legs can still carry me.


That aside i crossed the border at Nong Khai without any further incident on the uber comfortable Thai-Lao bus, with carpeted flooring and big comfortable seats to sink into. The clearance was a bit on the slow side on the Laotian border, but what the hell. I was grinning to myself like an idiot, having somehow managed to bumble my way here, and right on schedule too.