From Chiang Mai we had to find a way to cross the border to get into Laos. The easiest way was to book with a tour company. It didn't work out that much more expensive. It would take three days to get to Luang Prabang in Laos - one day on a minibus to the border and then two days on a slow boat down the Mekong River. What we didn't expect on this journey was how many of the locals that we'd meet that would try to rip us off.
To anyone reading this who is thinking of taking the trip over the land border between Thailand and Laos - Chiang Khong/Huay Xai:
~ Do not listen to anyone who tells you to buy the visa with them. They will overcharge you. We saved over 5 pounds by buying the visa at the border.
~ Do not listen to them when they tell you that it will take you ages to get your visa and that the slow boat will leave without you. From the moment of getting to the border, applying for the visa, paying for it and then getting it stamped, it took about 10 minutes. We then sat on the boat waiting for almost 90 minutes waiting for everyone to arrive. They want everyone on the boat because you're paying for it!
~ Do not listen to anyone that tells you that you have to go and sit in a(their) restaurant before you get on the slow boat because he has to tell you all something. Do not listen to him when he tells you to book the accomdation with him in advance as all the guesthouses will be booked in Pakbeng when you arrive and there will be a power cut. After the last check of your passport get straight on the boat. That man ripped us off. Very annoyed. There are plenty of guesthouses in Pakbeng.
Arghhh!!!! That whole event really tainted our first impressions of the Thai and Laos people, which is a huge shame as most other people we met were really friendly people, particularly in Laos. We wouldn't have minded so much if they were honest with us and just said "we will charge you a small fee of x amount, but it will take the stress out of the journey for you", instead they evaded all our questions, each person giving us different information, basically lying to us all. On this journey we met Steve, a fellow Londoner who we were bonded with in English stubborness and annoyance with all the hassle we got along the way. He was such a laid back chap though, very easy to get along with, and he ended up travelling with us for the rest of our trip through Laos.
When we arrived in Pakbeng on the second night (we had already booked the room for that night with that liar of a man at the border), we were faced with a room with one bed for the three of us! We kicked up a massive fuss and were 'upgraded' to another room which could accomodate us. They also tried to charge us more money. We were already over charged by a huge amount. We just weren't having any of it. By the end of it Reena said that she felt like hitting someone, which is so far from Reena's usual disposition!
The journey on the slow boat did take a very long time - about seven hours a day on tiny wooden benches... but reading, sleeping, playing cards, eating, chatting, etc. seemed to pass the time by ok. Once you arrived in Luang Prabang you very quickly realised that it was all worth it...
1 comment:
what a wonderful travel experience. I love reading your blog, thanks for sharing....
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