Udon Thani is 51 km from the Thai-Laos border. We managed to catch a public bus from the Southern terminal at 11 am. The bus was very modern and in very good condition. The bus cost about 40 baht ($1.10 !) but went to Nong Khai - 5 km from the border. Caught a tuk-tuk to the border (50 baht each) Being driven by Thai, they naturally tried a rip-off - to take us to an expensive place to get the visa. We insisted on being dropped (correctly) at the Mekong river. A short (half km) bus trip across the "friendship bridge" and we were in Laos. No problems getting a 15 day visa (US $30) at the border - although some people had to pay more as they had no photo. Then another 20 k bus trip to Vientianne - the capital.
Well Vientianne is more like a provincial city than a capital. Not much to see there but Wats. Lots of Wat. So many we did not know wat Wat was wat. Vientianne is actually composed of a set of villages (muangs) each with their own buddhist temple. A trusty rented motorcycle (rented from PVO at $7 per day) got us around. Had a traditional Lao meal with Ron Lel - an old bridge playing acquaintance of the Muntz's - and his Laotian wife. He has given up life in the big smoke (Melbourne) for (hopefully) a simpler life in Laos.
Life is expensive here. This Internet is costing me $4 an hour ! But it does include a 1 hour oil massage. An expensive dinner last night was $10 each for the meal (plus drinks). Normally it would be $2 to $5. However Vientianne is a bit quiet (some say 50 years behind the rest of the world) so we must move on towards Luang Prabang, about 300 km north. A decade ago it took up to 3 days to get there on awful twisty, windy, mountainous roads. Now it is only 8 hours on twisty, windy, mountainous roads - or you can take a slow boat down the Mekong (the fast boats are - literally - deadly). In another decade Vientianne will be transformed - invest now !
PS - Markus - what a joke. Nelson as Lib. leader. An greedy, ex-AMA trade union thug !! And the one who skipped the Tender process to buy expensive but outdated airforce planes from mate, Andrew Peacock at Boeing. The Indonesian airforce will actually be better equipped). And the man that wants Intelligent Design taught in our schools. Never trust a medico. Abbot is right - he will only last a term. But he is a good man to replace Howard - in the hate-stakes ! (PPS what is your email address - it seems to bounce)
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