The original end destination for today was meant to be a small touristy town with a famous look out & views, called Nongkiaw or Nongkhiaw.
Information that we are reading online about bus tickets is mostly blogs & they are mostly a few years old. There is no official government websites or apps.
We do have a rough idea how much tickets should cost depending on how far we are travelling.
Unfortunately for us, to get from Luang Namtha to Nongkiaw it's 2 bus's & an 8 hour journey.
We also read about how a lot of tourists have missed the 2nd bus, due to the unpredictability of the local bus's. We decide not to risk missing a bus & to break the journey up over 2 days, which requires us to stop at Udom Xai overnight.
We also decide to buy a ticket from an agent in town which will include a took took ride to the bus station which is 10km's out of town.
Information that we are reading online about bus tickets is mostly blogs & they are mostly a few years old. There is no official government websites or apps.
We do have a rough idea how much tickets should cost depending on how far we are travelling.
Unfortunately for us, to get from Luang Namtha to Nongkiaw it's 2 bus's & an 8 hour journey.
We also read about how a lot of tourists have missed the 2nd bus, due to the unpredictability of the local bus's. We decide not to risk missing a bus & to break the journey up over 2 days, which requires us to stop at Udom Xai overnight.
We also decide to buy a ticket from an agent in town which will include a took took ride to the bus station which is 10km's out of town.
We ask around for a few prices & get quotes of 90,000 - 70,000 KIP per ticket.
We settle for the 70,000 price & get 2 tickets which see us leaving at 7.30am on the took took.
On our arrival to the bus station, we immediately get on our vehicle, which is a 15 person mini bus.
Unfortunately were seated at the back row, with 2 other people sitting next to us.
The journey lasts only 3 hours, thank God! It's squishy in the mini bus & the roads are very stomach churning.A girl in the same seats as us vomits 3 times in a plastic bag. The noises alone make me want to do the same. Tom is listening to his music & is blissfully unaware of it, each time.
On our arrival at Udom Xai we try to buy the next lot of tickets for tomorrow, but are told it's at another bus station, 10 kilometres out of town! Damn it! We walk across the road & book a room in a very basic, kinda dirty guest house.
The bed is comfortable & clean, the bathroom seems clean enough, I just wouldn't recommend touching the wall's. I'm not feeling the best after the travel. As well as feeling nauseous, I'm also cold & clammy. A nap is in order & Tom wakes me up after 1pm.
After this we go for a walk through the centre of town to an ATM & to get food.
The town has a very Chinese feel about it.
We are very close to the border, so this should be no surprise. Our friend in Huay Xai did whinge to us that Chinese people get free visa's into Laos, but Laos people have to pay to go into China.
We see lots of Chinese writing, hear lots of Cantonese spoken & see lots of Chinese people.
I'm sure the guest house is owned by a Chinese man. He is behaving like a typically rude man that we've associated with China. While we checked in, he had his singlet pulled up exposing his whole belly, he was smoking & ashing everywhere & he also spat in a pot plant. Later that night, I saw him using the reception toilet with the door wide open.... it was so gross!
On our arrival to the bus station, we immediately get on our vehicle, which is a 15 person mini bus.
Unfortunately were seated at the back row, with 2 other people sitting next to us.
The journey lasts only 3 hours, thank God! It's squishy in the mini bus & the roads are very stomach churning.A girl in the same seats as us vomits 3 times in a plastic bag. The noises alone make me want to do the same. Tom is listening to his music & is blissfully unaware of it, each time.
On our arrival at Udom Xai we try to buy the next lot of tickets for tomorrow, but are told it's at another bus station, 10 kilometres out of town! Damn it! We walk across the road & book a room in a very basic, kinda dirty guest house.
The bed is comfortable & clean, the bathroom seems clean enough, I just wouldn't recommend touching the wall's. I'm not feeling the best after the travel. As well as feeling nauseous, I'm also cold & clammy. A nap is in order & Tom wakes me up after 1pm.
After this we go for a walk through the centre of town to an ATM & to get food.
The town has a very Chinese feel about it.
We are very close to the border, so this should be no surprise. Our friend in Huay Xai did whinge to us that Chinese people get free visa's into Laos, but Laos people have to pay to go into China.
We see lots of Chinese writing, hear lots of Cantonese spoken & see lots of Chinese people.
I'm sure the guest house is owned by a Chinese man. He is behaving like a typically rude man that we've associated with China. While we checked in, he had his singlet pulled up exposing his whole belly, he was smoking & ashing everywhere & he also spat in a pot plant. Later that night, I saw him using the reception toilet with the door wide open.... it was so gross!
We try a few basic street side 'restaurants' but for some reason, none of them have menus or staff that want to approach us or talk to us. It feels very alienating & rude. We try about 6 restaurants, with no luck. After going back to our guest house to use Wi-Fi, we find one that has reviews from other travellers & go there.
By this stage it's nearly 3pm.
Thank goodness they are open & the waitor approached us & with menus! We share 2 different types of fried veggies with chilli & a really delicious pad-thai. After lunch, we head back to our accommodation & hide away in our room, planning out tomorrow & resting.
Even though I've had a nap already today, I am still exhausted & fall asleep straight away.
I wake up at 6pm, still tired. I hope I'm not getting sick.
Thank goodness they are open & the waitor approached us & with menus! We share 2 different types of fried veggies with chilli & a really delicious pad-thai. After lunch, we head back to our accommodation & hide away in our room, planning out tomorrow & resting.
Even though I've had a nap already today, I am still exhausted & fall asleep straight away.
I wake up at 6pm, still tired. I hope I'm not getting sick.
We easily decide not to exercise today & instead we eat cake in bed for dinner...
Life is good!
-Alli
Life is good!
-Alli
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