It has been a long and difficult trip to Vientiane by train, so I wasn’t too happy, and my back is paying the price for the uncomfortable seats and ridiculously cold cars. I’d forgotten that the cold tends to make my lower back seize up. I haven’t had to deal with that in almost four years!
This is a case where it was not about the journey, but the destination. Once I got to Vientiane, I was much happier, and warmer! Going through Thai and Laos immigration was super easy. I really need to remember to bring a pen. I don’t remember anyone ever mentioning to bring a photo for a visa on arrival in Laos, and it’s a good thing I had a bunch of spares! It was necessary to have a photo though. Not sure what they’d do if I hadn’t brought one.
I quickly got through for $40 US (better deal than 1700 Baht). I got a deal on a SIM card, and they even set it up for me right there. Got the shuttle bus into the city (20,000 LAK aka Kip), and things were moving along.
It was funny when I got to the bus station. Immediately the rear exit of the bus was blocked by taxi and tuktuk drivers. They tried hustling me, but I wasn’t having any of it. 200 Baht for a 1.4 km ride? I said I’d walk. Later they came back and said 100 Baht. Yeah, I’ll walk. I could use the exercise anyway. I sat down and got my bearings. A Laotian man sitting next to me said if I go just outside the station, it was much cheaper. We both got a bit of a laugh out of the whole situation.
So, I walked. It wasn’t far, and I could use the exercise. 1.4 kilometres after no sleep was a bit of a chore.
I made it to the hotel, and thankfully they let me check in early, at maybe 11 a.m.? After getting things sorted out, I napped until just after 2 p.m. Oh, the luxury of warmth and being able to sleep laying down. The simple things in life, right?
After my nap, I got up, showered, and went for a walk. I checked out some shops, grabbed a snack, and wandered. While I didn’t have coffee today, I got a little caffeine. I found a shop selling what had to be counterfeit brand name products. I may grab some warm clothes for the train ride back! Perhaps they’ll get more use when I make it to Nepal.
I picked the funky area of Vientiane to stay in. There are loads of restaurants, cafes, and bars in this area around the Lucie Hotel where I’m staying. It’s a good choice, and I love the architecture here. Is it French colonial style? I have no idea but it’s interesting! There are a lot of temples in the area, and Wat Ong Teu was a nice one to start.
A bit more wandering towards my hotel, and I found a place for a one-hour Lao massage. The lady had strong hands, and the massage is a bit different than a Thai massage. It did help my back, but did not quite fix it. More wandering found me at another massage shop for a one-hour oil massage. The young lady here was certainly not as skilled as the previous one, and she used so much oil that I felt like a greased pig (not that I am familiar with them!).
Heading back to the hotel I stopped at a Cuban restaurant and had a Cuban sandwich for the first time. It was really good! Not what I expected in Laos, but that’s okay. Back at the hotel I had a small snack, and retired early. I expected I would be getting a good sleep tonight!
Though I had a few difficulties on the trip, I would recommend travelling to Vientiane by train. It’s budget friendly, and can save you a night at a hotel. Just book far enough ahead to get a sleeper car in first class.
Leave a Reply