It feels misplaced to make a post that breaks the chronology of the posts that I am trying to make about my volunteer experience in Thailand. Nonetheless, I just figured out how to use the internet connection in my hotel room, so I reasoned that I should use it to its full potential.
I should start by explaining that the reason that I am in a hotel room is that I am traveling in the Northeast of Thailand. The day before I was traveling in Laos. I needed to leave the country to renew my visa so that I could stay in Thailand for potentially another 30 days.
I found Laos to be a very beautiful country. Everything was a little different from Thailand, but similar. The food is close to the same. The language is similar enough that Thais and Laotians can understand each other. The biggest difference that separates the countries is money. Thailand, on the whole, has it and Laos does not.
I had the time to spend in Laos if I so chose, but I really had no idea what to do with myself. I spent most of my time wandering around the streets of Vientian. I ate a delicious meal at a Laos restaurant and explored the waterfront of the Mekong River. When I returned to my room, I decided that in order to have fun in this laid-back country I would need traveling companions.
I had meet some interesting people on the train and border crossing, but no one I felt the urge to spend many days with. I figured there was a lot of Northeast Thailand that I had yet to explore. So that is how I ended up at the border town of Nong Khai, in an air-conditioned room with a double bed, satellite TV and a computer. Tomorrow I will attempt to reach a somewhat un-touristy national park.
Three days from then, I need to be in Bangkok to follow-up on a job interview. Continuity continues.
No comments:
Post a Comment