Rocking the boat to Laos

Boats for crossing the Mekong River

I chose to cross the Mekong River from Thailand to Laos at Chiang Khong, a popular crossing where the process is very streamlined. The bus dropped off all of us passengers where tuk-tuks were already waiting to take us to the river. I knew in advance that I needed US dollars to pay for my Lao visa but if I had forgotten I could have changed money at a booth serving just that purpose. I could also get a photograph if I didn't have one.

After the Thai border exit control I had to walk down to the river shore to catch a boat ride across. There is no pier so the boat sits on the sand on the shore. I had to be careful to balance my large backpack and myself and not rock the boat too much in order to get on board. The boat captain just stood there and smoked and didn’t help me (and probably rolled his eyes at another clumsy woman tourist clambering onto the boat with all her stuff).

We made it safely across. The boat stopped not quite touching the shore so that the passengers had to step ankle deep into water before we reached solid ground. Most people wear sandals or flip-flops in this hot climate anyway so it isn’t much of an issue. However, I can’t believe they just dump passengers with all their belongings at an international border crossing to wade ashore. I’m glad I didn’t drop my backpack into the water with all the commotion.

As if that wasn’t enough water for one day, it started raining. The monsoon kind of raining, where it just pours all of a sudden. While I filled out forms and waited for my passport to be stamped with a Lao visa at the border control, the rain had already stopped.

I entered Laos. I checked myself into a guesthouse. There was no WiFi. I had no mobile phone reception (there is coverage but my Slovenian provider has no roaming agreements in Laos). I was too spoiled in Thailand, that country is very modern. Now I have to adjust to being in less developed regions. Without the internet, it’s back to reading books in the evenings.