I thought it was a dodgy bus cos I was picked up in a van. When we got to the bus station we had to hand over passports. Everything was looking dodgy. After some time we were shown to our bus, which was OK, and given back our passports. I still dont know why all the drama.
The trip to the border was more or less along the DMZ. The DMZ happened BEFORE the Vietnam War. It was proclaimed when the Vietnamese were fighting the French. In fact the DMZ became one of the most Mititarized places on the planet during the Vietnam war. We also went through Khe Sanh. Khe Sanh was the site of a huge battle in the war. The americans wanted it cos it was on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a huge supply route for the NVA. When the americans worked out that the battle was a dirversion for the Tet Offencive they left. Anything they did not take they buryied or blew up. There is nothing there today except a small museum. During the war Laos became the most bonbed country ever. They dropped over 2 milliom tonnes of bombs on Laos and it is estimated to have cost about $2mil per day.
During my trip to the border they had 3 pit stops. One in the bush and the other 2 in towns. As usual all anouncements were made in Vietnamese only so I didnt have a clue what was going on. When we got to the border the same happened so I just followed all the Thai's. Checking out was easy, just present passport and get stamp. No bag check. Then we get on the bus and go to the Laos side. I fill out the visa application and present it with $40US. The price is $35 so he tells me to go to the other end of the building and change money. I was gonna tell him to give me $5 change from the guy in front who gave him $35 but, mister tact, I kept my mouth shut. I went and got a handfull of Kip and took it back and he kept it all. I said "what no change?" He gave it back and said to get $15. I said "why didnt you just keep the $40?" He said "change" so I go back to the other end and present my handful of Kip and ask for $15US but now it is only worth $13. Jeez bloody inflation or what? I got my money and some I still had and presented my $15 and kept my mouth shut. He then gave me my visa. I had it stamped next door. Then I went back and told that ******* exactly what I thought of him. They turned and got on the bus.
Ten minutes after we crossed the border we stopped for lunch. I went for a walk and luckily I found a bank so I was able to change some money and buy something for lunch. I am getting about 8000 kip to the dollar so Im still working with big numbers.
The trip from here to Savannakhet was Ok. We were driving along narrow country roads, through farmland and small villages.
Already I notice Laos is way more backward than Vietnam. (appears to be the most backward country I have ever been to) The other thing that strikes me is the rubbish along the road. There is sooo much rubbish. When people in the bus have finnished their stuff the rubbish goes out the window. There is also a smoke haze. The thickest smoke haze I have ever seen, even thicker than Borneo. Its because of the slash and burn farming.
Savannakhet is on the Thai borber and is very Thai in appearence. The busses look Thai and they have Tuk Tuk's just like Thailand. The bus station was full of Thai's heading home. I saw a sign at the station for rooms for $5. This was perfect for me cos then I get the first bus out in the morning. The room was just that, a room. Nothing fancy, a bit grubby, and really cheap.I slept OK except for a couple of times the noise outside woke me up. It was good for me cos it gave me time to check my intinerary and I had to make a couple of changes. New will be
Savannakhet
Vientianne...2 nights
Vang Vieng....2 nights
Louang Prabang...2 nights
Udomxai
Muang Khua
Dien Bien Phu..Vietnam
Sapa