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| writing the blog while cruising down the Mekong |
Currently we are rolling down the
Mekong River in the proverbial slow boat. There are green hills on both sides covered
with banana trees, bamboo, rice, and water buffalo. There is a cool breeze blowing and everyone
is pretty mellow.
Getting here was not so mellow.
We left Chaing Mai about 2:30
yesterday in two mini-vans piloted by aspiring Formula-1 drivers. I felt like I was in the movie Skyfall – car
chases, near misses, death-defying high-speed stunts – the whole ball of wax. Eventually even the guide asked them to take
it easy – and he is a native. Up to that
point I felt that we had about a 50% chance of making it to Chaing Kong. After our Guide, Jack, asked them slow down I
gave us about a 55% chance. Upon arrival
when everyone had unwrapped from their fetal positions, put their rosaries
away, and kissed the ground we checked into our Hotel.
With G-Adventures it seems that the
hotels we stay in are always down dark, twisting back alleys. The hotels are basic, clean and have all the
amenities including beds make from Kevlar.
It just seems odd that they are hidden away where no one who was looking
for a hotel would look. The one last
night was on the edge of a farm.
We went out for a group dinner at a
restaurant right on the edge of the Mekong River so we could see our next day’s
destination across the river – Laos. At
the end of the dinner as we were walking back to the hotels my GI bug regrouped
and attacked.
It was not a restful night.
Not only did I spend most of my
night sitting on the great white throne but the roosters on the farm next door
thought that 3 am was the time to start the dawn chorus. Even though my GI tract was in trouble I
still had the urge to dispatch a chicken or two. Then to add insult to injury the Dutch woman
in our group started yelling obscenities at someone who asked her to keep her
voice down. This went on for the rest of
the night. Rooster, obscenities, cramps,
repeat ad nauseaum.
We crossed the Mekong River this
morning by long-tail boat to Laos customs.
It took a while to get our Visas and get our stamp but we made it. Apparently all us white folk look alike
because my photo was not used on their copy of my Visa – they used someone else
from our group’s photo who co-incidentally also has a beard. When we tried to explain that it was not my
photo they looked at my passport and the photo on the Visa and said “Same
same”. Oh well, if they come looking for
me for any reason Stuart (whose picture they used) is in trouble. Too bad
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| Chillin' on the River |
However, we are now rolling on the
river. Mellow, chilled, less
crampy. Telen is snoozing and listening
to her music and I am banging away on my computer. Our next town is a little wide spot on the
river that recently got their main road paved and electricity. They have along history of selling marijuana
and opium products to passing river travellers.
Strangely enough, they have WiFi.
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| Life along the Mekong |
