Laos visa run part 2 - Being in a strange country without a passport

So there we were on the other side of the border -without our passport! (Some random person took it after we went through customs and disappeared…) And yet again we had no cigarettes and we were tired (7 hours on the van is not fun) Brian and I went in search of  a shop where we can buy something to drink – hopefully we can find something on this dusty border… AND THEN - this AWESOME duty free shop appeared like a pot of gold!!!

We bought 3 cartons of cigarettes (Camel – yeah baby and Marlboro, unfortunately no Peter Stuyvesant) and 2 bottles of rum for under 2000 baht (less than R500 for 300 cigarettes and 2litre of rum -now that is what you call CHEAP!!!) Strolling around with no idea (or care) of the time we went back where we waited for our passports –and we were the only 2souls left of our group….                  W T F?????? (Strange country, no phone, no one we know and most importantly – NO PASSPORT!!!) PERSKE-MAGIE MAATJIES!!!!

We ran around like headless chicken (if chickens can carry booze and smokes) in search of our visa-group. SHOCK. GASP. HORROR!! After what felt like hours one of the Thai ladies who works with the company appeared out of the masses and showed us they way to the van. So we jumped in the van and wanted o apologize to the driver- but no driver, only a passenger in the front. Pheeeew. We were not holding them up, we still need to wait for the driver – AND THEN WE STARTED MOVING. Whaaaaaaaaat??!! Yes indeed they drive on the wrong side of the road – so all the way there Brian was ducking – since it looked as if all the cars came gunning for us - SCARY!!! Anyhow we eventually got to the Royal Thai Embassy in Laos and EUREKA – our passports were handed to us. So we lay on the grass like mine-workers after lunch and waited to be called. We had to part with our passports again – luckily this time to an official.

We went outside to get in the van – and yet again it was gone. But a driver showed us to where the vans are parked and with light hearts we went to get in the van. The van that we got in was not the van that we got there with – not a big problem, except if all your luggage is in the OTHER van. Now we had no money, no booze, no smokes, no phone, no clothes AND AGAIN NO PASSPORT!!! But they quickly informed us that our luggage is at the hotel.

WE got to the hotel – WOW WOW WOW. Massive building with impressive gates and a gigantic water fountain, and then we turned in next to it… And at the back was a hotel that in Laos is a 5 star hotel, but looks like a Mexican prison with nice gardens. We couldn't care less – we wanted food, a shower and a bed – in that order. We checked at reception and luckily our stuff was there. Then we headed straight for the buffet brunch:

 (Lyk soos jou ouma se tafeldoeke) 

The room:

Steven's hairdryer:

The hotel:

 After brunch we showered and slept for hours on end. WE went for dinner and then went for some exploring. WE saw the most AMAZING night market - it is about 2 hectares big (if not bigger):

 It was quite interesting to shop here – the currency is Laos Kip and is absolutely useless. Look at the price of these eggs (now I don’t know about you – but if the price of eggs has four zero’s behind it, it should be made of GOLD):

 We went back very late, slept again. Next morning we got breakfast, went for a swim and went to the border. Riiiggghhttt – we are going to the border without our passports. Well we stood at the border and waited between the masses. After what felt like forever we heard our names in very strange accents shouted from somewhere in the crowd and our passports magically appeared in our hands. WE went through customs and got on the van to head back.

Through all the craziness – this is by far the easiest process. You do nothing except enjoy the crazr – and oh do we enjoy crazy times. Another 3 hour drive, dinner at a random place next to the road, 4 hours. BANGKOK!!!!! Home sweet home...

(Oh ya - you remember the jackets... Well turns out that 27 degrees Celsius is called winter in these her parts...)