Into Beautiful Laos | Day 15 – Day 16
Day 15 | 3rd June – 4th June 2016
Since young I have always heard of Laos. I do not have much knowledge about the country nor did I enter Laos before my entire Life. To me, especially when I was younger, the moment I hear the country Laos, the word “Exotic” comes to mind. Exotic Asian country.
On 3rd June 2016, I am finally entering Laos. Never will I know that I am going to have a hell load of time (be it good or bad) in here. By a 2 wheeled vehicle, a motorcycle, 1 of the strangest/ least heard of/ uncommon/ unrecommended methods of travelling by most people.
Most close minded people would go, “Travelling by a motorcycle”? Be prepared to die then. Well, they should be educated and be more open minded. Are they trying to say, if one is travelling by aeroplane/ bus/ car/ truck/ train, you will not die? Oh Please! You can even die by showering with a heater! Fatalities have happened to people taking the planes, buses, cars, trucks and trains, and a majority of the different variations of vehicle transportation accidents happen are often broadcasted as often as motorcycling accidents (be it minor or fatal)!
In whichever mode of transportation, there have been accidents worldwide. No matter where in the world, there are bound to be people unfit for driving, causing fatalities on other parties due to their own negligence. Lets just be defensive as much as we can while travelling.
Back to 2nd June 2016:
I slept in my tent at a petrol station the previous night (Day 14th/ 2nd June 2016)) near the border of Laos. I could reach Laos on the same day, but it was “risky” for me. I decided to stay in Thailand for 1 more night since there is no accommodation cost for me. Why?
I did not want to enter Laos in the late afternoon on the same day. Because I know my time WILL BE TIGHT trying to finish all mandatory chores before night falls (Especially I have never been to Laos and have not much clue if I can do things efficiently fast there).
It is always safer to finish doing all the required chores before night falls. Chores like getting vehicle insurance, finding a place to stay for the night, changing money (I have 0 Lao Kip with me). I cant do most of these at night as theres a risk of shops being closed.
As far as I remember, this is my first time utilising my tent. On the 14th day of my trip, I finally use it! I did not want to find a hotel as I was on the outskirt of a city. Too troublesome and far for me.
Found a large, suitable petrol station [most petrol station have a “bathing” facility (with the scoop for pouring water over you) and I decided to stay there for the night there. There is usually a concrete tub that holds the fresh water that just flows out from the tap above.
Now I dont want to use the water from the tub because I dont know how dirty the water is. In some petrol stations (those that are not well maintained) I encounter in the days ahead, I can see live insects that fell into it, and an abundant of live Mosquito larvaes thriving on the surface of the water. Hell no, obviously I am not going to use the water. I always end up using the fresh water from the tap above (with the provided scoop) to wash my clothes, Safety PPEs and of course myself. Out of the 10 petrol stations that I use to shower in, only 1 has got a showering head. Most of them will be a scoop type facility. Hey, we are getting it free already, whats there to complain?
It seems pretty weird that I am doing this, right? Not at all. Whilst doing this, there are other dozen of drivers (A mix of truck drivers hauling massive stuffs over long distance, families on vacations etc) utilising the “bathing facilities” there too, and sleeping at the petrol station for the night. All of them sleep in their trucks after that, of course! Though it seems that I am the only one washing all my clothes and gears. Well of course, I sweat while riding in the sun. They dont really sweat in their air conditioned vehicles.
Now I dont want anyone to disturb me nor shoo me away, I set up at a strategic spot discreetly. Few meters away from the toilet, few meteres away from my chained up motorcycle. Not in anyone’s way, I pitched it up somewhat behind a closed food stall. I shifted all the “less important stuffs” from the motorcycle to inside the tent before I head to the toilet with my important and expensive stuffs with me. Man it feels so darn good to not pay for accommodation! +1 experience for me.
On the morning of 3rd June 2016:
Prior to entering Laos, I had 0 Lao Kip (Currency for Laos) with me. All I had was a decent amount of Thai baht and some other countries cash with me (Along with the standard local bank cards with the master card logo). Since I knew that I had 0 Lao Kip, I did a full pump to the brim with the bike set on the bike’s main stand at the Thailand/ Laos border. I had a full proper meal and bought some rations with me in case I cant find a money changer/ ATM fast in Laos.
Entering Laos is something like entering Thailand from Malaysia. You require the standard documents. Be sure to print a few copies of them and put them in different places if possible in case something unfortunate happens.
Documents/ stuffs you require:
1) Vehicle Log Card (The one that has the owners name registered to the vehicle number, engine number, chassis number, registered address etc)
2) Your Local Vehicle Insurance proof (Prove that the vehicle is under your name again) They might or might not check, it depends on the officer. No harm bringing extras.
3) Road Tax Paper/ Road tax Slip
4) Passport photocopy
5) Researched online that the border I am going through will need a recent Passport Size Coloured Photo. Lucky that the officer doing it for me did not ask for it. If they ask for it, better to have spares to produce, you never know when and where can you get a shop/ machine to process and print out a Passport Size Photo for you. These are not easily available everywhere. You might need to U turn back far to find a shop/ machine once they require a Passport photo and you cant produce it.
6) Some cash for processing of Temporary Vehicle Import papers. (If I remember correctly, I paid 200 Thai baht/ USD 5.9 for the processing) These are not Coffee Money but official ones.
7) Depending on your country passport, you might have to do a Pre Visa/ Visa on the spot. To be safe, check online sources or call the embassy. You dont want to end up being denied entry on your Visa’s expiry day!
For myself, I just have to apply Visa On Arrival at the immigration checkpoint. Just ask around where to go. Pretty confusing at first but it makes sense after wards.
Upon exiting Thailand WITH the vehicle, I handed them back the Temporary Vehicle Importation form (Have to be sure I do not lose it). Losing it means I have to pay them 1000 Thai baht if I remember correctly. I MIGHT be wrong.
Upon successfully being able to enter Laos with the foreign vehicle, I am handed the same Temporary Vehicle Import Form. It has to be handed back to the Immigration checkpoint upon leaving the country WITH the vehicle. Losing it produces a big problem. I keep it with my passport to be safe. Be sure to CHECK that the dates printed for the vehicle to be in Laos legally are correct!
I entered Laos through the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 1 (Nong Khai – Vientiane). It is the first choice for me to go as this immigration checkpoint does VA (Visa On Arrival). Note that some bridge do not do VA, so I am not sure how are you going to enter Laos like that for other bridges.
The total average time you will be at the immigration checkpoint will be about an hour.
And so…I successfully went past the border with the bike on my LAST day Visa in Thailand. That is risky but I dared to do it, because I was very sure I am still able to enter Laos without my vehicle. I could just leave the vehicle in Thailand if it doesnt go as smooth.
The first thing I noticed the moment I exit the checkpoint was that the roads are so different from Thailand. Dust and sand are everywhere on the road, extremely dirty! 40% of the asphalt road have become orange due to the sand and dust. It looks like its from the spillage from the construction trucks transporting those elements.
I carried on. First thing’s first, get my ass covered. I went to Alliance Global Laos in Vientiane to get my vehicle insurance done. About 10 -15km from the border. Considered very near when you are with a vehicle.
But I was going slow and pretty rickety. This is my first time in my life driving in the opposite direction. I have been very used to be on the road that is going forward on the left side of the entire road (Opposite traffic is on our right). The abrupt change in road directions took me some time to get used to it. I went slow and steady to be on the safe side.
I left my duffle bag (hooked with carabiners) on the bike (Again it is a gamble) and climbed up to the 2nd story of the building to AGL. Got my vehicle insurance of 1 month coverage for only USD 2.5!
Unfortunately it only covers 3rd party, but its better than nothing. Whats most important to me is that it should have theft insurance especially in 3rd world countries. Oh well. this will do for now.
I met a new friend there too. First local Lao lady called P****** Phetdala . She works at AGL and speaks pretty decent english, laotian and fluent French! That is a whole culture shock for me, learnt that Laos was under French colonisation years back, thats why she could speak fluent French. That is a WOW for me.
I went to change money at a money changer just a stone throw away. I asked her for help and advice on recommended places to stay when everything was done. Her colleague brought me to a backpackers Inn (followed him on his motorcycle), and I stayed there for a night.
USD 6.2 for a shared air conditioned dormitory with wifi and “free” breakfast. A total of 8 beds in 1 room.
Today (July 29th 2016 whilst writing this), I consider myself still pretty fresh and having much less experience and knowledge in my trip at that point of time.
I thought it was decently low. Not exactly dirt cheap for a night and I cant call it expensive. Today (July 29th 2016 whilst writing this), I wouldn’t pay this amount now for a backpacker’s inn/ hostel. Because at this price, I can get myself an entire room with “free” breakfast for myself even. Well theres a first time for everyone!
Food is unexpectedly expensive in Laos. Contrary to what I thought, the food is actually more expensive in a 3rd world country. I probably got Special Foreigner Price.
When i was walking back to my bike to get ready to another place, an aussie man asked me, “Is this your bike?”.
I said yes.
He said: “wow, you are 1 damn lucky guy. I am amazed your expensive stuffs are still on your bike after 1 night”. I said: “who would want to take these old stuffs?” He said: “I would, the locals would.”
He shared with me an invaluable lesson not to leave anything unattended no matter how cheap it is. He has been staying in Lao for 9 years and speaks their language. Wow. An invaluable advice.
What was left on the bike overnight:
4 man Tent: USD 15
#Alpinestars boots: USD 200+ or maybe even more
Army rainjacket in pouch: (Was opened up and thrown to the ground, probably to check for money or valubles in the pouch)
GPS mount: USD 50
Cigarette charger: USD 9
What was actually stolen from the bike overnight: Only the tent.
Anyway I ALWAYS lock and chain up my vehicle at 4 major parts.
I take this as a good “affordable” lesson for me as only the cheapest stuff was stolen. It seems that the person whom stole it was after something he could use, rather than the value of it. Then again, he could have took all my stuff and sell it.
The aussie man told me that the hotel reception man just earns USD5/ Day and that averages out the amount an average local lao earns.
What happened to these little kids dad (Below)?
He told me he got robbed yesterday by local(s) after he withdrew cash from the ATM at 11pm. USD 6000 was taken from his credit card after the robbery and now hes going to the bank to settle the problem. Worse thing was that he said he got slashed till he passed out and lost consciousness, right here in a touristy area.
Today, I learn from my negligence, and the people whom are kind enough to share with me their stories.
I slept early and prepare to go into Vang Vieng the following day.