Christina Marie's Travel Blog

During my backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia, I kept a log of simple, short notes that I could look back on so I could write blog entries to show everyone. Looking back on how my friend and I got to Laos, I’m going to do a copy/paste job of my notes because I think it’s funny reading it. I hope you can appreciate.

• Took 22 hour bus ride from Saigon to DaNang [central Vietnam]
• Missed bus to Vientiane [Laos]
• Paid $100 for private car to border
• Private car got side-swiped by truck. Thought this was how it ends
• Nope still alive
• Started to downpour with thunder and lighting
• Got my Laos stamp and visa
• They said go to bus station 1 KM down the road
• Guy with cross-eyes said no more bus, next one at 9:30 tomorrow
• Other guy said stay at guesthouse 1 KM down the road
• People starring and children yelling at us
• Feeling hopeless and lost
• First guesthouse looks like whore house
• We walk to next guesthouse where guy was taking his time to get the key and show us the room. He doesn’t care about us.
• Saw tour bus
• Ran to flag them down
• They’re going to Savannahket and could take us
• Driver drives too fast, I think this is how it ends
• Nope still alive
• Get to city 30 KM outside Savannahket
• Driver buys us dinner and bus to Vientiane, things are turning around!
• Finally arrive to first destination

As you can see, our adventure had just begun and already it was off to a rocky start. I guess this is what backpacking is all about: taking the good and the bad and making the most of it. 

If I could offer backpackers one tip for getting to Laos, make sure you don’t arrive at the border without a tour bus. We heard from people beforehand that there were plenty of buses at the border; they lied.