Oct. 30, Chiang Mai to Huay Xai, Laos

We made it to the border along the bank of the Mekong River after a 6 and a half hour minibus ride with 12 passengers crowded in.  Even though we were by far the eldest  as we were picked up last we had the rear most seats.  Good thing I had put on my Thai motion sickness patch.  Interesting to listen to the younger generation discuss where they were going, malaria prophlaxis, events that had happened to them etc.  Through the resources of the young travelers they also managed to get the drop down TV screen to come down and play two movies as we drove along (Australia and Fifth Element).  Only problem was guess where the speakers were..... booming from the back of the bus. 

We were the only ones trying to cross the border, the rest were overnighting on the Thai side, probably having been convinced that this was desirable. We had to complain several times about the slow progress, and we're finally dropped off near the Thai border post at 5 PM.  We were able to get our exit stamp on the Thai post and catch a boat across the river, then fill in the Laos forms pay $70 for our 2 visas and get to our Riverside Hotel ($20 with AC) by 6 pm. By 6:30 we had stopped at Bap Guest House where we bought seats (we hope) in a minibus leading for Luang Nam Tha tomorrow and settled in to Mung Neer Restaurant for supper. With the French influence in Laos they have excellent banquettes and also make a decent pizza dough.  Leslie enjoyed a pizza like she had here less than a year ago and David had rice with mixed vegetables with chicken.

There are mosquitos here so we are covered up and have electrical heating plugs with mosquito repellent for the room.