Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Crossing the border from Cambodia to Laos

If anyone is wondering about doing this trip it's easy. We took a speedboat from Kratie to Stung Treng and then on to the border. Once there we paid the Cambodian side $1 which you could probably avoid paying if you argue. We paid $1 to cross the river from Cambodia to Laos as the boats we had come on had mysteriously lost their drivers, then $1 on the Laos side which you have to pay. (It's $2 on tue/wed/thu apparently) From there we got a lift to Don Det via a waterfall for $3 including the boat over to Don Det from Nakasang. If you have a 2003ish lonely planet it will make out that this journey is very difficult but it isn't at all, as long as you don't decide to be an example of western incorruptibility and refuse to pay the border guards, you'll be there all week if you do.

Anyway, that's for people who wish to know about the border crossing, most people probably want to know what me and suze are up to. We arrived in Kratie at 2pm and were on a tour to see freshwater dolphins at 3pm. The dolphins were quite shy so we didn't see a great deal but there were a few of them quite near our boat. The next day we got rocket boats up the Mekong river to the border, quite a thrilling ride as they go about 70 kph. Binx warned me off these in nothern Laos but i couldn't see another way of getting to the border and as i made it unscathed i'm glad i did it. When we go from Laos to Thailand we can get a slow boat for 2 days or a fast boat for 5 hours, i think we might take a slow boat next time but we'll see.

We spent 2 nights in Don Det doing very little. It's very tranquil and scenic, we stayed in a bungalow for $0.75pppn and there is no electricity supply so once the generator is turned off at night which powers the main building it's very quiet and dark. Most people who go there end up staying about a week doing bugger all but suze and i are hardcore and have too much more to see to just relax and not do anything, Raaa!

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well everyone else seems to have given up visiting your little corner of the web. Ah well I still enjoy reading it, but then I don't get jealous of you travellers!

I get the feeling that Suze would have quite enjoyed doing nothing for a while, but I guess you fought it out in your usual way till one of you screams and gives in.

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to say, your trip through Vietnam and Cambodia has made me wish we could have included it in our trip, but hey, I'm sure I'll have an awesome time and it means I have an excuse to go travelling again later in life, whoo hoo!! The main attraction me thinks is the cheapness - sounds like the perfect holiday destination for a penny pinching yorkshire man.

Anyway, I'd better get back to work. I'm marking Adult Literacy papers at the moment, it's so much fun!!! Can't wait to finish work and go travelling, only 48 days to go!

Laters.

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

unfortunately my life is so sad and meaningless that i'm still keeping up with your fecking posts - just infrequently. nothing to say other than i wish that the border guards had stripped searched you and generally abused you. you prick.

no jealousy there in any way.

btw does anyone know if trendy is still alive? what the hell is he doing these days? (sorry ash i know this is your blog thing but stop being so selfish and let's here about someone else for a change)

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Last I spoke to trendy he had just accepted a job in Northampton (I think) but I forget what. They were planning to send him off to Germany for some conference or something though.

I texted him the other day but no reply so maybe he's just too happy in his new life with 'professional' people...

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello, hello

I've not gotten to posting, sorry. But I've kept up with the reading. I'm not faring too well just at the second, it appears I've done something horrible inside my body, which the doctors surgery could not identify today. Though there is a possibility I've punctured a lung. Rather unfortunate considering all I was doing when it set off was standing still.

Still that aside from that all is well. Glas to hear you enjoyed Cambodia, it's a horrifying yet lovely place to go.

Civ4, Civ4 ..... it wont be long. That'll pass the time on the long, dark night shifts in the German Lab.

-- A punctured, wheezing Bendy.

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bendy,

What we want to know is what you were doing previous to your lung going 'pop'. You must have been doing something strenuous before hand...

Thursday, 17 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah bendy, not even you could puncture a lung by just standing still, what's the real story?

Thursday, 17 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I swear to God I've not being trying any 'novel' sexual acts with Claire.

Though I guess you were all gonna figure out sooner or later the reason behind my getting lots of money off my supervisor....

Anything for money, anything!


(Right now I feel like I'm getting over a stroke, one half of my body just doesn't work properly. Not to mention the fact that my breathing is as that of a man who's smoked a pack a day for 40 years. I've aquired a wheezy cough too.)

-- Bendy on the right hand.

Thursday, 17 November, 2005  
Blogger Ash said...

I can't remember if i told trendy about my blog, i imagine i did but i'm not surprised he hasn't showed up, along with all my guildford mates, (except macca, but he's different) shame on them.

Was that the George Abbot pub quiz steve? It's hard eh?

What's happened to Tom , i always enjoy his pure misery on my blog, well at least we got a dose from Alan. Ah those manchester PhD's, so much better than a real job?

Friday, 18 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alright Ash, in response to your disappointment, combined with a little guilt and the fact that is f**king freezing outside I've decided to take up the challenge on behalf of the Guildford crew (not Macca or Bendy of course) and post a blog.

Sounds like you're having a blast of a time on your escapades, any chance of some more photos? By the way what exactly were you guys drinking in those 1L drinking vessels? I hope it wasn't Jamaican beer because that stuff can really give you the case of the knocks!!! 10% stuff I believe.

Well keep blogging and speak to you soon

Tony

Friday, 18 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

christ bendy thats a bit unlucky, were you trying to do a 'Prince' and *ahem* pleasure yourself but forgot to remove the floating rib first or what? anyways Civ4 is awesome and i envy you having an injury as you can play it all day you lucky bastard. probably punctured your own lung on purpose. devious little prick that you are.

a bit lame of trendy not to show his face and get a slagging like the rest of us. ach well, if anyone speaks to him give him my number or whatever and try and get him to stop being a recluse.

Friday, 18 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I texted Trendy to tell him how lame he was being and also to enquire about his employment, but nothing in reply yet... Lameness to a high power I would say...

Friday, 18 November, 2005  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not a happy Bendy

I had punctured a lung

It subseqently collapsed

Now they've remoeved the litre of air from inside my rib cage and I feel fine again.

But I can't fly for 3 months

That rather stuffs the experimental work I need to do. I was only suposed to spend a few weeks in the country these coming months.

They wont even let me get drunk over it all.

Saturday, 19 November, 2005  
Blogger Ash said...

Ah Tony, nice of you to come aboard, i knew you'd pull through. The contents of those 'yards' (which is a daft name for a quantity of volume if you ask me) was holsten pils so we weren't too battered.

Jesus christ steve, what did you do to yourself?! I can't believe you can't fly, i thought you were scheduled to leave by now. I think you should get a peddalo and start now, it'll get you fit. Err get well soon i guess.

Saturday, 19 November, 2005  

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