Across the Friendship Bridge

One fine morning, Pi Mem and I made our way across the Thai-Lao Friendship bridge, over the Mekong river, home to the giant catfish. My Thai visa had expired after 2 months. I needed to renew it for another 2 months anywhere outside Thailand (it's their regulation), then make a re-entry. The nearest country was of course Vientiane, the capital of Laos.


At the border, still in Thailand.


Welcome to Nong Kai, realm of the 7 headed Naga.

We stayed at the town of Nong Kai the night before, so as to hit the border early in the morning, hoping to miss the crowds of foreigners having plans similar to me. Nong Kai lies just next to the Mekong river along the north-east border of Thailand; Vientiane lies along the opposite shore of the river.

Wind blowing hard on our faces - having fun on the motorbike!


Mekong river landscape.


Vendors next to the river.


Stillness at sunset by the Mekong river. Where's the Naga?


Me getting fattier over the months!

Nong Kai is an interesting place, being next to the Mekong river. Legend has it that the Mekong river is inhabited by the 7 headed giant serpent, known as the Naga. Scary... if that was really true! The town has sculptures of the Naga, with its 5 monstrous heads, twirling comfortably around lamp posts and various important signs. It's surprising that the people choose to celebrate such a scary belief.







Is that what John saw in his prophetic vision in the book of Revelation? Did God bring him on a visit to Nong Kai?

Anyway, on to Laos....

One word to describe the place - boring. 2 words to describe it - boring and sleepy. Worst then Sawang Daendin. Their biggest grocery store was a large mini mart (like the Econ minimarts found in the HDB estates). Prices were generally steeper then in Thailand since most of their products were made in Thailand.

We were stuck there for 2 whole boring days, coz it took a minimum of 24 hrs for my visa to be done. Geez... yawn...anyway, here's some of their places of attraction. We skipped visiting all the temples coz it was too hot and too spiritual.


Patuxay - built in the 1960s to celebrate at independent struggle (Wikipedia).















Pha That Luang - the Golden Stupa, National Symbol of Laos.
P.S Do you notice the pounds I've put on? Thanks to the visit of my friends from COTL!


So bored .... that I made friends with the resident pooches of the guesthouse. Every morning he basked in the sun on the stairway leading to my room.


That's what a real dog should do!


Shared a big pau with this new friend.