I was woken up as the original guy wanted to sit back down next to me do I shuffled over and managed to doze a bit more but was awake when we arrived at 5.30am in Vientiane. It took a long time to unload and I thought of waiting for the buses to start running and catch that but they didn't go right up to the airport so to save my suitcase I took a tuk tuk with some other people and paid 30k. I walked around the airport a couple of times and there was nowhere to store luggage and the desks were not open for my flight for a while yet. I left my suitcase behind an unused desk and headed to the main road. The main road was a couple of minutes away and very busy with rush hour traffic and motorbikes occasionally using the pavement. I found a bus stop and waited for a bus. One came but when I waved it just beeped at me and then stopped 30 metres away. I jogged up thinking maybe I was not at the right stop but it was a coach and was parking there. I saw an interesting building nearby which was a tower with a golf ball on top so I went to gave a look. A man parked in front as I walked up so to avoid questions I pretended to go to another building but when I came back he was still by his car. I went up and had to take my shoes off and then I discovered the door was locked, Doh! I went back to the road and walked along to get to the next bus stop but came to a shop first where I got a pot noodle and some juice. There was a temple nearby so I had a look and it was a nice one. Someone with maps.me had clearly done this walk from town to the airport or vice versa as they had bookmarked this place and others. I walked along and found my way into town with the occasional stop. I came to the MAG visitors centre again but the computer was turned off so I couldn't see any videos. It was ok as I was worried that I wouldn't have enough time to see everything before my flight anyway. I headed on and went to a couple of temples one I thought I'd not seen but when I checked I had been there. I got to the peoples army museum for the 3rd time finally I could visit it but it was closed for a Governmental function. So I went to the main temple and paid to go and see That Luang up close. It was nice and gold and did look a bit better up close in the pictures. I left and it was quite early around 10am and I walked to the bus station past the arch for the 6th time. The bus station had a map of the buses and where they go but I couldn't see a stop for the 3 buses I wanted so I walked on to catch it further up. I finally got to the national museum and there was a bus stop so I sat and waited. It was a fair few minutes and a bus went past which the other guy at the bus stop wanted but it didn't stop. At that point I agreed to get a tuk tuk for 20k as I'd not actually seen a bus on this route yet. I got to the airport at 11, very early and picked up my luggage which was still there. A bit later I tried to check in but they told me it would be 12.40 when they start for the 2.40 Hanoi flight which I didn't like as then you get a queue. I got some food at a supermarket on the main road and had another pot noodle and spent my last change on crisps. Back at the airport I sat and read and at 12.35 they announced the flight could check in and a load of people went to do just that. I stayed sitting until 1pm but there was still a queue. At check in I got lucky as the scales weighed 2kg less than they should and I didn't have to take anything else out of my suitcase. I sat back down and booked a hostel for Hanoi and read a bit. When I went through security they took my water away even though it was a sealed bottle I had got from the bus. On the other side there were no water fountains and the one shop sold water for 16,000 when it normally costs 3,000. I made do without as after all people fasting can make 12 hours with no water, I could do 2 or 3 hours. I boarded late onto the plane and my seat was a window but next to people so I went to the back but 2 people boarded last minute and sat next to me. They did give us a snack and drink which was good and it was a quick flight. I was naturally one of the last of the plane but the passport queue was not that long but then I had a problem and they wouldn't let me in as I had been in the country less than 30 days ago so I couldn't get the 15 day free visa. I had to go see some people and wait for them to see me. Eventually they got me a visa and I was dreading the cost but it was only 5 USD, I only had KIP which they didn't like much so I ended up paying 100k (£10). I went through customs picked up my suitcase and found that they didn't exchange KIP like the visa woman had said so I took some cash out. I got the shuttle bus for 30,000 dong and got off near a train station which was 1km away so I walked it through all the Hanoi traffic. The Hanoi party backpackers hostel seemed ok when I arrived although I was confused when I was told there were lots of bunks to choose from as most had things on so I went for the only top bunk with a power socket but someone moved their things from a bottom bunk so I took that. The place had free fresh beer downstairs but I was tired and I had to sort out my Chinese visa so I had a nap. I woke up at 9pm so I didn't have much time left. I had a shower and found that I had just run out of underwear but I still had a few t-shirts left which is not good. I got the hostel to do my laundry and went out to find a pair of boxers and some food. I didn't get far before some water hit me from the sky, was this.... rain? Ah yes I was back in Vietnam. I found a market but their pants were all too small and not so cheap either. I managed to find an internet place but didn't use it and I got a banh my and went back to the hostel where I booked my flight from Beijing to Seoul with an option to get a reasonable amount back if I don't get the visa and have to cancel. I read a bit and there seemed to be a whole top and bottom bunk free which annoyed me as I might have slept there but I went to sleep with someone above and next to me.
0 Comments
|
|