The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Dougal

There was a touch more water in the river last weekend.



The picture was taken from the roof top bar of a restaurant on the river front.

gos

How much was the local rustic bbq

gos

sorry I forgot to say great thread and pictures did pai like your tattoos

stroller

Can't remember now, still very affordable, it's nothing special, you just order what you want, fish, chickenlegs, ribs, etc.
I went for an Indian, the long-established Nazim, since I won't get anything like it where I live:

Tandoori marinated chicken with Koriander and mint leaves and a methi roti.

stroller

At the bar in the famous meeting point, Kop Chai Dieu or so, next to Nam Phu fountain:


There are lots of new upmarket reastaurants, mostly French and Italian, and there even is a place serving this Tex-Mex shite now.

I am the wrong guy to do any reviews.

El Gibbon

The best bar in town as I recall. Normally packed with NGO and UN folks on the weekend. A great restaurant (French) around the corner to the left almost past the fountain.

If you continue on beyond the rest. there is a street that runs away from the fountain. A great little guest house run by a Thai couple about 100 mtrs on the right. Clean rooms, aircon, TV and breaky for 450 baht. At least it was three yrs ago. No women though.

E. G.

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Little Chuchok

Fantasitc restaurant that french one.He has a signed Jonah Lomu Counties rugby jersey on the wall too!!Nice bloke for a froggie.

Rigger

I injoyed many a beer there and good food. Did you find a place called the spirt bar.
Next trip over we are hiring dirt bikes and heading off to some place that does quad bike trips

stroller

I had your recommendation in mind, but no, nor the Mongkol. Was that in town center or were you a bit outside?

Rigger

It was along the Mekong. Heading towards chang mai direction you follow main road a long the mekong then it becomes a small bumpy road just keep going about 3 mins by tuk tuk you will see the spirt house and about 5 min walk from there you will find the Mongkol both over look the mekong.

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Udonite

Thanks for the excellent trip report and pictures

stroller

Ok, now the important bit, the visa at the Thai Consulate:
The foking tuk-tuks still wanted 200bt after negotiations for taking me there and back.
So I rented a bicylce for 5k = 20bt for half a day. It's only a leisurely 15 minutes peddling, if you find your way, which I didn't at first.
Up to this ugly monument which is based on the design of the arc de triumphe in Paris:

After you passed it, take the Rue Singha on your right, the Thai consulate is towards the end of the road on your left:

No need to get involved with the scum who try to sell you application forms and dodgy sevices outside the gate.
You'll get the application form for free inside, of course.

2 passport pics and photocopy of passport required, which is a drag if you haven't already got these. Now the bicycle comes handy: there is a shop just 3-400 meters back which is specialised at providing just that, at reasonable prices.

For a single tourist visa, you should also have your plane-ticket out of Thailand on you, as well as 20k bt cash, in case they'll ask to see these.
Visa fee: 1000bt - yes baht.
Applications 8.30 - 12.00, collect next day 13.00 - 15.00

Gaudente

Now the tuk tuk mafia extorts 80,000 kips = 330 baht for a round trip to the Thai Embassy.
To give more officiality to the abominable rip off they show you a plastified price tag
In asking a double entry visa at the embassy I was not asked the out of Thailand air ticket. Tomorrow I shall see if everything goes the right way (you know the bastards can refuse the visa retaining their fee , which btw is still 1.000 baht per entry)

Marmite the Dog

Is there anywhere to park safely in Nong Khai?

Rigger

Yes just before the bridge on the right hand side they have a lock up. I parked my car there for a few days last time no problems

Marmite the Dog

Cheers chap.

Rigger

Your welcome old bean

klongmaster

That's where I stayed last time I was there...

I wasn't paying of course!..(otherwise I wouldn't mention it...)

skyshadow82

nice journey...

Wallace

The best value place to stay in Vientiane is probably the Mali Namphu guesthouse. It's on the road going north from the fountain, on the right hand side.

$15 or $17 a night for a great room, with TV, aircon, and breakfast in the courtyard. Nothing really comes close in this price range.

Great hang outs are Sticky Fingers and the Full Moon Cafe on the road running away from the river front after the Orchid Guesthouse. Both have happy hours (I think the Full Moon has one every day) in the early evening and if you don't mind the NGOs and their families, they're really nice places to drink and eat.

The supermarket in the photo does lots of Laos coffee, which is much better than anything you can buy in Thai supermarkets. The best stuff is around 28,000 kip for 500g. I always stock up when I go there.

Good thread - and a great place. Probably the smallest capital city in the world, after the Vatican, that is.

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