Thread: Post a photo you took yourself

I had to make an overnight trip from Luang Prabang to Nong Khai (visa run) to activate my annual retirement visa in Laos.

There are no early morning flights to Vientiane from LP, so I got up at a reasonable hour and rode my ZingZang motorbike the 20km or so to LP, then left it at a friendly guesthouse for the night (I don't trust leaving this valuable steed in the airport car park overnight).

Then onto the Lao Airlines prop plane for the 45 minute flight to Vientiane.



Once I arrived in Vientiane, I took a taxi to Nong Khai Friendship bridge, checked out of Laos, over the bridge and through the Thai immigration, (who welcomed me with a cheery "red pen no good - do it again" after I completed my arrival card using the only pen in my bag).

I stayed the night at Mut Mee guesthouse. This place has been around for years, and it consists of half a dozen termite-riddled local houses in various states of disrepair. It's only saving grace is the proximity to the Mekong river and riverside walk.



The place looked deserted, and the staff told me that there were very few tourists in NK. I took a stroll along the promenade and the lack of any sort of tourist seemed to confirm her view.

Up early at 6 am the next day, back to the bridge immigration, check out of Thailand, over the bridge, check into Laos with my various annual visa application documents (no problems at all) and a taxi back to the airport.

It's nice flying into LP because of the views:




I picked up my motorbike and paid 20,000 kip ($1 USD) for the overnight parking. (Actually the guesthouse staff refused to accept any payment, so I put down a 20,000 kip note and made a runner before she could give it back to me).

Nice ride back to my house, stopped in a village to buy a bunch of fresh bananas and lychees ($1.50 total) and I'm home in time for all my evening online lessons - although feeling somewhat tired