Hello everyone,
The nighttrain to Nong Kai was great, slept well. Arriving at 0900 hrs and finally Laos is close. Cycled, yes my cycle friends, cycled across the friendshipbridge across mekong river into Laos. It is possible know.
On my way to Vientiane, only 30 km. Visited local supermarket and bank, left the last one 1.5 million kip richer !!! And 3 cm of money in my pocket haha. Decided to make an early camp because I neede to regroup my bags. So I cycled and cycled untill I found a place out of town, drove up a dirt road. At a house I asked if I could camp there for a night, showed a picture of my tent and made clear I was going to sleep in there. No problem sofar. I washed myself with half a liter of water, drank a beer and made dinner. Also had some fun with some kids, they teaching me Lao and I learned english to them. Then there was a guy, asking me for my passport, said he wanted tyo see it. I said no it's in my bags, no need to, everything is fine. He said he was from immigration or something but I still refused. When I wanted to go to sleep the same guy came and said he wanted to talk. I said no. tomorrow, now I am going to sleep. The situation diddn't feel good. I asked the kids if everything was okee but no answer. I said. well I see you tomorrow, then we talk and he said no, a friend of his was coming. A minute later he arrived, wanted to see my passport. He was in uniform so I did. Looking in my passport and talking in his radio. He said it is not safe, you are not allowed to camp and sleep in your tent. I said I feel perfectly safe, I camped in a dozen of countries, more dangerous than peacefull Laos, whats the problem ? He sain nott safe, we take you to hotel. With a car. We went to the road after I packed not so happy in the dark my tent and stuff. And started waiting for the car. Meanwhile the guy in uniform asked if I was married, said no. He said, what, such a cute guy not ?? And I think he touched my knee, haha, yeah, now I can laugh ( now is in Vang Vien in an internet cafe with a big beer so excuse me for my english H )
But the whole situation didn't feel good, didn't feel good at all. After 10 min I asked where the car was and he said that his friend was now with his family and he come soon. I said, no, I know a hotel in Vientianne, let's go, me on my bicycle and you on your scooter. And so we did, accompanied by police we drove to town. After 5 km the guy in uniform stopped at a big building, some guys in uniform were there. He said go in here, then we wait. I said what is this, I thought we were going to a hotel, I am not going in here. It felt not safe, alarm bells were ringing. 5 sec later I made a decision, I wanted to go to hotel, right now. So I jumped on my bike and shouted to the man, let's go !!! I konw a hotel, come on !! And started to move. A policeman was hesitating to stop me but I looked behind me and waved, come on !!! And so I left, followed by the man in uniform. Whole situation still didn't feel good so I decided to get rid of him in the busy traffic or town. After a km orso I shouted, oaky, we are close now, I can find my hotel, thank you and goodbye !! But he didn't bite and so we went on. It was a 3 lane wide road. each side. in the middle a concrete wall. Suddenly an opening.....without hesitation I drove through it, now atb the wrong side of the road. The scooter with my guard was still on the other side. I biked as fast as I could, scooter was speeding up as well, I heard. Then a dark sandy road to my left, in a split of a second I drove in it. Dark as hell, normally I wouldn't think about it but this wasn't normal. I biked as fast as I could, at the end turned left agaig, an even worse road, dark and full off garbage. But I went along, turned left again and was again on the busy 6 lanes road. I stopped in an alley, removed my white t-shirt and hat so that I was a little less easy to see. I lost my guard....Biking now again as fast as I could I went into town, hoping my guard didn't spot me. Found a hotel, climbing up the stairs, looked in my guide book and saw 20 dollars for a night. Safe, okay but still a dutchmen right ? Too expensive, I looked for some other hotels nearby and found so in my book. Those I reached also safe, 5 dollars, better... In my room I celebrated with a large bottle of beer, didn't want to take the risk being seen on the streets... pffff, what a night.....
I slept very well, the rest you hear tomorrow, am going to look for a restaurant and eat something.
Hahaha, what a begin of my trip ....
