Romancing the Stone....

Thursday, January 28, 2010
Chiang Khong, Thailand
Today I started my solo journey, taking a local bus up to the border town of Thailand and Laos called Chiang Khong. It was a great bus ride , getting a seat in the back, by the back door, which was open the whole time giving me a place to prop my feet up on my backpack and a nice view out the back door of the scenery as we climbed up the back hills of Chiang Rai. I'm feeling a little like Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone as my window seat brought close views of the narrow road and the steep canyons down below as the bus rounded the sides of the cliffs as it drove up the dirt roads to the border of Thailand. Complete with a bus full of locals and a nice couple from Sweden accompanying me in the back seat.
There are no seats belts I must add on these local buses, something I would never consider to be without in the states, but here they say, you must just go with the local way, and hope for the best, which I am happy to report has always worked for me so far on my journeys .
The town of Chiang Khong, is very small,. and basically just a stop over for trips across the border to Laos, which I will do in the morning. I just love small towns, its really what Im looking for and most of the time, so hard to find in countries gaining popularity, and growing to accommodate all the eager travels such as myself.
But today I am feeling like I'm part of a movie that I'm watching,. eager to be a part of it, and now arriving in this small town, catching a Tuk-Tuk which are all lined up and ready for the new arrivals, but only being 3 foreigners on this local bus, I'm able to bargain down for the short ride to my guest hose on the Mekong River.
My name is written on the chalk board as I walk in, " Miss Elizabeth, Welcome!" My guest house owner is so sweet, one of the things I just love in staying in these small guest homes. My room is huge, and facing the river, with a large balcony with chairs, and enough room for at least 3 people, all for $10 a night, quite a bit for a night on the border town, but really not a big splurge!
The town was easy enough to walk around, just one 7-eleven, which means, this is a small town. The locals were in the street selling snacks, and grilling freshly caught fish to all the tourists stocking up for the long two day boat ride ahead, and I got some great things to keep my snack bag filled for the next couple days., including some homemade coconut cookies :)The floors I soon found out where all made of creaky wood, but my days have been long, and the steps above my room at my guest house didn't keep me awake for long. I'm hoping that my Romancing the Stone adventure will continue, and maybe I will even meet my own Micheal Douglas.
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Comments

Iris
2010-02-01

I love that part of the world! All is well for me here and school is great but I would much rather go with you to Laos. Enjoy!

elizacass
2010-02-01

Thanks Iris! Im so glad you are following along and enjoying my adventures! You are one of the few people i know that have been to Laos! Its beautiful here!

Peggy Marciniak
2010-02-05

Elizabeth, if you'd like to get together when you return to Chicago, I'd love to meet you for coffee & hear ALL about your trip. We can exchange travel info (I just returned from my South African adventure too). My phone # is 630/430-1382 or you have my e-mail address. Happy & safe travels!

2025-02-10

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