Journal:

Thailand, 19 Mar 2002

Today I flew from Phonsovan to Vientianne, and then on to Bangkok. I feel quiet daring taking two trips on Lao Aviation on the one day. But both journeys went off without incident. While waiting for my flight in Vientianne Airport, I bumped into Christine (the Cork girl who was travelling with us in Northern Laos). She was flying to Vietnam. We spent a few hours catching up on each other's exploits over a couple of meals while waiting for our flights.

I feel a tinge of sadness to be leaving Laos. I have really enjoyed my time here. In many ways, a visit to Laos is like a journey back in time to a life that existed a few generations ago in the West. I also found the Lao people to be a lovely, happy people.

Back in Bangkok, it didn't take me long to bump into Davie on the street. Paddy and Mandy (a couple that we traveled with in New Zealand) were also around. It was interesting to hear that Paddy and Mandy thought I had lost quiet a lot of weight since we were together in New Zealand. Hmm... maybe I should be eating even more of this wonderful food. We enjoyed a meal and a few drinks before going back to our sauna-like rooms. The heat and humidity in Bangkok at the moment are oppressive, conspiring to make me miss Laos all the more.

Thailand, 20 Mar 2002

Today was spent shopping in the upscale Siam Square. I needed to replace a few well-worn items. I bought a North Face ruck sack for US$110 and a pair of Nike sandals for US$43. I could have bought imitation equivalents of these items for a fraction of the cost, but thought it better to pay more for dependable gear. I also purchased a very good-quality imitation Ireland jersey for about US$8.

The evening was spent eating and drinking with the very funny John (from Wicklow) and Ila (an Israeli girl that we kept bumping into in Laos). As is usual for all of our nights out in these parts, we ended up drinking 50 Bhat cocktails at the ladyboy stand on the Khoa San Road. It just doesn't get any better than drinking a Singapore Sling for little more than a dollar.

Thailand, 21 Mar 2002

Today was mostly spent in the confines of the Khoa San Road. A little bit of internet time, some reading, the obligatory eating, and a little bit of shopping occupied my time. My shopping excursion included the purchase of an ISIC student card and a freelance press pass. These forged ID cards are identical to the genuine item. You never know when one of them might come in handy. Other forgeries on offer include driver's licenses from a variety of places and university diplomas. If you purchase a fake university diploma, you are assured that anyone attempting to inquire as to its validity will receive assurances and transcripts, if necessary.

Myself and John (the Wicklow guy) made the short excursion to see the Thai boxing. I was quiet keen to see the boxing in a big arena after having previously watched it in smaller regional venues. We purchased the cheapest tickets (US$5) in the hope that we would be amongst the locals. We were in the upper tier of the stadium, behind a cage that separated us from the more expensive sections. Most of the Thai people in our section were involved in frantic betting activity that gave it the feel of a stock exchange trading floor. During the more competitive bouts, the atmosphere was electric. However, during the more sedate bouts, the atmosphere was dead. All-in-all, it was a good night out. After the boxing, myself and John returned to meet Davie and go for a pint. On our way to the Khoa San Road, we bumped into Marie Chantal (another acquaintance from the Magic Bus New Zealand). We then proceeded to catch up with one another's travel tales over a few drinks.

Thailand, 22 Mar 2002

Today myself and Davie are parting ways. After a couple of scary experiences on public transport in Asia, Davie has decided that he no longer feels comfortable traveling in Asia. He is flying back to Australia next week, where he plans to spend the remainder of his trip exploring the west coast. This is an arrangement that suits both of us. Over the past few weeks, we have been increasingly doing our own thing and are quiet keen to do some travelling on our own. It is interesting to see our increasing levels of confidence with independent travel. I think it is fair to say that at the beginning of this trip, neither one of us would have been very comfortable with the thought of travelling alone. But now we know the travel scene and would prefer to do our own thing.

Spending:

$590 for 3 nights, includes:
    - $233 for a return flight to Myanmar
    - $36 for the Myanmar visa
    - $44 for photo development
    - $22 for postage
    - $43 for a pair of sandals
    - $110 for a ruck sack