Following the pioneering success of the work of 2000 "The book of the days of the journey through Malawi"

 now the 2002 work of the successful authors

                                                                    Daniel Tschentscher (D)                                             und Rene´ Schmidt ( R)

Laot´s go there                            du sprechen deutsch                    

dedicated Francis Garnier und Ernest Douart, the explorers of the Mekong

Berlin, Nov.2  feeled temperatur 7°C (D)
These can went a story,... at the Aeroflot desk the agreed meeting point was nobody.  Berlin Schönefeld is not large for luck and so we meet in a lonely corner of the airport , Rene´s sleeping place. The check in was without espassially events. The metall detectors of  Berlin are very sensible, I had to declar my in the trousers pockets stowed drugs for the malaria prevention. The plane of the russian airline starts on time. the really expected games in the plane like benchsliding which is offering itself downright, fall out. After 2 hours  plus 2 hours time lag , because the Russians are in advance to the Middleeuropeans,   we land at the international airport Moskau Scheremetjevo, sounds like a secret project. 0 degrees in Moskow and snowrain, it was notdisturbing , because we had not to leave these complex the next 5 hours.  After nearly rounding the transit area we surrender to distance an old indian woman who follows us, we tried our luck by a borring airport employee to get entree in the hoped for duty free sector.  At these opportunity she checked in us for the flight to Bangkok.  Using the loud speaker to get the attention of all, she ordered the ground staff of the terminal to controll two suspect whites with an indian woman in tow rope for their entry authoryzation to the duty free area.. Untill the arriving of these stuff  she assigned us a area between controlldesk an closed classdoors, probably mirror walls to observe us. Soonly a frinedly stuff member comes to cotroll the indian woman first and than us. Her work preparation lets open some wishes, because she ask for a pen to write on the required documents, to give her a stemp was impossible for us.  After the controll procedure she invite us for a glass of vodka we thinked, but we rejected  We delivered the us entrusted indian woman to fellow indians looking like she. She get happy and we had mastered our mission. After surrending to find a display with all depatering flights we stepes in a restaurant. Here  it was not necassary to order something and there was space to spread out the newspaper. These restaurant was really a large terrace in the inner of the airport with a magnificant view to a large fligh schedule screen. Now all was ok and soon we rerecognizes Delhi and get happy that the indian woman get home in time. After sunset there was nearly nothing at the flight schedule, like it is for a orderly airport wirh international standard.  In the wasting time we get hungry. In the snack bar there was nothing cheaper than 10$ and so we decided to get a original russian dinner, 2 cans of russian beer and a bar russian schokolade for the unbeatable prive of 3,23$.  I payd with 5$ and get back 1$ and 20 Rubel. OK not worth to think about, we  went on bord and take off to Asia. 


(R )
Contingent of the time lag we arrived Bangkok Nov. 3 in the year at 9.10.  Thailand welcomes us with 32°C. The national road to the north passed directly at the airport and so we arrived Ayutthaya high noon. Our first Tuk Tuk experience  let us get to the busstation to get tickets for the nightbus and to store our backpacks. Back in the city by municipal bus we had a lunch at a Thai restaurant. situated at the start of the tourist path ordered by Baedecker guide book.  Then we discovered the ancient capitol. First we followed the Chao Phraya river where we missed the dragon boats of the announced race, than following the Baedecker guide loo at one  Wat to an other with asonishment. Parks in the middle of the city made it more pleasant. Young monks tell proudly about history and religion. They also were interested about sreading of Buddhism in europa.  They feeled like stars in the focus of cameras. The river had high water and so at some restaurants at the shore the under levels get flooded. Nevertheless we found a dry place to get dinner. There was thai food again. Aurrounding the bus station there was a large night market, also offering beer.  With a little delay we went by luxury bus to Chiang Mai. 


Chiang Mai, Nov.4 (D)
The time was shortly after 6,,the sky was grey and it was not so hot like yesterday when we arived an the Chiang Mai bus station. We take the path to the city to take a mjinibus at the maindrive. The bussy traffic and the clossed shops let conclude that tha Chiang Mai´is are on way to work.  Nearly all chops were closed and so we hat to breakfast in a western style cafe. The toilet opens at 9. We looked for a guesthouse to find one quickly. We inspected and destined the Fang guesthouse to be suitable for backpackers. After showering and cleaning tooth we set off to discover the city with their Wats and Chedis. At the visiting of the first Wat these. A thai woman like to sell birds for money we should release. We rejekted kindly.  Went away  sometimes we feeled followewd by a fat Japanese, bat we could outsmart him with a feign Wat visit. We take lunch at a Thai. After them  Walking through the restaurants mile of Chiang Mai, which was not to much visited at these time.  We decided to spend a still afternoon starting with a cup of coffee in the guesthouse.  After the coffee the tour guidance deckared the wasting time for free disposal.  The travellerse used these different, some lay down at the ear for an hour, other still discovered the corners of Chiang Mai.  We had to conclud the the guy all assumed for a Dutch and a Thai girl used as his navigation system for his bike was our neightbor.   These fact is not so bad. After a dinner at an Indian we visited a japanese bar. It was more a reding hall in which you could get a beer or somethink to eat if reading a comic or a journal with sometimes a naked girl containing.  Already at the second day we  had observed that our money would not be enough for more beer in these country, so we went to sleep and read a little in the guide book to find a alternative to the expensive finishing time beer.


Chiang Dao, Nov.5 (R )
After the first night in a thai bed, in which I dreamed of my company of the legendary 1985 Projekt concert  (and these in Thailand) the day starts with stand up. In the restaurant belong to the guesthouse they offered breakfast too, we decided for easely.  Starting walking then by minibus we went to the bus station to find a bus to Chiang Dao, it was not difficult and the bus starts soon.   In Chiang Dao we checked in the Piengdao Hotel, a relaxed nice and clean Hotel for respectable price. Already at the journey to Chiang Dao we noticed a lot of area in these landscape.  It went slowly moutainous, mountains to the left and to the right of the road confirmed these.   western of Chiang Dao the limbstone mountains of the third highest hill of Thailand spend a imposing backround. It was ealy at day we take the way to the holy gave bevore lunch.  When walking to the mountains left and right the way a lot of  area was to watch. In front of the gave holy fishes were waiting for fodder spended by tourists. Direct at the entree of the gave a totaly with muck covered german speeking someone recommended us only to use the lighted way. Me rise a light  and so we followed these bright advise. After visiting the with dropestones and Buddha sculptures filled gave we went nearby to have lunch. The way back to the city was easy, a friendly Thai picked up us with his car.  With the saved hour we dont know to do usefuls.  Visiting of village and river formed the afternoon activities. At evening we rewarded the friendliness of a street kitchen owner with our visit. After them first wie tried the Maekong rice spirit tasting like Helios instead of expensive beer. A friendly Thai cook sold it vor 30Bath in a small 8cl glass. Possible to drink, good night my lovely diary.


Thaton, Nov.6  (D)
We waked up, one reason was because a moped was crossing our room on the other hand pained by the question what to do if we went arround the corner and the bus to Thaton dont arrive immediatltely.  We pushed away these question and packed our backpacks. But if we get finished and at the way to the bus station we had no time to think over the question, we had to act, the bus deparded. We jumped in front of the bus the decision was definitely, to leave the city bevore breakfast.  The bus was full, but most of the them seem to be job commuter and the final destination Thaton seems to have not so much places of work and so all of themn exept three inclusively us. In the very tranquil and real idyllic Thaton we get welcomed by the village sheriff.  He handled us importend advices about the behaviour rules in the town, it means you have to announce you at him and to say from where you come and where you go. Also he handled advices about accomodations in the town. Later it recognized that the sheriff is the owner of nearly all, startet by accomodations to the hill tribes and their villages.  We found a accomodation in the Apple guesthouse, a very quit holiday resort with chalets and rooms with cold showers and without sitting toilet , reason enough to put these house into the 3 star category. At the corniche we found a friendly restaurant for our brunch, we had to change oure meal timing because the eearly decision in Chiang Dao.  After a good brunch we started to discover the town and surroundings. We climbed a hill from wich a funny Buddha was waving us. The breathtaking scenery with stones, dropstones and waterfalls get completet bei unique fauna. But if looking exact we detected thats tiger, cows and seldom birds dont were  really, the waterfall get water from blue pipes and the dropstones had iron skeleton.  But we dont get disappointed accept the mistakes at the dropstone manifacture, primary its appeal to and it helps the belief. The sun burned and so we decided for a small lunch at the river. We get space at a Thai, in the TV we watched from somewhere at the world not able to read the writing, but one team includes the numbers 1860 in the name. A short trip across the fields near Thaton dont get new knowledges but the confirmation thats very nice here. We had dinner in a street restaurant without special designation.  We ordered dinner and get surprised positiv, very tastful. We clossed the day with a beer in a karaoke bar, thinking about to organize the next day and the next steps and which destination we should head for.  We will see tomorow.


Louta Nov.7  (R )
The day starts like nomaly with breakfast. After  then we devided a walking over the bridge passing the more noble holiday resorts, along the Kok river in direction Myanmar. 3km in front of the border we reached a idyllic situated post of the Thai armee, marking the start of the problem area. The captain of the post invited us for a cup of tea and explains the situation of the problem area at a blackboard. Thai armee, Birman armee, Wa armee, Kuanmintong and opium smuggler face here. Probably they all  are subordinated the sheriff of Thaton who looked after the correct courses or the business and pease in the region. Very interisting to get in talking with a border post. Back in Thaton its get to check out and say goodby, unfurtunately but the way is the destination.  We unliked to sit in a boat together with a lot of Swiss and so recommended by th sheriff we started to the mountains in the north in the Lisu village Louta to Asa´s guesthouse.  North of Thaton there was the bus station for destinations in the north.  A yellow minibus spend us a place on the roof, at last a proper way to travel. There were a lot of signs for Asa´s guesthouse, which was 1,5 km abroad the mainroad in the village Louta.. At the first view the village offered nothing unusual.  Asa himself was on the way to come back 90 minutes later.  All members of family were very very friendly and permanent take worry about us  with tea and water.  A little trip to the mountains also take part. The dinner cooked by Asa´s wife was very much.  Asa dont only take care about water, tea and meals, he also spend a culture programm.  Today there was indoor music, Banjo and different blow instruments, additional he explained the responsibility of the ghosts (home ghost, village ghost, hill ghost). A interisting day at very friendly people, we will recommend Asa´s guesthouse. .      


Mae Sai Nov.8 (D)
the crowing of the cocks and the sounds of the pigs let us wake up, someone earlier, someone later. If someone spend holiday other have to go to school like Asa´s three elder children.  The youngest  of the  3 defend oneself against, but all puted in the school bus. But they came back quickly because the marketing concept for Asa´s guesthouse discussed yesterday needed a picture with 5 children, because the now used flyer had only a picture with one children.   , . the fotoshooting get organized quickly after them children the children get to the school and we had breakfast.  After Asa get finish to thank us for drinking his tea and coffee we started in direction main road, uncertain which way the journay will take. Arrived the main road the first yellow taxi cames.  But now the tour guidance intervent in the destiny, because the taxi was to ealy, we have to wait in the sun and not take the first lift, so it is no fun and these taxi was nealy empty, no possibility to sit at the roof, the bumper or the reserve wheel and so on. The taxi drives away without us, which should travel probably to north. Spending the next time waiting in the sun Asa´s wife comes away and it appears like she had it organized a yellow taxi came away in north direction , lets go. First to a controll and connection station in a green taxi than to Mae Chaen and from there by VIP bus to Mae Sai.  In these lively border town at the border to Myanmar quick we found a guesthouse named King Kobra.  . They really get happy to rent the little frequent 2 bed room tao someone. We delivered our pasports for 10$ and 10 Bath at the border, to get funny slips of paper with period of validity until 5 and go to Myanmar.  For luck all clocks of Myanmar had a back leg of 30 minutes, so our visitors permit extent, for little interest of the Thais. For lunch we choised a burman restaurant, a change enjoyed.  The time in Myanmar we really spend only to look for picture postcards. After founding someone we could leave the country, take a walking along the thai corniche and enjoyed some beers in the hotel lobby.  In beetween a short trip for dinning, the border was closed, we found a thai speciality street kitchen with places to sit.  At an other kittchen there gets a dessert today.   Now we sitting at the hotel lobby again to finish the evening.  The girls from the garage opposite went away too, probably its to cold outdoor. Good night. 


Houay Xai Nov.9  (R )
The Dusseldorf jJapaneses still sleeping, the french barber dont turn up, the female boss of the guesthouse had bound her hairs modest to a plait, what a start of a new day.  Today´s breakfast was moslem. A good option to name a  worth mentioning part of moslem in the north of Thailand.  At the bus station recommended by the guesthouse boss nothing stated up.  Also stand and luke stupid dont help, probably I dont have nature talent for this. So we tried togo by minibus to the 5 km outside certain junction to Chiang Saen.  But the conductor denied every try to dropp off  und so we get under compulsion to go to the bus station and get in a waiting bus. So we had to take a detour via Mae Chan to reach Chiang Saen and from there by minibus.  to the Golden Triangle, where  20 luxury busses tourists carried  too. Because of differences of opinion in our tour group, which gate or which view is the main attraction, we visited all possible of them.  After we finished this seightseing point together with meanwhile 30 busloads of tourists we went away to Chiang Khong (concern only us, not the 40 busloads). This takes with some circumstances, there was no direct connections from Chiang Saen and we have to change somewhere, but we had a marvelous view over the Mekong. We crossed the river in a little boat.  Houay Xai  at laotian side of the river shows at once as a idyllic small town. We checked in at  Chanthone Guesthouse, a 3 star house, like everytime until now at this journey. In front of the door limit we had to take off the shoes, the owner of the guesthouse had a funny stuttering laughter, in our neighbor room resided a real belgian backpacker, at last times normal people. For drinking it get Lao beer, half expensive like Thai beer but not real doppel good. At dinner we get to know Sumpeth, a former germanistic student,, how tells us about his drinking tours in Leipzig.  Now he works for Diethelm travel and tomorrow he have to escort a load Studiosus traveller down the Mekong.  


Pakbeng Nov.10 (D)
Again we started the mourning with stand up. A large part of the travel group did this very early, possible to say before stand up, the rest of the travel group stayed for a hour in the sleeping bag. At this morning  Rene´ had a interview with his laotian colleague. Who should procure him a job here in Laos, but I dont know it exactly.  For breakfast we only crossed the street, there were baguettes, a culinary heritage of the french and fried eggs.  Becaus the evening before they told us the departure time for the transport boat at 9, we arrive  the port one hour before the departure time, like normaly. But the information from yesterday was wrong, departure should be at 11. it was not so bad, in the wasting time a dozen of Farang colleted, all willed to go by the boat.  Most of them package tourer from Chiang Mai, a little disappointed about the freight and person transport boat, which made available by port authority. We keep in cool, found a place at the large window and prepared for a comfortable journey. The luggage of the travellers piled up to 3 large heaps in the inner of the boat. One heap only get formed by one backpack. Because this heap was moving, it could by maintained it was living, they put it for security reasons in the corner. Our proposal about the entertainment at board get ignored, following the animation programm was under limit. Most of the Mekong cruise participants slept. I believe this people sleep everytime. Other watched in books to keep secret real they sleep too. Who dont slept, dont read or did as like, this one  eat, chips, cookies, toast, no wonder about most of them were fat.  On our bench dirct by me sit also 4, not like the others lay down lazy, 4 girls from Prague. Here it is again the former eastern bloc, decent and rational, quit hold out against allways chatting members of other tribes. Lets look who is remaining at the end of the journey.  But not much happening with the Prague girls, pretty shy they sit at the bench.  It should change, I  anticipate because I wrote the diary with one day delay. I can say closely past the start in Pakbeng it gave a swig of Slivowitz. Super girls, at this way  the global challange get mastered.  Back to yesterday. Also worth to name Harry Potter was on board, reading all the time in his diary with the same title.  Otherwise nothing unusual take place. We haven´t made a recue exercise, nobody and nothing get over board. O k, the toilet was funny, behind the toilet door there were two ship planks missing und all was delivered into the Mekong. Mrs Otto we get known yesterday at the arrive in Laos emerged as Doctor of psychatrist. Her curious behaviour we recognized yesterday if she informed us about suizide supporting effects of malaria prophylaxis.   At 5 in the afternoon we arrived Pakbeng, a small village, adjusted  for the dayli reinforcement  of farang. The run for sthe guesthouses could start with the run for the three, sorry two heaps of backpacks. We saw relaxed about the trouble and decided to walk through the entire village first.  We had the tactics to choise the guesthouse the fats dont enter. The tactics oens, a nice and pretty female guesthouse boss waved to us from the balcon and rent a room for 20000 Kip (nearly 2 Euro) The sanitary mechanismswere in accordance the typical local, toilet let in the ground and the shower from the bowl.  After a walk to the end of the village we went back and together with Mrs Otto to a Laotian for dinner. The meal was delicious, also if I had to wait a long time for my spring rolls.  The beer is quite cheap here and so it is possible to drink one more. In between the tour guide went for a shower. He returned happy in the restaurant.  He had the luck to shower together with the guesthose boss. This was positiv for the classification of the guesthouse, this guesthouse get the highest category of 3 stars like all others until now.  In this special cause one for no fats being here, one for the nice restaurant opposite and one for the option to shower together with the guesthouse boss, but only choised persons.  The evening was nice and ends with the tucker of the generators.

Luang Prabang Nov.11 (R )
Some Australians refered to our guesthouse because overbooking of the only luxury hotel of the village get sorrow to must leave this nice place with its amentities. They get really enthusiasticed to share the backpacker romantic for one time, but now they carried back to their tour group.  The maintenance of the boat people with lunch packets  would well organized by th village Pakpeng. Nevertheless we take a additional breakfast in the restaurant opposite. This also did a Colognian carnival speaker.  Probably cheered up by the today date she attend for needless chatting and delay.   Probably she was not intimate with some behaviour rules for backpacker, which say in a restaurant you have to eat what is able and not to chatt endless with the restaurants chief to get a extra sausage. The start of the slow boat fixed between 8 and 9, depending on everybody it liked. It departs on time and all again take part at the journey, the silent Czechs, the living gross index ton ( mistaked by some with a heap of backpacks) the guitar with the player (to get not under wake he had not touched the guitar), Harry Potter, other fellows of the time and I joke of the mad.   Also we passed some raps. This needs a lot of skills, both  for rudder the ship and for rudder the piss if being at the board toilet.   Also today there was no official animation at the board and so I flirted  with a nice french girl, whats me get produced a masterwork of rhymed thoughts. 
Wenn ich Alizee seh
brauch ich kein Meer mehr
Wir fahren den Mekong entlong
Durch Laos, laos uns Liebe tun,

nun

Like Indochina  cheered for highest power of literature. But why I should get other than Andre´ malraux and fellows.  At half past 4 pm we arrived Luang Prabang. Like this I imagen a french provincal town, probably dont exist in France now.  We start to look for a guesthouse. Some parts of journey lamented like the motto not to walk to much and take the first guesthouse. This way was not possible for the tour guide, because it had to be a 3 star house and finaly we found one.  The dinner in the opposite corniche cafe was not asian.  Ok one treat nothing otherwise.  .


Luang Prabang Nov.12 (D)
The cocks crows since yesterday evening, so it´s seems to me. I swear there is chicken for todays breakfast.  the tour guide stands up in the night but dont get outside. Because we were bankrupt, concerning the local currancy, and the tour guide get spitted by the local people (its possible if you careless during overtake at morning walking) our first destination was a bank.  For this recommended one placed near a small restaurant, it was comfortable and there was breakfast too. After them we changed money.  Now if we owned more than a half million in small bank notes bundled in the pockets, we could start our Luang Prabang tour.  First point at the agenda was the palast of kings und therefor also the national museum.  There we joined surreptitious a guided tour of a small Studiosus group.  Because this guided tour  dont sufficed our demand we take our guided tour ourself. A special attentiveness we spend the department for gifts from all over the world for the house of kings. The Russians impressed with marks, while the Americans dont get conviction with their stupid moonstones.  It effected certainly because the choised moonstone descended from the dark side of the moon. The sun did hard against the dayli morning fog. But this dont detered us to continue our  seightseeing tour to steal up from Wat to Wat to the top of the hill.  But Wat is That? The search for a in the map pointed That (the name shouldn´t be importent)  get unsuccesful. We walked repeatedly around the searched object until the relisazion a That is not a Wat but a part of a Wat. It´s should be in knowledge. Then we walked up the hill Phousi in the center of Luang Prabang, where a surprise was waiting.  Short before the temple a FLAK was built up, which earlier used for shoting. Luckely this times are finished and the gunpipe was dismantled. At the small station for tuk tuks we hadn´t to negotiate to long to charter one und to go with the assigned driver to the village opposite the gaves of Pak Oh. A bursted tube stoped the drive at half way and the tour guide could make helpful himself. In the village a ferry was waiting for us to cross the Mekong to the cave of 1000 Buddhas.  The counting if all were present get a negative result, there was one to much.  Because we dont liked it to make a big story we crossed over and get appetite for a local whisky.   Our driver understand our gestures und taked us to the whisky village. After tast of three produced sorts   and presentation of the destillery funktion we bought a bottle of the finest drink, here not buyable for under 10000 Kip, we drive home. For security reason a new wheel pulled of. In the darkness we reached Luang Prabang. The dinner was rich, then the day ends. 

Vang Vieng Nov.13 (R )
If leving the house in the morning you meet three kinds of people, monks, monk feeder and monk feeder fotografs, a depend of the others in definite kind.  Our chartered  driver was not in availebility like wished yesterday, so we had to look for an alternative and quick get found.  At the bus station there were normal conditions finally.  The 8.30 bus was fully booked, so we had to wait till 10. So I get the option to chatt with the french Canadian, I chatted some times before.  I like the sound of his french accent, its remmembering me  for Alizee The Canadian seems to be a real backpacker and he set measuring rods for carring luggage, he had nearly nothing. Also he seems to read come back alive ,  because he sit down at the seat close behind the windshield, where you have to pain at least in cause of causes. But the driver was a fan of Bin Laden and so careful with his load of Farang,  nobody never  could  know,  maybe they are needed later to kidnap ore to bomb out. The most of the Farang in the bus shown we are at the beaten track. Oh I see, I forgot the plan to go by boat further the Meking get rejected.  We take course south to Vang Vieng.  Initially endless laps up, but also down again, through picture postcards getting in reality.   Alse stops to take a rest ans watch were made. The destination (leave out the fact , that the way is the destination) turned out to be a large backpacker outdoor enclosure. with a turned pale charme touch of Shangri La. At least 30 guesthouses, internet cafe´s and some like Khaosan at countryside.  We checked in the Phonsaksit Guesthouse, a 3 star house, who needed more stars only to had watch in the night sky. Now we sit in the opposide restaurant drinking Beer Lao and observe the geckos at the wall. In some distance a guitar sounds.  Should we have catched again somebody travelling around the country with such a unmanageably object. A harp would be more useful, because you can use the strings to cut cooked eggs. But is was a guitar played in our guesthouse! by a french the glorie of kolonialism mourned afterwards.  

Vang Vieng Nov.14 (D)
Real happens nearly thothing at this day. If acommodated in a all inclusive club hotel, certainly I coute write a lot.  As an all inclusive tourist at the  way from the bed to the bar you will pass the breakfast buffet and dont must cross the steet like we. Also the payment get lost for all inclusive tourists and he dont must go to bank for changing. But after handling this  we could use the advantages of being backpackers and so we rent two bicycles from the local bicycle hire agent, who was amused about fat people on bicycles. In the save trust about traffic authorizie inspected reliablety of the bicicles (necassary because the roads here demand a lot from human and special the material) we went for way.   If crossing the river at a bamboo bridge we had to pay a fee of 4000 Kip, but short after fee point in the middle of the river you had to step in the water and to walk 20 meters in the water to climb the bridge again and to go with dry foots over the rest of the river.  The journey crossed fields and villages, always along of the faszinating scenery of Vang Viengs Mountains. The next bridge fee was a little cheaper because the return was inclusive. Away the pathes sometimes get very bump, we enjoyed the scenery and the friendly waving of the children. Sawadee seems to be a frindly greet, so we could send it back.  A defect of a tube stoped the ride at half the planed distance.  But we get help in the next village. A pack of childrenj tried to mend the in a not good condition certaining tube of the rear wheel or watched simple. The case get fixed provisional with rubber at the rim.  The repair costs 8000 Kip without garantee, which I had need 2 km away, the tube seems unrepairable.  We decided to continue the planed journey still. Alternating the defect bicycle would pushed for 2 km, during the other could enjoy th bicycling. This was not only the fastes option also the most  sozial and most solidaritysolution. With little delay, but what has it to mean, wi come back to Vang Vieng  We obsewrved the arrival of a Studiosus travellers bus. It´s sounds more spectakular than it is real and so we take the last stage to give back the bicycles. There They were enjoyed about our try to explain the defect, but it dont change the fact, that´s total normaly if the tube get defect with a little demage. After a shower drinking beer Lao and looking sunset was in.  Abendessen we had in a restaurant frequented by Israelies. For this reasen we expected Icecreme at the handle for movie display. But it wasn´t so and we went to the end of the world cafe opposide our guesthouse to have a lovelao (fruitshake with a little spirit) 

Vang Vieng Nov.15.(R )
When mourning walking, which would offered optional and mostly 50% of the travel group take part, I met the Canadian again, who usually. He feeled really happy at this beautiful place which was the rhight for us young people, a opinien I could share.  After breakfast we went walking through the scenery, there was a lot of them in the area here.  Two frenchs were following us, trusted our knowledge of the ways. This get around fast, so a more and more enlarging tail of frenchs we moved behind us along the way. If french meet usually they have alcohol, or is it to explain otherwise if some of them had to cross the bamboo bridge with all of their four limbs. The continuing of the mourning walking we get without company.  Because we get lose one´s way we arrived Vang Vieng earlier than believed. Lunch take place in a elegant gulf restaurant, which stuff get amused by a confused French, who dont spoke lao, english  and maybe correct french..  (view from the gulf restaurant over the Song river)  For afternoon tubing was at the programm. For those rafting is no more a thrill tubing is the right.  With frantic speed (for the 5 km we needed 2,5 hours) you chase down the ripping Song river, always get dangered to crash into a bridge pillar. But all had mastered somehow to get unhurt to the destination.  Because it was the last evening in Vang Vieng, there should be some special for dinner. So I orfered a Lao nuddles salat. If my bowl get served I was surprised when two fishs watched me. Except nuddles a lot of tasteful ingredience certain in the bowl.  Therefor not only the French in the gulf restaurant had problems to order the correct meal. But otherwise than him I get satisfied. After we dont get in right position to find the right way to the piss of  restaurant at the other side of the river, the day finished in the rest of the world restaurant, this is not the wrong option. Their also get fixed the plan for the rest of the journay. Plan A made the race, to make a pause at the way to Vientiane, which is planed at the Muong Soum artificial lake. 


Vientiane Nov.16 (D)
Good morning, all members of the party are adjusted to execute Plan A. After breakfast at the end of the world opposite the street, we marched across the taxiway to the bus station, looking back again, enjoying the beautiful backround.  With the help of the map showinf for our day destination we get assigne a minibus which dpopped off us 30 km past Vang Vieng.  But the Tries with friendly sawadee and our map to get nearer to the artificial lake get missed, because no local could handle with our map really.  The locals really taked pains for our welfare, but could´t show at our map where we been.  The question for a guesthouse at the lske nobody could anwer too. So we stand at the dropp off place till a well filled bus stoped and us ath the individual farang picked up. So the journay goes to direction  Vientiane again, alway looking for a junction to the lake.  The bus seems known for us and if we heard the words "five minutes" from the driver we clarity, we went again with the Bin Laden driver. Now we stoped not caused a pause, but a tube defect.  The defect was repaired fast, it could go further.  After 3,5 hours of this in my opinion tiring drive (the tour guide get amused indeed) lookin gfor the junction to the lake, we arrived Vientiane. The Gods of budget travelling had intervened in the destiny and commanded to take Plan B.  Good we were prepared well to react of the intervention. Plan B take part.  The first guesthouses we headed  for wer overgrowed.  We found accomodaton  in a lodgings, getting 1 star in my opinion.   But the tour guide decide for two stars, probably for the beautiful eyes of the female guesthouse boss. A city walk was following. After obligatory Wat´s and That´s we meet the Canadian, presenting himself in a new wardrobe. The market for souveniers tourned out to be a street cafe area with view over the Mekong to Thailnd.  There would it go tommorow like Plan B, but now we went to an Indian.  I found the Indien nice and so i went to the Internet, it was cheap and also it starts to rain, not claiming there is a dependence.  The evening ends in the Sawadee around the courner. there was rugby in TV, enjoying the small group of fans.  

train to Bangkok Nov.17 (R )
Again I started the day with a morning walk. Good occasion to say good by to the Canadian, one of this fellows I hope to see again everywhere.  The early market opens at 8, occasion to make a good breakfast, 40 cm long baguettes, a blessing of the french colonial power, which would not be in Thailand.  Some tour group members used the early market to scout souveniers. After them we went by urban bus to the friendship bridge.  The nice boss of the guesthouse, getting only two stars because the higher prices than in the country average and the defect water pipes, gave us the right number of bus.  We liked to cross the Friendchip bridge walking. But this was not able at this day, because some walking parties did so. So we must take the commuter traffic bus. The fee therefor and some other fees let the stock of kip decrease fast. The last we changed by a friendly tuk tuk driver at thai side. Thailand welcomes us with rain, so the waitingtime till departure time of the Bangkok express we must spend at the station. Roughly Etwaige options to chang plan B, like a discover of the bus station and go further frome there to Udon Thani, to go from there south to Chantaburi or Koh Chang, we must drop. Because a good connection from Bangkok to the south plan B2 take part.  Sleeper to Bangkok were fully booked, so we had to ride in the 2 class seat. The train should depard at 6 pm. But it delayed because the hymn get played (probably for us) and at the platform all stand silent.  The train bumped very at and probably beside the rail lines. especially amazing was the starting of the 20 coach long trains, which probably get speed up of the pushing of the next train. 


Prachuab Khirikhan Nov.18 (D)
The train rocked me, or better shaked me, or better slinged me into sleep, which continued till 5 am. The morning coffee served by a friendly stewardess, but must payed separate. We arrived Bangkok with 30 minutes delay. we get tickets for our destination in the south.  For half of the way we payed 50% more than for the way from north to Bangkok.  With lunacy speed we drived over the rail lines of Bangkok, probably it was not possible to walk faster. But the speed increased proportunal to the increasing Scenery and the amount of palmtrees. A lunch get serve, that is why the price surchage!  Because the train to Bangkok delayed a half hour and the train to the south delayed a half hour we arrived Prachuab Khirikhan with one full hour delay. Here at the most narrow part of Thailand you must get carefully where you step. At one side you step in the sea, at the other side you are in Myanmar nearly. The search for a guesthouse we transfered to a frienly tuk tuk driver. After introducing us at the local armmee devision and the airfield crossed in both directions he dropped off us at a hotel with a fantastic view over the bay.  The guesthouse get 3 stars. At the base of the hill overthrowing the town we could observe copulating monkeys.  The hill up takes ofer 300 steps and on top there was of course a Wat. From above it get a good view for looking for a beach.  After steped down, now with more place knowledge, we chartered a tuk tuk.  We checked in for second time at the armee post and also could croll the airfield.  If walking at the nice Aow Manao beach with its lot of food kitchens, rent a tube stationes and a fantastic backround I take part for a tourist interwiew.  After a beer in the officers club we could go to return.  But there was no tuk tuk here, probably they get confused with our doppel check point entry without official exit in between. We started the way walking till a jeep driver stoped audnpicked up us in the cargo space.  Again at the guesthouse we liked to go the Sawadee restaurant around the corner for dinner, but there you must cook your meal yourself and because we hadn´t made a Thai cook course, we decided for a ordinary Thai cook kitchen. If half of the tour group enjoyed seafood, finally we are at the sea, the rest enjoyed to eat spicy. 


Loi Krathong in Hua Hin Nov.19 (R )
Because I could not assume to meet the canadian when morning walking, I looked for the departore point for the busses to Hua Hin. I found a bus with driver and asked. He shows me willing the right way, but stoped to wave for a female moped driver whos carried me to the right place.  So the way for the next stage get fixed.  Todays breakfast was thai, there was spicy vegetable soup. The bus carried us to the tourist town Hua Hin. Arrived there it starts quick for accomodation search. A lot of luxory hotels is advertising for guests.  The Hua Hin Hilton seems to be the best and so we started to get accomodation in the near of it.  It takes a little to find a 3 star house. Some could not clasified in 3 star rang because the expensive price, other because not having rooms with two beds for two people. But now here helps the princip of walking stupid and looking foolish.  Although I didn´t exert myself, I get grabed from some helpful girls and draged in a bar. Kindly refusing this help, we found a suitable guesthouse too. After checking in the Memory guesthouse we moved to the beach, past tourist whos been amazed about our bicyclist sunbrown and didn´t greet.  After the well filled beach shares of Hilton, Sofitel and other cames a ghost beach surrounded by emty hotels. In a little beach restaurant which could have the name end of the world too, we ordered lunch. After continuing sea swimming lessons it get to discover the city. Women and girls in cafes and bars and also outdoor get very engaged to produce flower pots.  What could thes signify? We decided to for looking about the reason.  To work effectively we spared the travel groüp., one part researched in the internet, the other part asked the flower binding girls direct.  Really we get success in this way.  One part of the travel group, we dont know which now,  get the solution. Loi Krathong take part and the with candles provided flower pots should get set up in the sea. .So all women and girls  were skilled in handicrafts. Some produced more than demand, so some remained for the tourists. If putting a flower pot in the sea, you may wish something.  Good restaurants donated flower pots to ther guests. The  restaurant runned by transvestits we ended up, provided us really with a flower pot dinner. With the flower pot in hands we walked to the parade. Beautiful girls robed in finest dresses moved along the street.   The eye get a lot to do with all th magnificens of colours, sometimes loosed up by colourful mixed dancing groups, seemed to be trunken.  Highlights of the parade were splendid decorated parade coaches topped by flower princesses and the following aggregate pushers, have to look after the illumination. The fotograf had a lot to do und I stand there foolish with my flower pot in my hands ( in my opinion as the only one male flower pot holder. So I must develope own initiative. I liked to donate to a girl. This noble intention get difficult to begin, because every girl have had one already. looking with astonishment at the parade I had to wait a long time, untill a unhappy looking girl without flower pot came away.  I delivered her the donation, making she happy, you can see at the picture.    From the parade we walked to the beach, which was good visited by a lot of people, delivering their flower pots with the burning candles to th sea.  The party was running, little torch ballons get up in the sky, there was happiness everywhere, especially if one of the torch ballons didn´t get the correct high and flight nearly the ground. the evening ends with a beer in one of the numerous beverage stores.  

Damnoen Saduak Nov.20 (D)
If looking for a rational breakfast restaurant, in the morning there is not much trouble here, the local town cleaning stuff cleaned the beach with heavy technic and additional deputy stuff from the liter of the yesterday Loi Krathong festival. After breakfast we walked to the Hilton beach. The Hilton odered own stuff  for the cleaning of the beach sector. But they worked some slow, knowing sometimes the town cleaning stuff is coming and they have to do such important things like care for the lawn, th pool and surround laying people.  This made the stuff of the Hilton really good, my daily controll of the pool get a positiv result.  About swimming in the sea there is not much to report. Yesterday some members of the travelgroup get swimming abused by crashing into a riff.

For luch we found a good Thai. There was no flower pot, therefor real chicken. We went to the bus station . After troublesome asking how to get to Ratchaburi, we get freighted in a bus, departing to the right destination.  The drive was not special, because the thai bus and railway system seems to be adjusted for our routes and schedules. Probably the bus is waiting for us, than it depard.  At a junction everywhere we get dropped off, but the next bus cames soon.
Arrived in Ratchburi the next bus comes, if the bus stuff have watched us. The next 5 km, according to the guidebook, located  50 km in eatern direction. But this all was not a problem, after another change of the bus we arrived the most attainable place of our jouney.  Our guesthouse was a hotel, getting 2 stars. When one part of the travel group asked for informations about the Floating Market in the internet, the rest of the group wasted the tiime in the hotel. Incidentally the part which hve to worl hard in the internet cafe had the pleasure to meet two girls from Czechia.  


Bangkok Nov.21 (R )
The day starts with stand up, after them we walked in direction to the Floating Market Disney Resort. Following guidebooks the only real market in this kind in Thailand. The tender of boats was large. The troops of tourists from Bangkok didn´t set in marsh.  But we prefered to walk. The Floating Market get conentrat for quarter which the main road crossed. from the bridges there was the best view how you can see by www.sabuy.com . The boats mainly selled vegetables and food, the huts at the Klongs mainly tourists suppliment.  In the next time the numbers of boats with tourists get the majority against the merchandise boats. To confront this we leaved the area.  The bus to Bangkok was already waiting for us.  We arrived the capitol high noon, noising , chaotic laike i had it in my rememberances.  Our Bangkok home we reached fast. Here it is, the Khaosan Road, no more only a backpacker area, more a mix of Champs Elysee, Arenal, Soho and some was Khaosan once uppen a time. There were a lot of guesthouses and restaurants, all things get traded, shirts, student passports, Bin Laden mmasks.  All is shrill and colourful, like the people walking,  locals, hilltribewomen, backpacker of different colour and views and tourists, which this get selled as a thing worse to see.  We checked in the Grand guestouse, 3 stars. After them we went to the city. By boat to the Orien hotel, followed by  Silom road with aexcursion to the Patpong, because culture.  We get there in the afternoon, in this time it´s possible to do without getting draged in somewhere.  Back to the Chao Phraya river we went by sky train, from which platform you have a magnificant view to the skyline of Bangkok. Next viewpoint led us to Chinatown, her they had started to dismantle the stands, but it offerd already a lot to watch.  Then we went to Little India. Here the Sikh Tempel was very imposing, a modern building, which remembering to a office house, if entering. Disposed the shoes and socks, the hairs embranced with a cloth, it gets via lift up to the preach room, where a whitebbeard was speaking to the believers. next the dinner take part in a Graceland restaurant. We went by boat back to home. khaosanroad was transroming into a fair.  Our guesthouse advertised with the special offer buy 3, get one free, which was not able to resist.  Because a single bottle was more expansive then otherwhere, we saved a lot so. The order get served in a champagne bucket, filled with icecubes, there is style at the Khaosan road. At the wide screen there was any premier league game.  Fresh arrived dutchs asked for the ending of the friendly game against Germany, I dont know it, which the peace at the bar don´t  troubled. At the street moved a peaceful people away, good night Bangkok. 


Bangkok Nov.22 (D)
Good morning  Bangkok. The first night in the Grand guesthouse was survived, so we also could sing "one night in Bangkok". A breakfast restaurant we found quick, was Khaosan road was not to overcrowed at this time. Went the most to the culturel highlights of the town, like temple and museum? So we have to hurry, because we wouldn´t be the last.  By boat we went to the Golden Palace and the benonging Wat.  Already in front of the palast walls we get gesticulated made clear, that we may not enter like we runned arround. At the same time we get offered super cheap trousers for buying. So we could pass.  For luck we only had to deposit a pasport as pledge. My passport I needed to change traveler cheques in bath next to the cashiers desk. This was necassary, because the entry to the Grand Palace bursted our culture budget. But this was this unique seightseeing worth.  Inside the Grand Palace and the Wat Phra Keo anticipated us a lot of tourists, most of them of japanese origin, and  a magnificant view of asian architecture and cultur, Highlight was the Smaragdbuddha, in really a little exemple made from jade and not so funny like others we have seen in Thailand.  Like in all temples here it was obligation too, to take of the shoes.  This enriched the smell of the smoking sticks with natural fragrances. But not all tourists did like this and made this clear by hold closed their noses.  Additional were the cheeks blowed up and the eyes turned. In front the japaneses, as like it get in other way in their home.  Let´s go to the next temple. Wat Pho was the second item on the agenda.  Friendly tuk tuk driver explained us the Wat Pho opens at 1 pm. This was helpful, so we planed to visit Wat Arun first. But unfurtunaly Wat Arun should be closed because high water.  For luck a tuk tuk driver could made us a alternativ offer. There is a Wat everywhere, of course with Buddha, which is opened only today, what a luck.  For evidence the friendly tuk tuk driver painted  a Buddha at the map of the travel guide. But we rejected the offer, because the painted Buddha looks like a Haribo goldbear and the travelguide was very disappointed about the disfigurage of his map, in addition such advises are known.  We went to the Wat Pho, it was opened widely and they get happy if we liked to watch the lying Buddha. Although you dah more space in Wat Pho and not so much Japaneses blocked the view, the Buddha wamuch bigger, the entry costs only a tenth one from the Golden palace Entry. Our budget for culture gets happy, theres had not must made a shifting of the travel budget, nobody the meal get lost, contrary there was a icecreme for dessert.   The high water get back, Wat Arun haven´t closed any time. We crossed the river by ferry to get to point 3 of our culture list.  Wat Arun, also called  Temple of dawn count as the symbol of Bangkok.  Also here impressed again the architekture and ornaments of the steeply rising temple.  Near Wat Arun a klong branch off in western direction. At the moorings we looked for a lift, to shipping a little over the Klongs.  Because the boat as transport is not so importent in Bangkok like in former times it takes some trouble to go away.  Passanger boats served mostly to carry organized tourist tours.  Dropped off at a silent corner we decided after a lunch to change to a more common transport.So we went to the next mainroad, were silence get ended and went by bus through traffic rich streets back to the river. As a alternativ culture programm the travel guide recommended a way through the former farang quarter. But tThe way draen in the guide book was not able to walk, because some hotels built for the new farang, blocked the old farang way. When it get dark and there were no seightseeings to discover more, we went by tuk tuk back to the new farang quarter, the Khaosan road.  The today again starting dra season rainshower simpled the search for a dinner restaurant. There were it started to rain we went in, a good option to choise a restaurant.  So the evening ends like for the most guest of Khaosan road, eating drinking , chatting.  

Bangkok Nov.23 (R )
Because I am an early riser its not a problem for me all to count whos rise early.  At least you meet the stuff of the resthouse. With this friendly people there is all times a friendly word to change. Because I am belonging to the young (look at the canadians definition from the 11/15 ) it was not surprising if a little friendly has catched me in her eyes, How could it resent her.  The daycourse of our travel group keeped  a various programm mixed from cultur, shopping and entertainment today.  First we went by bus to the  Vimamnek Mansion. The price for the entry was encludet in the Golden Palace ticket. So is visiting get obligation for us. The wide complex exist at some palastes and museum buildings. Mainly attraction was the world largest teakwood palast. The chlothings order for visiters demands long trousers or long socks. How had non of this, get rolled half of size in a repentance dress.  After mastering this and take off the shoes we get the entry prevented, because bevore we have  to watch a dancing show.  The remaining 30 minutes till start of the show would be not enough to visit the teakwood palast. Only japaneses could go in the palast, prbably they are faster in seightseeing.  After passing the culture part of the day, we went by bus to the Victory monument, where 5 lanes circuled. In each direction a dense traffic was to discover.  Sky train and skyline formed a imposing backround. Rejoising Crocodile Dundee comes to meet us, a Australian from the second tourist quarter who was new in Bangkok and same out of orientation.  We take him with us to the right sky train and went to the temples area of consumption the weekend market.   The market offers all what let beat higher the hearts of locals and farang, .  animals alive and roasted, household appliance, clothings and a wide range of souveniers.  We get victims of the purchase ectasy too, only possible to reduce by flight.  Next we went to the skytrain junction Siam Center, a consumption temple of other kind and then back to the river.  It was raining now strong, so the boats were covered with awnings and we had to orient at bridges. The evening reserved for the Khaosan road. We had dinner at the street, it means at different grill stands which offering varied meals. The royal culture understanding from the morning in the head and the Khaosan road in the eyes following question forced. Knows the king waths happen hear? Probably not, it´s seems better so.  Our programm provided for to have a Shang beer in the outside area, not for the tast but for the label to collect.  Then we went to the Volkbar, where "around the world" was on top of the drinks list, a cocktail without no alkohiol. the volkbar had even own drinking cubs, suitable as souvenier.  The programm for souvenier collecting required Jeo beer labels too. This we get togehter with the at it sticking fully beer bottles in our guesthouse.  At the wide screen there was premier league footbol again.  The last beer of the evening served the yellow angel at the entry bar to us, where we had the daily trouble of Khaosan road in front of our eyes.   For the discharge with the little guesthouse stuff member we missed, this should happens often.  But today was saturday I hadn´t had a suizid supporting malaria prophlaxe and so I could make a possitive result of this journey. 

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