Chiang Khong - 'sleepy town' is an understatement!
Trip Start
Aug 27, 2007
1
6
12
Trip End
Aug 26, 2008
Where I stayed
Chiang Khong, Thailand
Sunday, September 2, 2007
We stopped at the White Temple along the way - definitely the best temple we have seen so far, and worth a look even if you don't really like looking at temples - check out the photos!
We reached Chiang Khong late afternoon. This is a little town on the southern border of the Mekong River, straight across from the Lao town of Huay Xai. It is one of the most popular border crossings to/from Laos for backpackers and solo travellers, so makes a good place to meet fellow travellers if you are by yourself.
The hotel for the night was a very nice wooden hotel next to the Mekong River, the Ruan Thai Lodge. We ate at the hotel - the food wasnt the best, but we had a fun night, filled with music from Pete's ipod speakers, card playing, and general swearing!! Mossie spray is very highly recommended, as being this close to the river, you are liable to be bitten to shreds unless some deet is being used to repel the insidious little buggers.
Early start to the next day. First a short journey to the Mekong River, where there is a border crossing checkpoint for leaving Thailand and entering Laos. Once our passports were stamped, we had to take a boat to get across the Mekong and enter Laos via Huay Xai. If you dont fancy carrying your bag onto the boat, there are lots of people around who will carry it on for a fee - I elected to carry mine, but be warned, the bag handlers will normally just pick your bag up without asking, take it onto the boat, and then demand some money! Just be firm if you dont want them carrying it :0)
