mickan in world

I knew it was going to be uncomfortable. I was prepared for 2 times 9 hours on a wooden bench without a cushion. But I did not see it coming.

The first day was okay. I mean; my but was quite sore and it was raining and cold for most of the day, but the company was nice and we got there reasonably on time. The landscape was nice, not breathtaking (like the road between Vang Vieng and Ponsavan), but nice. All in all it was quite an agreeable jerney and I had a nice book to pass the time (Papillon by Henri Charriere- read it!).

But, oh my God the second day! I name it the worst day of this whole trip and I sure hope it will remain so.

It probably would have been okay if we hadn't changed boats. The new one was an old, oily floating thing. The benches wasn't stuck to the floor; interesting on a rocking boat. The engine was louder than a Kiss konsert and made it impossable to have any kind of conversation. After about 13 minutes it gave you a splendid headache.

But it probably would have been okay if it wasn't for the storm. It started about 35 minutes after we left Pak Beng (where we spent the night) and it blew right in our faces for the rest of the trip. Wind, rain, waves, we were all shivering. It was raining so much it was hard to tell the Mekong from the air; both contained an equal amount of water. Luckily the boat had a roof- but no walls.

But it might have been fine if it wasn't for me being conveniently stricken with travellers stomach and had to go to the 'toilet' every thirty minutes or so. Nasty.

But sure enough, I might have survived all of this if I hadn't been lucky enough to catch some kind of strange fever (probably related to the changes in temperature these last days, super cold- super hot- super cold). I have first hand witnesses who can tell you that my lips went a beautiful blue color, nicely accompanying my bright red face. I tell you, I was suffering!

Because of the storm the trip took eleven lovely hours instead of nine and we reached Hoixao in Laos after the boarder to Thailand closed (not that I would have managed to get to the boarder anyways). So I checked into a 2 dollar guesthouse, stuffed myself with painkillers and slept for 12 hours. After a careful breakfast I felt up for taking the boat to Thailand. I'm staying in Thai border town of Chiang Khong for the day to recover and I'll take the bus to Chiang Mai tomorrow.

First thing I did here was taking a Thai massage (yes, Jossan I gave it another chance and it was heavenly!) and after som proper food I feel like a new woman. Also, getting my own bungalow for 100 bath (20kr, 2euro) made my mood rise. Hello Thailand!

I am so glad yesterday is now the past; it surely makes me enjoy the present. After a day like that I name myself a hard-core traveller.