May 14, 2013

  • Vientiane: day one

    In my left hip pocket is 260,000 kip, the currency of Lao PDR, converted from 1,000 Thai baht. It is about $30 US. In another pocket is a dwindling stash of baht, and in my wallet is 3,000 baht to cover the cost of my visa. Checking in at Saylom Yen Guest House, I pay for two nights, expecting to check out on Wednesday, get my passport, then catch a bus to Udon Thani, where I will catch the last bus to Bangkok. It passes through Saraburi, my final destination. Everything is planned out, and I see a tight budget in front of me. 

    This time around I am in Rm. 5, on the second floor. Last time it was Rm. 6, and the time before that was Rm. 1 on the ground floor near the front desk. The rooms I get are fan-only, no air conditioning. These are the cheapest rooms available. The rooms have a double bed, desk/dresser, and a shower with cold water. No hot water is available, even at some pricier places. Since my last visit the owners have renovated the rooms so they are brighter cleaner in appearance. Looks much better now that the dingy yellow has been replaced by a bluish-white wallpaper. 

    I eat lunch across the street at a vegetarian restaurant, then return to my room. I read, I sleep, I wake up at 6:15 pm and remain so for eleven hours. I use both ipod Touch and a new Andro Pad to surf the Internet. I chatted briefly with one of my sisters and one of my nephews. Around 5am, I fall asleep and am back up just after 7am. 

    On my last visa run I studied a map of the city, looking for a short cut to the Thai consulate visa section. I found what I was looking for, including one or two landmarks to use as way points. On the walk I forgot them, remembering only a dental clinic. I walked too far, but remembered a bank from a prior visit that I passed when I was walking back to the guest house. I retraced the route the best I could and botched it. I walked too far north and approached the consulate from the north-east. I should be approaching it out of the west. Go figure.

    I get the guys in front to take care of my application form, and pay them 300 baht for the pictures and the service. They tell me that they have been handling paperwork for a lot of non-b immigration applicants like myself. Teachers preparing to apply for work permits came here, and face the backlog brought on by the three day holiday. I have time to wait, and my number in the line is 315. They are in the 250s when I get there. Hurry up and wait to find out that the cover letter is addressed to Immigration and not to the embassy. I am in good company, as English teachers from the Philippines and from maybe Hong Kong or Singapore also have problems with the papers provided them by their schools. I get my paperwork back and wander around town, aiming to find a PC cafe to request the proper document to be sent to me. Go to the bank, go to PC room, go to the Morning Market and Talat Sol mall, and then wander around town for a while because I need the exercise. 

    I'm looking for an English language bookstore that I have visited three times before. It's been over a year since I last stopped in, and I never seem to remember where to find the place. First I come across a sporting goods store that I honestly do not remember from any of my other visits. I find some pads I need to practice kicking, and the price is kinda nice when I convert it to dollars. I don't make promises to return, though, but will keep it in mind to return there in a few months if things go right.

    I overshoot the street I am looking for by about three blocks too far west, and I am two blocks north of the location. What hurts is my right knee, so I am not walking as quickly as I would like. I find the Monument bookstore right where I left it, I do not find the book I was looking for, but I do find another book on the subject that is affordable and make my purchase. Then comes another long walk. First, a bottle of water. It's the west end of town. I find two streets named after Hanoi and Hai Phong, two major cities in the northern part of Vietnam. I don't even want to think about history as I cross the streets. 

    The wandering around continues until dark. I go to a PC room and find that the document I need has been sent. I get the print, pay up, and walk back to the guest house. Time to read. Time to sleep.