Back to Bangkok

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It's been a difficult day. I keep saying 'Sabai-dee!' (the Laos greeting which I seemed to have become quite attached to), and receiving confused looks until I realise my mistake and mutter 'Khrap-kha' after a bit of deliberation.
By last morning in Laos was a bit of a painful one. I went to the police station, to get an official notice in english to go with my Luang Prabang statement. It took a bit longer than expected, and I had to be a bit stern about wanting them to add my camera onto the statement (they weren't happy about this for some reason).
I then walked to the bus station, and after a lot of confusion, finally found the bus to take me to the Friendship Bridge - which is at the border between Thailand and Laos. Travelling in public trains is so much more of an experience (and cheaper!) - I met a lovely Thai man who told me exactly where to go once we arrived at the border.
The Laos officials were none too happy with the 'emergency travel document' I had received from the Swedish Embassy...they kept telling me to return to the Immigration Office in Vientiane. I refused. Finally they let me try my luck on the Thai side, where things went extremely smoothly, and I crossed over without a problem. The interesting point in this story is that I received an email today from the Sw.Embassy which told me I would need to go to the Immigration Office. Did I tell you stubbornness is one of my main character flaws? In this instance it saved me a round trip back to Vientiane!
The next step was a bit more tedious. Finding the best way to get to Bangkok. I opted for the bus, thinking it would leave more frequently. However, getting to the bus station, I was told the next bus wouldn't be leaving until 4:30 (it was midday). Then one of the officials told me I should take a bus to Udon Thani...so I did. But the bus frequency in Udon Thani was none the beter...and I ended up waiting a few hours for the bus. Waiting is the name of the game for the traveller. But once again I met some lovely people. I befriended two Thai girls who were on their way back to university, where one of them studied Japanese, and the other studied Law.
The bus ride to Bangkok went smoothly. I was the only non-Thai travelling on the bus. Sadly, the lady next to me did not speak English, and the landscape was not as stunning as in Laos, but at around 1 AM I arrived safely in Bangkok.
At the bus station I jumped into a meter taxi, but it turned out the man didn't know where Koh San Road was...and we ended up traversing the city for about an hour, before I gave up, jumped out of the taxi, and went to catch the next one (turned out we were extremely close).
The next day I headed to the Finnish Embassy, where the lady was very helpful, and I just received an email where she told me my passport would be ready tomorrow! This means tonight will be for planning. New day, new plan. Less money. No camera. But still smiling, always!!

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Comments

[anonymous]

Carpe Diem
Sabaidee, Being from Laos, I feel bad that your stuff were stolen in Luang Prabang. I apologize for the theft and hope the rest of your journey is full of joy and happiness! Soke Dee and Lah kon