Laos... where is that exactly?

On Tuesday 16^th November I started at the immigration office in Laos and smiled and repeated…

Yes I am teacher. Yes I am teacher. Yes I am teacher.

For the record, I am not a teacher but I am going into a Communist country and what I do for a living kind of makes some people nervous. I have experienced that nervousness in China, Egypt and India and just thought this time I would be a warm, inviting, softly spoken teacher.  

I had spent the previous weekend, laughing, more laughing, and being my ever loud self with family, friends and my boyfriend, celebrating my 30^th birthday.  

After eating, unwrapping pressies and drinking Woo Woo cocktails, I was ready to head over the one of the most bombed countries in history.

I thought instead of sitting on one’s arse for their 30^th birthday, I decided to head overseas and visit an old friend, home I lived with in Tuscany, building a house and being an au pair to four little rat bags (or boys).

The plan was to spend some time shopping till my heart’s content in Bangkok but the recent floods changed it all and so I made my way to Udon Thani on Thailand’s border to cross into Laos.

To cross to Laos you need to take The Friendship Bridge via a rickety old bus and then stand before immigration and pretend not to look nervous, despite the fact, I have never done anything illegal-ish.

Once that was all over, Ceci was waiting for Bec and I on the other side and made the announcement she has booked a moped for me… something I said no to because of my inclination to fall off them, get burnt by the exhaust or just scream bloody murder every time I hit a bump in the road, a car came anywhere near me or wind happen to blow in my face. I hate them and they are not fans of me.

Laos’ capital, Vientiane, is a beautiful place.

It’s not too big for a capital city and is filled with little streets and dusty roads, and is riddled with mopeds, banged up cars and smiling faces everywhere.

I am definitely liking Laos!