Headed for the Mekong

We left Chiang Rai on a bus to the border to a place called Chiang Klong, Thailand.  Just across the river is Huay Xai, the place we leave tomorrow on our way down the Mighty Mekong River.  The cost of going through customs and having our Passport and VISA stamped was $35, or $70 for Terry and I.  That is 1/3 of a normal monthly income of a Lao person, which is $200.   No wonder the Lao agents were the only customs people we saw smile when we walked through the gate to have our documents checked.  I think custom agents are the no-nonsense types.  They might actually go through training for the intimidating look, or the "I see you and everything else around here too" look, and, of course there is the "official look"...these folks wouldn't crack a smile for all the sticky rice in Bangkok...and surely not somebody you'd see teaching a 2nd grade art class, for sure.

We drove from the Thai side to customs, then traveled in a bus over a big new bridge that crosses the Mekong, paid for by the Thai, Laos, and Chinese governments...mostly by the Chinese.  It used to be a small ferry crossing but the Thai and Chinese wanted a quicker way to get their products into the hands of the Lao people.  We passed about 30 trucks headed for Laos at the border.  On our way down the Mekong, there was another unfinished bridge, paid for by Laos and China...and a planned dam, also paid for my the Chinese, which will probably end much of the tourist riverboat trafffic because of the time it will take to lock through....at least that was the point of view of our guide.

Our guide also mentioned that Laos was closest in friendship to Vietnam.  "They always fought together", he said.  Laos is generally on good terms with all their neighbors.  They are the poorest country in SE asia and their credit rating would probably not allow them to purchase a new bed at Sleep Country...lest they had a co-signer.  The shop keepers would prefer to be paid in Thai Baht, dollars, or Euros rather than Kip...the Lao currency.

Generally speaking, the Lao people are laid back, respecful, don't show much outward affection except to children, and are a happy lot.  Laos is my favorite place.  Peaceful.  Beautiful.  And for the time being the Lao government, communists that they are...are not in a rush to build the biggest, baddest, 20 story Motel 6 on the Mekong shoreline.  Good for them.  Ed out.