TrekPhongsali.com

Seventeen day in Phongsali, the author detailed his travel here and told the changes there in 10 years

18/1/2008

A lot of plans running through my head, Namtha…Muang Sing…MuangLueng..Vian… But finally there was no plan as “no bus today to Namtha” was heard this morning at the bus station. I really don’t want to hang around in China for another day, so I brought the one available for Laos, heading to MuangSai, no idea where it is. But was told I can switch bus to Phongsali from there, why not then. We rolled out of Mengla in time, road to Mohan was smooth and there actually another more better highway under construction nearby. We arrived the border in an hour. Together with a Danish man, a Spanish woman and a girl from Dali, we heading for immigration. The China side was smooth and fast. And before cross over the no man land, women surrounded us with block of paper money for exchanged, openly we swapped yuan to kip in front of the officer eyes! In the Laos side. A wooden Thai style house act as the Laos immigration office stood in front of us, saw the visa on arrival sign. Only me need it as all of them got the visa before hand.

Phongsali town

It made thing easier and quicker. Same…straight forward, form filled, one photo and 30 dollar, no question asked and no delay, the only problem was my dollar bill was too old and the green color had been faded, and the guy forced me to renew to another bill. Of course not finish, go next window and do as the other do…wait! still…very fast and a 30 days visa granted! Back on the road we drove down the Laos motorway. The surrounding are so green and lush, no wonder we Chinese came and invaded the forest for wood. We passed many settlement, people still live in simple wooden or bamboo stilted houses, poor I would say compared with China. I didn’t mean we hadn’t this kind of villages in China, but at least we wouldn’t see it along the main road, or should I say…the Chinese will not let you see it…it is our face that matter, so all you will see is nice looking houses when you speed through China through the window.
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