Don's Road Less Traveled: Border Crossing and a day in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Hey All,

Well, back in Thailand once again. Once again Laos did not disappoint, its just a really beautiful, amazing place. I promise myself I will return again to finish my unfinished business there. That always seems to be the recurring theme wherever I go doesn't it?

After getting the blog out yesterday, I had one last lunch at that really good Vietnamese Restaurant, then took a stroll down to the market area killing time until my 2:30 pickup for the bus. While talking to the hotel at checkout, they informed me that the bus ticket I bought from the agent includes a tuk tuk ride to the bus station. They called and the man informed them it would be at 2:30. The $10 ticket gets even better. At the appointed time I am sitting in front of the hotel and waiting, finally at 2:45 the tuk tuk pulls up. Now my bus leaves at 3 and once again the ANAL part of me wants to be there early, and I have to keep constantly reminding myself that you are on Asia time and they go at their own pace. I load in the tuk tuk and take a deep breath reminding myself things always work out. We arrived at the station at 3:10, after he picked up a couple of fares and dropped them off, much to my anxiety, (deep breath - it will all work out). He walks me to the ticket counter where I hand my ticket and issued a new one, then he walks me to the bus. See, worry for nothing. I give him a tip for walking me through the process.

VIP Bus

The bus is nice, the VIP variety and its my 2nd best bus experience ever. No loud Thai dramas or Karaoke (sorry Beth) on the TV at deafening levels. The seats are comfy and the air plentiful. It leaves at 3:25, only half full, and that usually means 20 stops along the way and putting people in the aisle, but not this VIP bus, it was no stops, and 2 seats to myself. SWEET!

Grilling Chickens at the Bus Station, notice the chickens feet at the top left

We rode for about an hour, and there were 2 20ish something girls on the bus by me, one from Wisconsin and the other Australian. They were catching up on travels and future destinations. Both seem to be on a multi month trip alone. Soon we arrive at the Border and we unload the bus and head to the sign marked immigration. There are several windows as usual. When you enter the country you fill out an entry form and its attached to an exit form. When you enter they tear that part off and leave the exit part for this time. Only I never filled it out, so I had to sit there as everyone moved on and filled it out (lesson learned). I handed it and my passport and was given a pink piece of paper. I had not clue what to do, and someone pointed at another window and I handed them the pink form, they asked for 10000 kip and then you are given a blue form. I guess this is an exit fee. I hand the blue form to the first window again and get my passport back all stamped out. Now I ask the obvious, why not just give the 10000 kip with your passport and save the pink and blue receipt?

I remember seeing everyone else heading down the road on foot and I followed. Its like a no mans land with people selling crap and an actually duty free shop. I am sure a bus load of people would love to wait while I shop at the duty free. After a bit of a walk, I see a small sign up a dirt path that says "Enter Thailand", wow they don't make that very obvious. I follow the sign and you walk this narrow path and then the concrete steps to a long tunnel. There are bars down the middle and people are walking on the other side I guess leaving Thailand. Its fairly long and finally you walk up another flight of steps into a building. You are given the Thai Entry and Exit form to fill out. (I filled the exit out while I was doing this to save time later - lesson learned). From there you are pointed to several booths where you give them the forms with your Passport. They want to know your destination and take your picture. She goes to stamping everything 90 miles per hour and soon given my passport back and I am officially in Thailand.

I walk out and see the bus, and thank goodness not the last one on. I guess some of the locals on the bus went over to the food area to grab some snacks. I think from off the bus, to back on the bus was about 25 minutes, not too bad.

I think from here to Ubon Ratchathani is about 1 1/2 hours from what someone said. The road was very good, which helps. The girl from Wisconsin (cant remember her name) started asking me about my trip to Laos, and she telling me about hers. She had done the slow boat down the Mekong from the upper part of Thailand, near Chiang Rai, to Luang Prabang. Then she went to Vang Vieng and Vientiane before taking the sleeper bus to Pakse. Then she had spent about 5 days in 4000 Islands. All in all she had been in Laos for 28 days. She is on a 10 month, SE Asia backpack trip. I expressed my jealousy of her trip and she smiled and said, "Well, why don't you look at it this way, you are also doing a 12 month trip to SE Asia, 3 weeks at a time." She told me to keep a log and map of what I had done and pick up different trips at points you left off and when your time gets to 12 months, you should have done the trip. Come to think of it, I have picked up at different points, like doing North Cambodia, then coming back for the South, and this trip doing central and southern Laos, after visiting Luang Prabang 7 years ago. I think I have a project now.

Room 4 is mine

Arrived in Ubon around 7:30 and got a meter taxi to the guesthouse. I am staying at the Outside Inn, such a cool little place. It only has 10 rooms and has this nice garden area for relaxing. Its down this little side street and very nice place to stay. After being here for 24 hours, there are only a couple of guest here thanks to slow season.

I was up this am and after taking my time, I inquired about seeing a few of the really cool temples they have here in town. The owner, a guy from Indianapolis and his Thai wife, told me the best way is to just pay a taxi by the hour. They called and set me up with one and gave the guy instructions on where to take me.

Wat Thung Si Muang

First stop was Wat Thung Si Muang. This was a very old temple, and was under renovation. I meandered and took a few pictures, then noticed they were selling tiles for the roof at 99 bath each. You can write a message on it and that sounded cool. I wrote my name with Arizona, USA, and the names of my grandkids. They are now on a temple in Thailand.

Still unfinished new part of Wat Sa Prasansuk

Existing part of the temple with the Ceramic Men Paddling the Boat. Notice the large Rooster at the front.

Next stop was really cool, Wat Sa Prasansuk. It has a temple built like a large boat with these huge ceramic guys with paddles. They are also building another boat like temple on the grounds in actual water, but its not finished yet. There is also a large Buddha statue that they are also working on. It will be amazing when finished.

Wat Nong Bua

Last temple of another just incredible place called Wat Nong Bua. This place is amazing, and had the most beautiful Buddha statues in the main temple. It was here a monk, motioned me over and gave me a blessing by chanting and flinging water at me with a small brush. It was kinds cool. Spent a while here meandering through all the different buildings.

From here the driver took me to the Moon River area that is popular with locals for eating. He dropped me at a place where there is no english menu and nobody spoke English. I got them to understand fish and Tom Yum Soup. She smiled and nodded and soon this large tray of food arrived. There was a huge whole fish, this pot of bubbling liquid with a fire underneath and this green papaya salad I have seen before. It was quite a spread to say the least. The Ton Yum soup was to DIE FOR, even though it was loaded with peppers and before the meal was over my lips were numb from the heat but it was a good heat. The fish had been baked or broiled with Soy Sauce and Ginger from what I could taste and it to was so amazingly good. You just peeled the flesh off and leave to bone, then when you finished one side, you pulled the middle skeleton out and worked on the other side. It was good with rice and then dipped in the soup was good too. It was one of the best, truly authentic Thai meals I have ever had. When done the only thing left of the fish was a head and bones.

Broiled Fish

Tom Yum Soup

Went back to the guesthouse about 2 and laid down for a bit as the heat was killer again today. Tonight I am going to a restaurant that was recommended some time back and see what that is like. Last night on arrival, they have fantastic Mexican food here at the guesthouse. I guess its noted for that as people not even staying here were eating the Mexican food. I must admit it was really good and the owner took that as a compliment from someone from Arizona.

I think tomorrow will be a chill day, have a few plans but nothing of note. I have to say I am really exhausted from all the travel and go go go. I need a chill day. I will see how it goes.

Happy Travels,
Don