I’m going to China. I have a visa in my mitts. Well, in my passport.
It’s all a bit of a farce, really – online research confirmed a local travel agent would “book me a flight” (ahem) and I only needed the first night booked, which I could do online and then cancel immediately afterwards. We also asked her about getting to Vientiane and mentioned the main reason for our visit. “Why you no get visa here?”, she asked. Long story short – there’s a Chinese embassy less than ten minutes from our hotel. Really. And she’s the only travel agent in town who seems to know this.
So I printed my documents, got a tuk-tuk to the embassy, dropped off my passport at 11am and returned at 3pm to collect it. And Bob’s your neighbour, I have Chinese visa. Epic success 🙂
There was a moment, though – when she’d handed me back my passport and wished me a good trip, she handed me a sheet of paper that said something about a health clinic. I had a flashback to my to border crossing into Vietnam and the “hypothermia epidemic” scam. But it turned out that she wanted me to proof read it. Clever lady. I’m surprised I haven’t been asked before and was only happy to help.
And in between dropping off and collecting my visa, who should we meet but Reto and Suzie who were on our Nong Khiaw tour. I’d been told that travellers often bumped into each other again but am still surprised at how often it’s happened. Pleasantly surprised.
 But I also had to say goodbye to Eleanor who’s leaving for Vietnam on this evening’s night bus. She’s been a great travel companion and I admire her courage, calmness and sense of adventure – she’s explored so much of the world already and is only 18. I’ve got some catching up to do!
Walking back through the night market in the pouring rain I saw something that made me catch my breath – electric cables lying across the street, the only concession to the weather was that they were turned on their side. Logic states that it must only be a matter of time before a serious accident occurs, but it never seems to. How does that work, then?
To bed happy – Chinese visa sorted, and travel agency confirmed that I could change my flight date and departure airport for just £40, which left just enough time for me to try out Vang Vieng 🙂
PS And this toilet amused me – placed right in the middle of the cubicle, like they’d intended someone to dance round it:
