This been done before?..

Anytime you feel like sharing an experience or update..drop it into this thread.

Ok, as for me...

After around 12/13 hours travelling time, im in Laos. Visa time again.

Something quite ironic happened prior to my leaving though. My bf took me to the bus station and said to me, "How will you feel if your seating partner is a very big person?". I laughed, thinking it really couldnt happen, and joked back that if that happens I just hope its a very big woman and not a very big man (had already asked the bus company when i bought my ticket to please try sit me next to a woman).

Anyway, lo and behold, who gets into the seat next to me..? You probably guessed it.. a VERY BIG, seat and a half bum-sized, Thai man!

Its SO rare to find a Thai man that big..but of all the times and places, Mr HUGE Thai man is sitting next to me!

Now, before you think im sizeist, im not. In fact, he gave me a nice smile, and did his best to try be considerate, but his big body wouldnt let him, and he spilled over onto me. I think big bodies are cuddly, but im just not a fan of being squashed!! Sadly too, he was a smoker, so his breath was none to great also =x To top it off he was also a snorer. >.<

The bus was the overnight bus..so 10-11 hours on a bus with a huge, snoring, bad breathed stranger next to you just isnt fun. Between being repeatedly squashed and jabbed in the ribs, the air con turned up to &lt;deleted&gt; sub-zero temperatures, being rocked about in a old tin wagon masquerading under the title of "VIP" bus around helter-skelter vomit and fear educing mountain bends, I only was able to grab moments of sleep. Of course, after getting off the bus at 7:30am I still had to get another bus to the next town two hours away, and then minibus to the border, then the wait to get an exit stamp, then another bus across the Friendship bridge, then an hour wait to get my Loas visa, then a wait to buy some weird exit ticket thingy, then finally another minibus ride to my hotel (which is tough to barter for when you have 10 or so Loas guys leap on you to get your business...of which many soon departed for another victim once they realised i wont pay tourist prices)...ok ...time to breath now.......

..Im relaxed. Treated myself to a comfy guest house with a bath(only have a shower at home and at bfs place, so a bath is a real treat!) and free wifi.

Tomorrow morning I will set off about 7am to get to the Thai Embassy, then wait in yet another queue system in order to put in my application, which hopefully will be approved and ready for collection the next day. No idea how long that will be

and..im not even mentioning the weird and wonderful westerner characters I met once i got off at Udon..or the anticipated queue jumpers tomorrow that will have me silently cursing and making my eyelid twitch Inspector Clueso's boss stylie...

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So hows your day?

I went into town and tried to get a flight to Australia in January... all airlines booked out!

I went to the local secondhand book shop and found a Stephen Becker novel. The trip was worth it just for that.

Eek, when I went to Lao on a similar mission in July it was chaos at every step. However, with the abolition of the 90 day rule I'll be waiting to see your report on your experiences with crowds and queuing at the embassy.

Still freezing my nuts off on the Welsh border wishing I was back home in Chiang Mai. 'Nuff said!

Eek, I hope you enjoy wine, food and beer and get to treat yourself whilst you're there!

JxP

I stayed at home and played Football Manager 2009 on my PC, the reason I didn't go to work is because my half-wit boss (he is English) can't even organise something as simple paying an internet bill and so the internet was disconnected.

I have had quite a good day doing NOTHING, asides from cheating on FM 2009 trying to get Swindon Town promoted. Sometimes the opposition just don't do what I want (things like they beat me) and so I have to re-start without saving first until I finally beat them and then save the game.

Back to work tomorrow as the net will be back on, I am looking forward to spending the whole day bitching about my boss whom really is absolutely useless to the point of being comical.

Anyway.

I did have a bit of an event tonight when I went to 7/11 to get some beer and milk and stuff. After shopping for my sundries at 7/11 I get back to my building and stand their waiting for the lift to come, thinking to myself: "Should I be playing 4-4-2 or perhaps a 5-3-2 with full backs?"

I was disturbed from my tactical thoughts by a rather sharp knock on the glass doors that open onto the street, the person knocking on the doors was dressed in a 7/11 uniform and waving his hands rather furiously.

After looking down at my full hands and seeing my beer and milk in a red basket as opposed to a 7/11 bag, it took a split second for me to then realise that had walked out of the said shop with goods (and basket) without paying........ DOH!

It is only about 10 meters from the door to my apartment building the 7/11 , but that 10 meter walk back to pay my bill felt like a walk of shame as all eyes on me where daggers. The daggers where stabbing the farang whom had presumably "done a runner" from his bill. Upon returning to the 7/11 I duly paid my bill, and my apologies yet the return trip equally felt like a walk of shame, and the daggers where still sharp.

I should really blame my immense lack of concentration on my in-depth thoughts about strategy theory's of some Football Manager computer game that I am playing.

But instead I'll just somehow find a way to lay the blame on my boss.

But instead I'll just somehow find a way to lay the blame on my boss.

Shades of Arnold Rimmer

Today I thought I would do nothing, I'm good at that..... but I was awoken by the old lady next door, spade in hand, hacking at all life forms surrounding the house that I rent from her, not to be outdone, I decided to give the old patio the once over,

Four hours I spent on it, moving the concrete chairs and the table (with the occasional glance in here) I cleaned everything and then put it back where it was.... then I went out and had a couple of beers (and bought a really nice piece of chicken)

Bedlamer's diary? extracts of my day?

Eek-y sweetie Ive had mine running for quite sometime. you can take a look here

you have reminded me why I no longer take the bus was never good with road trips......

scea - you coming to visit me for Australia Day?

I'm trying to book for the 24th/25th even though it will cost me a working day getting my Non-im B visa at the consulate. (Australia has FAR too many public holidays)!

The travel agent rang my Mrs this morning and said there's an 80% chance of success. If you know what that means let me know....

^ I think it means you will get on the flight

I once used my ROP miles and had 50% chance (many on waiting list)

but after less than 2 weeks I had my seat confirmed

(keep in mind that using ROP miles gives you the least priority, so getting seat confirmed in December after less than 2 weeks wait is very good)

what are you bringing me

I've got stacks of Kris Club points but there's never a seat when I want to fly. Started losing them this year.

awww wonder if you can transfer them to me