Chiang Kong - bikes on the Mekong

Took the public bus to Chiang Kong, which is on the Mekong and the border of Laos (kind of like Albury Wadonga or Echuca Moama). The bus was awesome, it was quite old with the door jammed open with okky straps, a lovely bus driver, friendly locals to chat to, sticky rice shoved into large bamboo shoots, pre-cooked corn on the cob - we watched 2 hours of rural Thailand which is as dry as Australia in some parts, bad roads and the open windows did provide a lovely breeze when we weren’t sucking in diesel fumes and dust.  

Arrived to the always reliable tuk tuk driver as soon as you step off any bus. The Chiang Kong Tuk Tuk was another variation (exposed mototbike with a colorful paint job) from the ones in Bangkok (dollar signs), Autthaya (like frogs), Phisanulok (back to front) and Chiang Rai (mini utes).  Paid 40 baht to go 1km to our accommodation, which has a spectacular view of the Mekong River with Laos on the opposite side.

This town is underrated and under visited as most people just cross the river as they can’t wait to get to Laos. After 13 days in Thailand we’re in no hurry to move on. So we hired bikes and went for a leisurely ride down the Mekong. We found a group of oldies playing Botchy, and using outdoor exercise equipment. Uninvited we joined them, and as Thai’s are always obliging (including their cats), they welcomed us with smiles. After working up a little sweat we thought we’d leave them to it as their group exercise class was about to start. Not a bad way to end the day, with an amazing view of the river and a bit of exercise with your old crony mates.

Had a lovely dinner again by the river and enjoyed the quiet, laid back feeling of the place. The people are relaxed and lovely and so is the pace. We also want to get some internet time in before we get sucked into the oblivion that Laos and Cambodia will shroud us in.

Photos of the bus ride, views of the river from our room and exercising on the Mekong.

Notes on Thailand:
- if you don’t want your Children Mollycoddled, send them here where they will be jammed between mum, sibling and dad on a scooter at 6 weeks old, put in the back of a ute once they can walk and then given a scooter at 7 or 8. It looks to be a normal way to be bringing up kids. In the west we certainly could not place our baby in the basket of our bicycle unless it was a standard government issue basket with a 5 star rating. If anything it’s an interesting comparison!

- If you have have a Ute, actually if you don’t have a Ute, you are nobody. Everyone has a nice shiny new Ute -  Nirvara’s, Colorado’s, Hilux’s etc. Not shitty utes and generally there is a group of people, or a family sitting in the tray at all times. If you don’t have a ute, then you have a scooter. Apart from this, the only other way to get around is Bus.

- with a great fear of Malaria and Dengue fever, our skin is systematically getting removed by the layers of 80% Deet Bushmans we put on each day. Mosquito’s are like ninja’s here, they don’t hurt and they are very quiet, so half the time you don’t know you’ve been bitten. But we must sacrifice our outer layer of dermis to ensure we last 6 months.

- Thai TV, dear god. Thai Advertisements - always the same. If you are beautiful, you will find love. To be beautiful, you must be skinny and whiten your skin and teeth. Here are some products to whiten your skin, teeth and to ensure you stay slim. Here’s a product (usually a scooter ) that will help you fall in love without having to whiten your skin and teeth.