Visa run to Laos and Kristines first day of school / my first day of unemployment

So it had finally arrived, the end of our first 2 month visa. Prior to arriving we had purchased a triple entry visa which meant we could enter Thailand 3 times and each time would receive a 2 month entry visa with the option of extending it from within Thailand for 1900 baht giving you 3 months at a time. So with Kristine starting a new job, she was advised it may take up to 1 month to sort her work visa which is what allows you to work legally in the country for the contract provided, usually 1 year, so rather than chance it and cut it close we gave up the extra 1 month and went to Laos to cross the border and come back later that day without having to go to the embassy there to pay for another triple or double entry. The one draw back is you still have to pay for a one month Laos visa to enter which cost 1300 baht for Kristine and once I mentioned I was Irish the price seemed to go up to 1500 baht for me, so it's either different prices depending on country of passport issue or he had a bad experience with an Irish man in the past and wanted to get some revenge. (some how I don't think it was the latter)

We decided to drive there, as we were to pick up two friends who had been there for 4 days doing the same, but as an extended holiday. They where staying in Vientiane, the capitol of Laos and it is only 2.5 hours drive from Khon Kaen. In the 19^th century (yes it is history lesson time, deal with it) Laos was ransacked by the Chinese black flag army and was rescued by France however in 1940 only 600 french people lived in Laos. In 1953 Laos gained full independence. They had a lot of French influence as seen in the city names and also by the structures and buildings in Vientiane.

500.000 baby

When we arrived at the border we had to go through immigration and change some money and for one day we thought 40 euro would be plenty. So after the exchange that gave us, half a million kip, which some Thais joke is as useful as toilet paper due to anything lower then 2000 kip is unchangeable crossing back but it was still nice to hold half a million in notes in your hand. Last time we were here we took a slow boat on the Mekong and a bunch of falangs(foreigners) would take bets on how long the boat would take to cast off as it was delayed every day and the pot got up to a 300,000 Kip for the winner :). While there we decided to do some sight seeing and maybe due to the french influence have some of their famous baguettes which can be bought from nearly every shop and food stand in the city.

The Patuxai Gate

We met our friends and headed to "The Patuxai gate" in Thannon Lanxing. The name Patuxai literally meaning Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph and looks similar to "The Arc De Triomphe" in France. As we arrived it was a huge gate in the centre of the city and costs only 3000 kip to go to the top or €0.28 cents. 
Personally, we were blown away by the structure however the description sign, they have put up on the wall, begs to differ, stating that: "On closer distance it appears even less impressive, like a monster of concrete", (Way to slag off your main city attraction) But we still enjoyed it.

We thought that was unusual as it was build as a war memorial but maybe its just translating signs isn't there forte' as we seen with the "no passing a grass”sign. Which may be Laos humor, but we are not convinced.
The building was built in 1957 and the Architect was paid a total of 30,000 Laotian kip and the construction cost 63 million Laotian Kip so the architect received a whopping 3 euro for his work and the building cost 6000 euro to build, shows you how much labour is but it may have been different back then.

That aside we were impressed, as the art work on the building is amazing and the view from the very top is just as impressive. However walking to the top you pass 5 floors each one selling souvenirs, which takes away from the beauty just a bit, but the view from the top and the sculptures are amazing.You can see the main square from the top and also the Mekong river in the distance 
The river starts in the Tibetan Plateau and runs down through Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.The river itself is named Mae Nam Khong which translates as the "The Mother of Water".  

So after a few hours we picked up some Indian take-away as it's every where in Laos and is cheap and amazing and had another baguette (had to be done) and hit the road back to Thailand, stopping again at the border to get our new entry stamp, giving us 2 more months tourist visa and one month extension in Thailand if we want which will cost 1900 baht.

The next day was Kristine's first day in her new school and very nervous she went in not knowing what to expect. She said it was amazing, already she has 2 kids who won't leave her side but the first week is going to be observation and getting to know the children, but she is free to teach in between and create activities. She now knows she has 44 students split between a Thai/English teacher and herself,  so only 22 at a time which is brilliant and also two teaching assistants who can speak and explain to the students any words they can't understand. She said they are all extremely cute and wants to bring one home and has demanded a Thai baby ( We may have to work out the dynamics of that at a later stage). Around 12.30 pm she goes to a coffee shop while they have there 2 hour nap ( I know right..), so she has landed a pretty sweet job in a school that's very highly regarded, as it costs alot of money for Thai kids to go to and is also affiliated with the Khon Kaen University( so extra holidays). 

So with it being the 1st day of my (unemployment /holiday till I decide to work) myself and some of the gang from Supans house were heading to the river by the Ubol Ratana Dam. the Dam is only 30 mins drive away and the boys brought guitars, beers and the mentality of a group of 12 years olds, which was well needed. We spent the day trying to catch fish using plastic cups, skimming stones, climbing rocks and climbing on any piece of art sculpture they had around the parks such as a huge bicycle and a couple of giant dinosaur sculptures. 

Always watching for that mean old park ranger like Yogi (should have brought a pic-a-nic basket). Rainny happily used the dinosaur to reenact the opening scene from the Flintstones were Fred Flintstone is finishing work and Rainny surfed down the tail :). 

On a side note we've found some nice traveler quotes, we may start adding to each blog as a sign off.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only one page"- St Augustine

"Not all those who wander, are lost" - J.R.R Tolkien  

The second quote i like a lot, as the first (lets say longer than any Roald Dahl or Goosebumps) book, I (Stephen) remember reading  was "The Hobbit", at the age of 11 it blew my mind and have loved it ever since. At age 12 i read "The Lord of The Rings" and am a life long fan of J.R.R Tolkien for that, so i feel this quote is fitting.

At the end of this week we will have an update on Kristine's first week of school and less interesting, my first week as a kept man ;-)