We were rousted out of bed about 6:30 this morning so the cabin attendant could reconfigure our cabin for day time seated travel; and also to prepare us for disembarcation at Nong Khai, the border town where we would complete our Thai exit and Lao entry processing. Thereafter we would take a local train on the short remaining ride into Vientiane. At least that was the plan.

The first indication that this plan was not going to work was that the Thai exit processing station was closed and the local train was not running; not to worry there is another local train somewhat later.

This delay in the local train left us with a good deal of time to kill and in keeping with her character Nina found a way to fill the time. Lets take a motorcycle tuk-tuk ride around the border town. You can see some of the photos from that ride below.

We got back just in time for Thai exit processing to start and then waited in a holding pen until another train arrived from Bangkok and all its onward passengers had also been processed. The local train arrived, the short ride over the Mekong River (and the border) was completed and we disembarked at a brand new Vientiane main station.

BUT - the Visas we all had were only valid for entry processing at that previous border town not at Vientiane main stations. !!!! So we had to fillout forms for, and pay for, new visas. It seems that the opening of the new Vientiane station and the new arrangements had caught Lao customs and immigration a bit by surprise.

Anyway, all was done. We headed off to a mall and a resturaunt for brunch and then an afternoon of sightseeing. It was going to be Buddhas, and more Buddhas, and Buddhas all the way down.

We visited in turn,

The Sisaket Museum

Ho Phrakeo Museum

Wat Si Muang