Nong Khai
The major Thai border town along the Mekong River, Nong Khai is
still a small town but is developing fast since the construction of the huge Thai-Australian Friendship Bridge over the river. Just 24km from the Lao capital, Vientiane, Nong Khai is busy with Thai and Lao traders, who pass between the two cities freely. As
a major staging post for those on their way into Vientiane, Laos. Nong Khai hosts a steady stream of travellers. There are now a lot excellent places to sleep and eat making this the only Isan town with a full-fledged backpacker scene.
Nong Khai Street market
This is a crazy street market which goes on many for blocks, selling
animals, food, clothes, trees, furniture. What's amazing is that they move it all this stuff in and out every evening. The people are friendly & funny, even the Tuk Tuk drivers.!!
When I asked
them about how to get to the restaurant tonight they thought I was a customer, and when I said I had my own bike they drew me a really good map and told me how to get there...This probably only makes sense to people who live in Phuket where the Tuk Tuk &
taxi mafia drivers are assholes...
What an amazing day, first I saw the most incredible Red Lotus Lake this morning. This afternoon I decided to check out Sala Kaeo Kou Park. It is on the outskirts
of Nong Khai and it is essentially a park featuring many (some very large) statues of Buddha & some very different religious icons.