Indochina Day 37 & 38 Leaving Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai : Luang Prabang Royal Palace Museum - Naluang Sleeping bus to Chiang Rai (Worst experience ever!)

0900 - After having the breakfast at the hostel, we walked around the town.

Breakfast at the hostel

Bamboo Bridge

Entrance fee of 5,000kip

Christmas tree

This bamboo looks special!

1200 - We had our lunch at the food stall where we had our first dinner there since it is much cheaper and good taste in that area.

Khao soy, 18,000kip

Laap Fish with rice, 30,000kip

Cheap Postcard, 2,000kip each

1330 - We visited the Royal Palace Museum. The entrance fee is 30,000kip/person. The bag have to put at the locker area. This royal palace is much worth visit than the royal palace that the Phnom Penh because it is more beautiful and more information. It is the same than we cannot take the photo inside the royal palace. There are golden throne and crown, painting, mural art in titles, the master bedroom, dining hall and gifts from many countries. Outside of the royal palace, there are a small exhibition about the royal transports.

Royal Palace Temple

Ticket counter

The lockers is different for every size

Royal Palace Museum

Can you see a snake?

1530 - Went back to the hostel and wait for the time since we had booked our sleeping bus to Chiang Rai that depart at 6pm. Around 4:30pm, after we bought the sandwishs as dinner, we find a tuk-tuk. Initially, the driver offered us 15,000kip/person but i insisted 10,000kip/person. At last, we got the price that we want.

Sandwish and fruit shake stalls

1730 - At the Naluang minivan bus station, after check in by changing the bus ticket. We board onto the sleeping bus. It is a flat sleeping bed. The length is enough for my height which is 168cm but the space is still narrow if sleep with two persons. After I watched a travel show, we slept.

The sleeping bus to Chiang Rai

Flat bed

Sending other thing again

Included some snack and drink

Our Expenses (000kip)
Lunch : 58
Royal Palace : 60
Water : 5
Juice : 15
Post Card : 6
Dinner : 30
Tuk-tuk : 20
Toilet : 4
Sleeping bus from Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai : 500
TOTAL : 698

Next Day

0100 - We were awaken by a crashing sound. Getting down and see the bus condition, we saw that the left rear tire rim was totally bended at a side. There is very obvious scratches at the left side of the bus. Seeing the driver and his colleagues changing the tire, we didn't ask further question. Just get back to the bus and continue to sleep. We were aware that the bus departed at 2stg.

0400 - The bus was stopped at the road side again. We heard they were checking the tire again. We didn't get off to see what is the condition. We only heard that they were like unfasten and fasten bolt vibration sound. After few ten minutes, the bus moved again.

0900 - The bus stopped again. They did the further checking again. We were called to get off the bus. We asked the only guy what is the condition. He refused to say anything. We just watched them what they could do to fix the unknown problem. After awhile, the driver come with another guy on the motorbike with full of equipment. They jacked up the rear side of the bus and put the chain pulley between the left rear and front tire. This seem like they want to pull the rear axle of the wheel as this may resulted from the crash. While waiting them for fixing, other traveler also trying to find another solution as seeing they fixing this is a waste of time. But the only English speaking guy didn't want to call the company for support. Other traveler found there is a restaurant nearby which can call the company. But the company refused to give the good solution to us.

After they change the left rear tire, still can see the rim cover is broken. The tire is look like shifted to the rear side

What they are doing??

Use the wooden block to jack up?

Really don't know what they were doing

Tight the rear beam to the frame?

Can see the chain underneath the bus

The road tax don't even renew

The very expensive bus ticket were burned. 31USD!

After the driver and his colleagues done the bus fixing by attached the rear axle to the frame with the chains, they called us to get on the bus. 10 of the travelers including us didn't want to get on this bus as it is not safe. They don't even want to explain what they had done and what is the condition. We tried to talk to them to get another transport for us or pay back the money. They just said get on the bus and they don't have the money. We even managed to get them called to the company, but the company operator just said the same thing as what they said. While keep stopping them, we were waiting the minivan that other have found in that restaurant. We got no choice as they said the bus is fixed and good to go and don't want to pay back the money. Only local people get on the bus. We just sit the minivan that found at the restaurant for 120USD. Since there are 10 traveler including us, we paid 12USD each to the driver. No choice, we had to pay extra transport fee ourselves! That time was already 1pm, we departed with minivan. While the minivan driving at the back of the bus, we saw that the bus was slanted at a side. The bus also traveled very slow that only half the speed of the minivan.

1700 - Reached the Huay Xai Border. After get the departure stamp, we had to pay for the 10,000kip for overtime fee. Since the last bus from the Lao border to Chiang Rai is 4:30pm. We missed it. The man at the counter suggest that we hire a minivan at the Thailand border. Then we pay the 25B each for the bus ticket to the Chiang Kong Border since there is no walking on the bridge. At the Chiang Kong Thai Border, after get the arrival stamp, 9 of the travelers hired a minivan to Chiang Rai while another Korean girl wanted to go to Chiang Mai but there is no bus to go there tonight. Hence, she stayed overnight at Chiang Kong. This minivan driver drove quite fast. The journey from the Chiang Kong border to Chiang Rai only took 1.5 hours.

Reached the border

Overtime fee

Bus to Thai Border

2000 - Reached Chiang Rai, the driver dropped everyone in front of the hostel. After we checked in our dorm at the Laila Hostel, we quickly went out to find our proper meal. This hostel is near to the night bazaar which is good for us to find the dinner there.

Night Bazaar

Fried rice with squid, 60B

Live music performance

Food stalls

Fruit shake only cost 25B

Handicraft souvenirs

Dorm room

Our Expenses:
Minivan to Huay Xai Border : 24USD
Lao Departure stamp overtime fee: 20,000kip
Bus from Huay Xai Border to Chiang Kong Border : 50THB
Minivan from Chiang Kong Border to Chiang Rai : 560THB
Dinner : 135 THB
Accomodation : 298THB