As it was an easy walk between the Chinese and Lao immigration posts, I decided to take a local minivan (stopping short before the border) from the district bus station (where I could easily walk from Luang Namtha) as compared to going to the long-distance bus station for the more expensive and less frequent international bus. Of course, the additional motivation is to avoid paying another 10,000Kip (or S$1.67) to the songthaew cartels for getting me just to the starting point.
Doing the visa-run (though technically I do not need it since the 30-day visa free entry I got in Huay Xai was more than sufficient for this trip) via the Mohan/Boten border posts (the only Chinese/Lao border opened to foreigners) does not require rocket science but I had fun doing it nevertheless. After clearing the Lao immigration (fellow travelers I met there somehow do not have a habit of queueing up), I walked 1 km through a mountainous no-mans land and felt astonished upon arriving at the Chinese side. The almost brand new CIQ complex felt grand and immediately makes its Lao counterpart looked nothing more like an air-conditioned shack. As usual, I had fun observing how perplexed the the immigration officers were (as it was when I did the Hekou/Lao Cai border between China and Vietnam) when they could not understand why a Singaporean (backpacking alone in a relatively remote outpost) could speak such fluent Mandarin. Anyway, all was eventually sorted out and I could officially step into China (Yunnan province).
I was proven wrong when my expectation (of raunchy businesses popping up immediately after stepping into the border town) did not materialized (at least not along Dongmen Dadao, the main boulevard of Mohan). Instead, I saw neat pavements laid with well trimmed bougainvillea shrubs. My search for a spot to lay my hay ended when I decided on Mohan Dajiudian (it happened to be the only hotel listed in the guidebook) since the price was relatively ok (RMB60/S$12 per night). While I was really looking forward to go hide in my room and nap the hot day off, the hotel reception announced that there was a scheduled power cut for the entire town and electricity will only resume by tomorrow evening. No wonder lights were not switched on in the shops that I walked past while getting to the hotel and I thought they were trying to go green! :(
|
| |
|
 |
Hidden away from the main boulevard, I chanced upon this night club surrounded by low hills in the background.
I suppose whenever there is a demand for such services, there will be a supply.
|
| |
Traces of remaining construction works were pretty evident and they seem to suggest that Mohan had recently underwent a major facelift. |
 |
2 bored passengers waiting for their buses to arrive while the Chinese translation of the list of destinations in Laos (where the international bus was going to) continues to amaze me.
- impressions of the bus station, Mohan, Yunnan, China
|
 |
After the wonderful Foes (Vietnamese-styled rice noodle soup) which I had been having while I was in Laos, the taste of the bowl of wheat noodles (RMB5/S$1) really paled in comparison.
|
 |
wyattwang.com doing it in front of the CIQ (Customs, Immigration & Qurantine) Complex, Mohan, Yunnan, China.
|
 |
Other than looking at newly constructed (but seemingly empty) buildings, I really enjoyed looking out for interesting advertisements on lamp posts.
This particular notice was calling out for a healthy male to impregnate the wife (yes, she is hot, voluptuous and looks like a model) of a rich (but infertile) man so that there will be someone to inherit the fortunes. The reward was a neat 1 million RMB (or S$200,000).
I would have called if my Lao SIM card had auto-roaming set up.
|
 |
Well, I managed to nap even though there was no power in my room (the Coke might had helped).
Perhaps I was simply sleepy after all that travelling. |
 |
This was Mohan on 6 Mar, 1900hrs. Due to the power outage, much of the town was in darkness apart from the occasional headlights from passing vehicles and restaurants who continue to operate with the help of their generators.
|
 |
Ah, no wonder Room 1101 (of the hotel that I was staying in) was not available for rent. |
 |
Was not really interested in exploring a border town that has its power cut off and thus decided to have instant noodles (spicy beef flavour) with a hot dog as dinner.
p.s.: I was so relieved that my hotel had switched on the generator in the evening. |
| |
|
|
