To be honest (if given a choice), I was rather hoping that my first visit to Laos would be a relaxed 1-month long backpacking trip that I had dreamed of since graduating from my university. However, events turned out that I was to lead an advance team into Southern Laos to recee and find out villages affected by Typhoon Ketsana so that aid could be provided to them (more about this later). Whatever the case, I was really looking forward to this particular trip and of course, the short break that will follow after accomplishing the official objectives.

After flying into the City of Angels, we met up with our friends who are always so willing to help whenever we are in Thailand. *Aunty Suwadee, thanks for hosting us and sponsoring our train tickets!* Boarded the overnight express Train 67 at Hualamphong Station and headed towards Ubon Ratchathani in a first class sleeper (1080B/S$46). While journey was relatively uneventful, I did not have a good rest as I often woke up especially when the train stopped. Also spent a good half of the day in Ubon Ratchathani visiting Wat Nong Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nananchat (2 monasteries set up by Luang Por Chah, a great meditation master in the Northeast). It was a rather nice to come back here after a year.

Crossing the border to Pakse (Laos) from Ubon Rathchathani (bus station is 4kms away) had been made a lot simpler with the international bus service that plies between the 2 cities (200B or S$8.70 per person, 3 hours). The 3.30pm bus left on time and headed east towards Chong Mek/Vang Tao border post along Route 217. As the evening sun began to set, we crossed the border (had difficulty initially finding the Lao immigration office) and I was finally in Laos (the 29th country I had visited in this world). It was a special moment as I stepped on all the 10 ASEAN countries. YEAH!

We got into Pakse 45mins later and checked into Pakse Hotel (US$25/S$32.50 per night per double). After dinner, we did a walk around this city where Se Don and Mekong rivers met. Frankly speaking, apart from a few lighted Beer Lao signboards, nothing seems to be "switched on" literally (i.e. it was really quiet) on a Sunday evening.

Met up with the Tourism Authority of Champasak next morning before starting our 3-hour journey to Attapeu (officially known as Muang Samakhi Xai). Cutting across the Bolaven Plateau (where the world-famous coffee plantations of Paksong are located), we enjoyed a rather scenic journey to our destination on (surprisingly!) very well-paved roads. When we got into Attapeu city (maybe it was more of a town), we were like... eh, we reach already ah?! Where was everybody? It seems like nothing was opened at 3pm in the afternoon... :(