Sala Kaewkoo...Modern Art?
The next morning, staying at Sawasdee Guest House, I slept in a little late whilst 2 of our group went to the train station to get us some tickets for the overnight train back to Bangkok for that evening. Once they were back we checked out and left our bags in the hotel for the day whilst going out exploring the town. I had suggested a place called the Sala Kaewkoo described in Lonely Planet as ' a surreal spiritual and sculptural journey into the mind of a mystic shaman of Lao descent.
We headed back towards the hotel but to the river, separating Laos and Thailand and went to a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch/dinner. I've never tasted anything like it and really hope food doesn't really taste the same as that in Vietnam. I thought it was horrible and the other four guys with me hardly ate any of theirs either!
We then picked up our bags and headed to the train station to catch our overnight train back to Bangkok. It was defiantly more fun doing this journey in a group rather than on my own as I had a week earlier. I read some of my book, played some poker with the guys and and had a drink in the buffet car, talking to some other travelers. Until I met a guy called Billy! He was originally from Nottingham but now lives in Bangkok. He came and sat with us and was very friendly and almost scary! When he started telling me how horny he was, I was starting to throw pleading looks to my friends opposite the table asking for help! Why is it men can't take a hint!!! When he left for the bathroom, I made a quick exit and scampered to my bed, closing the curtains and hiding. Next morning, when arriving, he got of the train before me, so I was saved!
When arriving at the Sawasdee it was clearly signposted and the host was very welcoming. At only 180 baht per room, 2 to a room it was very affordable and my expectations were low. Especially when we had entered as I thought I was stepping into maybe an old museum or something like an antiques store! Little nick nacks everywhere littering cupboards, some strange, others amazing. We paid though and he took us into a dining area in the hotel under a sky light, here was a bar, where we could help self to drinks, hot and cold and place orders for food with the house maid. The drinks system was done on an honesty system where you marked on your own card the drinks you had had, so upon checkout you could pay for these.
He then showed us the hot water shower facility, 10 baht for 10 mins, on the ground floor, away from the main shared bathrooms. Then up to our rooms. Which were spacious and clean. Not the best decor, with lino flooring, but basic and comfortable. Lights, fans, cupboards and mirror. The bathrooms/shower rooms were clean and tidy, and even without hot water, the cold wasn't particularly cold, but refreshing. Just what I needed after my long day.
Checking out was easy and they were good enough to look after our bags for the day whilst we was exploring waiting for the overnight train later that day to Bangkok.
So was great for location and as a stopover between Laos and Thailand, when all you need is a comfy bed and a quiet night.
