Hello everyone,
Many times when we are heartbroken, we often want to go to the sea. But this time, I don't know why, I feel like escaping into the forest, escaping to a place with no phone signal, where no one can contact us. And southern Laos "Pakse" is the answer, plus it's close to our home (we are from Ubon).
I've wanted to go many times, but I never had the chance. This time, I just want to go. I'm free only on Saturday and Sunday, so I'm going with a backpack and a camera, alone, without telling anyone (I don't know what mood I'm in).
My first solo trip, how will it be? Let's see.


Day 1: March 4, 2017

We boarded a bus to Pakse at Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal. If you are coming from the airport, you can take a taxi to the bus terminal. The fare is around 100 baht.


Let's go buy tickets. We will take the bus of the transport company. The ticket price is 200 baht.


There are two daily bus departures to Pakse, at 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM, with a travel time of approximately 3 hours. Alternatively, minivans are available for those who prefer a faster option. The Ubon-Chong Mek minivan costs 100 baht and departs every hour until 6:00 PM. However, it only takes passengers to the Chong Mek border crossing. From there, passengers can take a connecting Lao minivan to Pakse from the Vang Tao border crossing for 100 baht. While this option is faster, it requires waiting for the minivan to fill up.


A passport is required for travel to Pakse. If you do not have one, you can obtain a temporary passport at the Chong Mek border crossing. However, this can be very time-consuming (during our visit, individuals without passports waited for hours). Therefore, it is highly recommended to have a passport in advance.


Let's embark on our journey.


We have arrived at the Chong Mek checkpoint. Please get off the bus and have your passports checked. Follow the instructions and fill out the arrival and departure forms. Then, we will proceed to the Vang Tao checkpoint on the Lao side for immigration clearance.


On the way to Wang Tao checkpoint, there is also a Duty Free shop for those who want to shop.


Upon arrival at the immigration checkpoint, we encountered an unexpected situation. Contrary to the information we had gathered, which indicated a 50 baht fee for crossing the border, we were charged 100 baht. Our attempts to negotiate a lower price were unsuccessful. We speculated that the increased fee might be due to it being a Saturday. Despite our confusion, we paid the required amount. At the Wang Tao checkpoint, Laotian vendors approached us, offering currency exchange and SIM cards for sale. We politely declined their offers, preferring to remain disconnected during our travels. Our transportation was waiting for us, ready to proceed with our journey.


Arrived in Pakse. "I'm fine" (Even if I'm not feeling well, I have to say I'm fine for this job. Haha)


The bus will drop us off at the main station two. Then, there will be a swarm of taxi drivers vying for our attention (like we were celebrities).


We took a tuk-tuk into Pakse city. I just want to rant a little more. From what I researched, they said that the fare into the city was only 40 baht, but we were charged 100 baht again. We asked for a discount, but they wouldn't give it to us, even though there were already several people in the car. The foreigner who was riding with us also complained that the price was too high. This is what they say, "Ten mouths can't compare to seeing with your own eyes, and ten eyes can't compare to experiencing it yourself." 55555


We asked Tuk-tuk to drop us off at Lanna Hotel. We chose to stay here on this trip because we wanted to try the famous "Lanna Pho". 😜


However, upon arrival, the store was closed. Very frustrating! The hotel staff informed us that the store closes early on days when they sell out quickly. (It was already past 2 pm at that time.) We decided to wait and try again tomorrow.


Before checking in, we exchanged Lao Kip at a currency exchange booth next to Lan Kham Lan Hotel. We think they offer a good rate: 1 Thai Baht = 239 Lao Kip. The vendor at Vang Tao checkpoint gave us a rate of 1 Thai Baht = 235 Lao Kip, but the difference isn't significant.


Let's check in. We didn't book in advance, thinking that it's low season and rooms shouldn't be full. And from what I've researched (again, haha!), some places offer lower prices for walk-ins compared to booking in advance. It's true! An air-conditioned room costs 100,000 kip (over 400 baht), while a fan room costs 60,000 kip (250 baht). We chose the fan room to save some money, as I'm only staying one night and alone.


The room is decent and worth the price.


The Lanna Hotel has four floors, and the fan rooms are only on the fourth floor (the wifi doesn't reach there). 55555 But the view is good, you can see almost the whole city.


After packing our belongings, we went out to find something to eat. There were only restaurants serving à la carte dishes near the hotel. We wanted to try some local food, so we walked around and found this restaurant, which seemed to be selling fermented pork sausage.


We asked them what they were selling, and they showed us a menu. We just pointed at something and said, "I'll take this!"


This dish, called "Bii Buum," is similar to rice noodles with coconut curry, pork, fried spring rolls, and plenty of vegetables. It is delicious and comes in a generous portion that is difficult to finish.


This is an unknown dish that looks delicious. Many people were buying it, so I took a picture of it.


After finishing our meal, we went to find a coffee shop. While walking to the coffee shop, we came across a market. There were many things for sale, but it was relatively quiet (or maybe it was just a time when people weren't shopping). Across from the market, there seemed to be a hospital. We guessed from the symbol, haha.


Found it! Our coffee shop, "Phidao cafe," looks like a great place to relax. ☕️


However, upon tasting it... it was like drinking plain water. 555 We ordered an iced latte, and it was not delicious at all. What a waste of money! It cost 18,000 kip.


Is there anything else I can help you with?

Frustrated by the coffee, we went for a walk, taking pictures along the way. We came across a temple, "Wat Luang Prabang," which was stunning.


After leaving the temple, we went to take pictures of the city. There were relatively few vehicles on the road, which is very different from our hometown. 555


As dusk settled and the light faded, we rented a motorbike to ride to the waterfall the next day. We rented the motorbike at Alisa Gatehouse (as there were none available at Lan Kham) which is located near Lan Kham.


A foreigner is currently inquiring about renting, so we are studying the map in preparation.


After renting a car, I went back to sleep to recharge. We will be leaving early tomorrow morning. I won't be eating dinner, but I will be drinking instead. I'm drunk and going to sleep. (This is what usually happens when I'm heartbroken.)


Day 2: March 5, 2017

We set off at 7 am (even earlier than going to work, haha). We were afraid of the heat in the late morning and also worried about not making it back in time to catch the bus back to Ubon. Today, we are going to "Tad Fan Waterfall and Tad Yeung Waterfall." We followed this map (we got the map from pantip).


We cruised along the main road, following Highway 13. At the junction, we were told to go straight, so we continued on until we saw this sign. We remembered that the waterfall we were heading to was in a different direction from Khao Pha Pेंg, so we suspected we had taken the wrong turn. 555


We turned the car around at the same intersection and went the other way. We continued straight ahead and came across the coffee factory, Star. You're on the right track! Yay!


We are now at kilometer 33, almost there! One thing I noticed is that there are no kilometer markers here. To know how many kilometers we've covered, we have to look at the signs for temples, schools, or resorts along the way. These signs usually have numbers at the end of their names.


The road is rough and dusty. If you are planning to visit, be sure to bring a face mask.


We have arrived at the entrance of "Tad Yoi Waterfall", located at kilometer 40. Let's start from the farthest point first.


The entrance is a gravel road with lots of rocks, making it very difficult to drive.


There will be signs along the way to guide you.


An entrance fee of 15,000 kip is required to proceed.


Park your car next to the building. If you are driving a car, you can drive inside.


The complex also features souvenir shops, cafés, and restaurants.


My body craved coffee, so I had a cup before continuing my exploration. The coffee cost 20,000 kip, and the pastry was 5,000 kip. Both were delicious, especially compared to yesterday's offerings.



The journey to the waterfall was incredibly scenic.


Let's go down to see the waterfall below.


And this is the actual way down to the waterfall. It's quite difficult.


Upon arriving, I couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" The experience was truly delightful, satisfying both my heart, my stomach, and my taste buds. It was definitely worth the long journey.


You can go play downstairs.


This is a scenic waterfall viewpoint. Take out your tripod and let's take some photos.


Satisfied with the photos, we continued to our next stop, "Tad Fane Waterfall," located at kilometer 38 on the way back to Pakse.


The entrance is better than the side road, haha. When you drive in, you will see many souvenir shops.


After parking the car, we headed to the waterfall. We came across two Laotian girls posing for photos. They were so adorable that we couldn't resist taking a few sneaky pictures.


The path to the waterfall is very shady.


The Advantages of Traveling During Low Season

This sentence highlights the benefits of traveling during the low season. It emphasizes the reduced number of tourists, leading to a more natural and authentic travel experience.

Here's a breakdown of the translation:

  • "นี่คือข้อดีของการไปเที่ยวช่วง low season ค่ะ": This translates to "Here are the advantages of traveling during the low season."
  • "คนน้อยดี": This translates to "There are fewer people, which is good."
  • "ถ่ายรูปออกมาก็ได้ธรรมชาติมากกว่าคน 555": This translates to "The photos turn out with more nature than people, haha."

The use of "haha" at the end suggests a lighthearted and humorous tone, emphasizing the enjoyment of experiencing nature without large crowds.


Upon entering, there is a coffee shop. However, we were unable to consume any more coffee, as we had already reached our daily limit of one cup.


This is "Tad Fan Waterfall." The water level is quite low. We overheard a tour guide mention that the water level remains this low throughout the year, except during the rainy season.


Unlike Tad Yeung, Tad Fan does not have a path leading down to the water below. There is only a path leading to the viewpoint.


Let's take a picture with the sign, or else they'll think we didn't come.


Taking a short break before driving back to Pakse city. While resting, I scrolled through his Facebook. The more I scrolled, the more I sighed. Oh, there shouldn't be free wifi here for me to scroll through.


We're back in Pakse city, looking for something to eat. And here's the "pho" we wanted to try (the meat is gone, only pork bones left). No matter, anything goes as long as it's refreshing. Hehe.


After finishing a bowl of pho, I returned the rental car and relaxed at the hotel lobby, enjoying the Wi-Fi for a while. Later, I hailed a tuk-tuk to the bus station for 20,000 kip (approximately 80 baht). This time, I rode alone, and the fare was cheaper than my first trip.


We boarded the bus at 3:30 PM and arrived in Ubon Ratchathani around 6:30 PM. The return trip was faster than the outbound journey because everyone had their passports. Before returning to Thailand, don't forget to pay the fee at the Vang Tao checkpoint. The cost is 25,000 kip (both entry and exit).


Summary of expenses

  • The cost of a bus from Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse is 400 baht.
  • Entrance fee to Wang Tao: 100 baht.

- Tuk-tuk fare to the hotel is 100 baht.

  • Accommodation fee 60,000 kip = 250 baht.
  • Car rental fee 60,000 kip = 250 baht.

- Fuel cost 35,000 kip = 140 baht

  • Entrance fee for Tad Yeung and Tad Fane waterfalls: 30,000 kip = 125 baht.

- Tuk-tuk fare to Khon Song Lak Song 20,000 kip = 80 baht

  • Food expenses 91,000 kip = 380 baht.
  • Departure fee from Laos 25,000 kip = 100 baht

Total 1,925 Baht

This journey taught us that "changing our environment doesn't necessarily heal our sadness. To truly heal, we must change our hearts." Traveling alone gave us more time to reflect on ourselves, wondering why we were abandoned. Were we not good enough? Or did they not share our love for travel, adventure, and photography? Countless unanswered questions lingered in our minds.

Ultimately, we can only console ourselves with the thought that everyone has their own reasons. However, we may never know what those reasons are. For now, all we can do is accept the situation and move forward.



Thank you to all my friends who read until the end.

See you on the next trip!

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