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altmtl
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Any one have any tips on Chong Mek, thinking of staying there for a night... guesthouse, things to do?
#1 Posted: 28/1/2012 - 20:32
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Tilapia
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I rode my bike around the streets of Chong Mek just over a year ago (this took about 10 minutes). Other than wandering around the market (which is only fully open on weekends and big holidays) for an hour or two, there is nothing there. It's a village with a border crossing and big market and little to nothing else. I saw a sign for a guest house, but didn't see the guest house.
#2 Posted: 29/1/2012 - 09:15
Tilapia
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I rode my bike around the streets of Chong Mek just over a year ago (this took about 10 minutes). Other than wandering around the market (which is only fully open on weekends and big holidays) for an hour or two, there is nothing there. It's a village with a border crossing and big market and little to nothing else. I saw a sign for a guest house, but didn't see the guest house.
#3 Posted: 29/1/2012 - 09:15
altmtl
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yeah, I found this out today, saw two guest houses, nothing to do there. And despite being a border town with hundreds of traveller's daily, forget about getting info ... they all wave and point to the border crossing when you ask a question... The lack of english in the area is not a problem for me, but the lack of misunderstanding simple body language... I'm dumbfounded by the fact that when I walk into a place to eat and sit down they all seem to wonder what I'm doing there. I walked out of one place when they ignored me for 1/2hr because I didn't speak Thai. - lol
#4 Posted: 29/1/2012 - 09:48
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Tilapia
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I think Phibun would be a much better place to spend a night, unless you're going into Laos. There's nowhere between Ban Muang Kao (on the Laos side of the border) and Pakse to stop in. Just farms and the odd little roadside village.
There is a road that goes off to the right from the main highway (#16W) that is about 1.5 km before the Mekong and the bridge into Pakse. This will take you down to Champasak. Problem is that it's not paved and I don't believe there is any public transport. Goes through some amazing little villages, though. You can see several of these places along the riverside if you take a boat either to or from Pakse from the south.
Guess you're going to have to learn Thai for your next visit to Chong Mek. Sadly, I think I ate my worst Thai meal ever in the market. Bad meals over there have been extremely few and far between, but that one stands out. At least the people were nice.
#5 Posted: 29/1/2012 - 10:30