How I came to Nong Khai was kismet in more ways than one.
After an amazing gastronomic week in Penang, I rode the train for 24 hours non-stop to Bangkok. I crashed the couch of a friend from Pakistan who lives in a large house with people from the different continents of the world. As my travel plans are obscure, I gladly took my friend's advice for Laos and his housemate's advice to stop for a night in Nong Khai on the way.
I did as told and checked myself into a lovely garden hostel by the Mekong river. I found joy in the perfection of life, the serenity of a garden by the brown river and a view of Laos beyond.
Three weeks later, in Vientaine, straight from a bus from Vang Vieng, I boarded a tuk-tuk to take me to the airport to catch my plane to Singapore. In the middle of nowhere, the driver suddenly told me that I need to pay twice the agreed price. Instead of giving in, I disembarked and walked until I had a sense of where I am but the flight was missed. Just the second missed flight since my journey, the first being my return flight home a month ago. I celebrated my 28th birthday in the bowling arena of Laos with other backpackers before resolving to trace back my way to Nongkhai.
Sitting in the garden of Mut Mee, I got to chatting with the owner and he asked whether I had concrete travel plans. Of course I had none! And so he offered me a job to run his floating bar for a couple of months for a percent in the profit, free board and food and by far one of the greatest experiences of my life. I ended up running the bar for four months and met some of the most impressive personalities. I had crazy, hilarious and unforgettable experiences. I fell in love, gained life-long friendships with travelers, locals and expats. I lived on a boat, explored the Isan province extensively on my days off and understood happiness seeing the sun set everyday.
Nong Khai was the best detour of my life and the reason why I will always choose the roundabout instead of the main road.
