A Whale of a Time: Going on a Visa Run in Thailand

A Night Out on the…Ferris Wheel

The embassy is just close enough to the downtown riverfront to seem walkable, and it’s definitely worth it for the change in scenery. The main section of Vientiane sits just along the Mekong River, facing Thailand on the opposite shore. Along the river walk are several bars and restaurants catering to the visa runners, and I chose a cute little place called “Little Hanoi” for some Vietnamese food.

Laos has had a confusing past of occupation by other countries that has the benefit of some pretty diverse cultural options. The French were there for a long time and you can find some pretty amazing — and cheap — wine just about anywhere. I finished my traditional Vietnamese spring rolls and French wine, but didn’t feel like heading back yet…

Buddhism has a big focus on the cycles of the moon and random one or two day carnivals will pop up around them. I’ve still never figured it out, but I’m usually too busy to check them out back in Thailand. I have no idea if the temporary riverfront amusement park that night was the result of that night’s astrology, but it seemed a perfect way to quench my thirst for something different.

I walked along the water, getting harassed by some drunken teenagers and solicited by some of those from the region’s oldest profession. Eventually deciding to ride the Ferris wheel, I purchased some tickets. I had partly bought the tickets merely because of how decrepit the whole contraption looked. Sort of a morbid sense of adventure or danger, I guess. I don’t know, maybe the wine was stronger than I realized.

It became a whole lot less playful once I was locked in to the rusted steel box. The carriage was not big enough for a Laotian, much less a six foot, two inch giant. It shuddered its way to the top of the wheel. I legitimately wanted off of that death trap enough to let out a scream that I’m far from proud of. The death trap spun through its revolutions, giving my screams the Doppler effect of crescendo and decrescendo to those in line below.

Needless to say, I was spared, and rushed to use my remaining tickets on the far safer bumper cars. I headed back to the hotel with my tail between my legs.

Ryan Farley / Own Work