Border Run

Our visa requires us to leave the country every 90 days.  We were hoping to have a new visa before the 90-day mark, but that didn’t happen.  So, we packed up the car for the four-hour drive to the less-than-friendly neighbor to the north (and west).

Pie Resort

The drive was very straightforward, those most people take a national with them (at least for the first trip).  We, however, decided that a tour guide was for the weak.  We got the directions from people who have made the trip a lot.  The directions were go north for two hours, stop off at the pie resort, turn left and continue until they start to drive on the right-side of the road.  All of that was easy except for two things.  First, the pie resort was actually just a hole-in-the-wall resort that sells pies.  Second, if you reach the place where they drive on the right-side of the road, then you’ve driven too far.

Pie Resort

Two hours up the road, we reached the left-hand turn and realized we missed the pie place.  This probably wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but we were told it is the best (and maybe the only place) you can buy pie in a four-country radius.  So, we had one option- turn around and retrace our steps until we find it.  After 30 minutes and practicing asking directions with our newly-acquired language skills, we found the place.  The pie was good, but we were told it would change our lives once we’ve lived here for a year or two.

White Temple

Continuing up the road after our sweet-tooth detour, we happened upon a large white temple (called the White Temple).  It was amazing to see the architecture, but like with any temple it is saddens our heart to see the extent of their lostness.

White Temple

Sign at the temple: scary site (click on it to make larger)

 

Frightful traffic cones in front of the temple (click to make it larger)

After around four hours, we got to the border city.  The city is popular for cheap shopping and counterfeit prescription drugs.  We followed the traffic to a parking stall, where we handed the guy our keys and paid him $2.  We then walked into customs to exit our country.  After clearing the building, we walked on a bridge where all of a sudden the cars moved from the left lane to the right lane.  The walkers also had to cross the same road to enter the neighboring countries customs building.

Leaving the country

Inside the building we surrendered our passports to them, we paid them $20 and they printed us out a temporary identification card.  The border crossing was similar to crossing from the States into Mexico.  Immediately, the culture changes.  It went from a developed country to a third-world country.  We were tackled with venders selling counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes and Viagra.  We still aren’t sure who would buy either of those items from sleazy street peddlers, but apparently they make a living doing it.

Crossing over

River separating the countries

We were told that the border closed at 5pm, so we had to rush through the large market on the other side of the river.  Everything was substantially cheaper.  You could sense a greater desperation in the hearts of these oppressed people living under military rule.

Welcome to another country

We spent the night back in a city in our country.  We found a cheap hotel with a nice pool and lounged for a few ours the following day.  Ironically, after we left, the following night there was a 3.5 earthquake in that city.

Great pool at the resort

Tropical paradise at the resort

Flowers unique to our country

On the drive home we stopped for more pie at the pie resort, this time we had a couple of slices.