My journey began from Bangkok, with a train ride to Chang Mai. There I had a local Thai guide to expedite my immigration at the Thai border. The long winding bus route rambles all the way from Chang Mai to the border separating Thailand and Laos. Story has it that two Caucasian women were being robbed just a week prior to my visit. Another was their day packs were being lifted out of an old cranking sleeper train that they had journeyed through. I prayed so hard that I would have the new train with windows that are sealed, with reasonably soft four-bunk beds to a cabin as opposed to that old and hard six-bunk bed compartment. As wished, the train was awfully new and odor free. The French mate that I have met in Saigon was on the same route with me. A heavy smoker he is, he offered me a local triple-five brand stick. I rejected kindly and he never bothers me again, with some distance and a snare too. I wonder how he survives - five sticks for breakfast and a black coffee for gurgling. One stick for morning and afternoon breaks; a sandwich served with soggy fries accompanies by yet another three sticks of smoke. C'EST le vie!