Ubon Hotel dates to the Vietnam War.

In Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, it's extremely easy to find a place to exchange money. In Bangkok, it's not too bad, but in Ubon, it's a nightmare. When I told my hotel I couldn't find a nearby exchange place, so would pay tomorrow, they insisted I took a taxi to a distant shopping center to exchange money. She even refused to accept dollars as payment or collateral.

Though exhausted after my bus trip then a longish walk in the sun because the motorbike taxi guy had delivered me to a wrong address, I went to the shopping center, only to be told I needed my passport to exchange money. I had left it in my room. A photo of my passport on the phone would not do.

Back at the reception, I told the receptionist her hotel was terrible. I was being treated like a deadbeat who would sneak out past the reception to avoid paying for one night! Though she only knew maybe five words of English, she could tell from my expression I was beyond expasperated.

Though the elevator was broken, she had initially given me a room on the 7th floor! Now, I'm on the 4th. At least Hotel Ubon has character...

There are almost no guests here, understandably. I've found a possibly better hotel nearby. This morning, I'll walk over to check it out, then I'll take a taxi back to that shopping center.