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Jobless Wanderers; Thailand, Laos & Cambodia Tour 2011.
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<blockquote data-quote="nikhuzlan" data-source="post: 542072" data-attributes="member: 19744"><p><strong>Day 16, Thursday, 21april2011 </strong></p><p></p><p><strong>I woke up to a dull morning, with no sunshine and an overcast sky. </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Breakfast was great. We met Mary, an English pensioner. She was travelling alone, touring Laos. </strong></p><p><strong>She arrived by boat from Chiang Khong and will be taking a Van to Luang Prabang. </strong></p><p><strong>She will eventually end up in Sydney where her two Grandaughters will be waiting. </strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>I walked down to the banks of the Mighty Mekong. I expected more as the river was not extraordinarily wide. </strong></p><p><strong>I assume this river to be very deep as its reputed to move large volumes of water. </strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110418nan434.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Probably the best mode of transportation for this family.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110418nan444.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>As we prepared to leave, the Hotel boat heads for Luang Prabang, an 8 hour journey.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004a.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Leaving Luang Say Resort.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004a10.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420005.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420006.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Just 10 kms from our luxury resort we rode through very rural Laos.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Plenty of fertiliser on the road. The air is heavy with the smell of cow dung. Its ok with me because I grew up in the kampong.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420007.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>This must be the hous of a well to do villager; nice reddish zinc roof.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420008.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We spotted many kids returnng from school. All were very friendly, cheering and waving us on.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420009.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We played Santa Claus passing the kids menthos candies for them to chew on.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420010.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420011.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>These are good children. Well behaved with lots of dignity, they lined up and take the sweets politely, </strong></p><p><strong>never asking for more.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420012.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420013.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Back on the road. We count onlt a handful of cars when we rode in this road.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420014.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Plenty of agriculture</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420015.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We reached Oudom Xai by midday, and with the sky threatening to rain, we wanted to have lunch wnerever we can. </strong></p><p><strong>But neither of us remembered to get some Lao money so buying food from a rural roadside stall became impossible. </strong></p><p><strong>We spotted this big Chinese Restaurant and decided to try our luck there. </strong></p><p><strong>Luckily the owner, who is a Chinese from Kunming was happy enough to accomodate us. </strong></p><p><strong>He even took Ivan to look for a moneychanger. </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>After a quick lunch we moved on.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420016.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We got onto Highway 3, the main artery that connects Vientiane to Boten, the bordertown that is the entry point into China. </strong></p><p><strong>On the map the road looks like a Main Highway, but it looked so rural both of us were having doubts we were on the right road, </strong></p><p><strong>despite the GPS saying so.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420017.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>The road was not too bad, although the surface would kill any bike other than a DP. </strong></p><p><strong>Bumpy with sharp stones alternating with broken tarmac, we were also fearful of ny sharp stones that may tear our tyre apart.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420018.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We passed through many one street towns.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420019.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Then tarmac disappeared altogether and brown earth covered the road surface. </strong></p><p><strong>With rainclouds threatening a downpour, i felt indescribable fear, morbid with worry in case the rain comes and </strong></p><p><strong>the smooth road becomes a river of mud.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420020.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>After riding for an hour covering just 30kms, we stopped at this RnR looking for a drink and a toilet. </strong></p><p><strong>We got our drink, but found no toilet. We do not just want to go to the side of the road out of respect for the locals. </strong></p><p><strong>So while holding our bladders, some rich locals passed by in a Toyota Land Cruiser ( rare in Laos ) and stopped like we did. </strong></p><p><strong>They too were looking to go, but being locals, they just walked to the open space and pee'd. I promptly joined them. </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Pigs were everywhere. They seem more macho and more hairy than the ones I've seen back home, </strong></p><p><strong>looking almost like a Wild Boar with no tusk.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420021.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>This pig walked away in disgust after finding out this bike was a BMW, not a HOG.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420022.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>After 30 minutes we headed to Pak Mong, crossroads to Luang Prabang to the South West, and the </strong></p><p><strong>Vietnam Border to the South East.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420023.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420024.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>At Pak Mong we stopped for a break and I found this in my tyre. Luckily a tyre shop was nearby, </strong></p><p><strong>and I pushed my bike there in anticipation of a flat when I pulled the nail out. Luckily it was just the thread and </strong></p><p><strong>not the tyre carcass.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420025.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>The remaining 110kms to Luang Prabang is just about the best roads Laos has to offer. </strong></p><p><strong>We made good progress and stopped twice to take pictures of the Nam Oui River, a tributary of the Mekong.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420026.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420027.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We reached Luang Prabang at 5pm, and went straight to a riverside cafe for a drink before we look for a place to stay in.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420028.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>We found this nice Resthouse at USD26 per night. Nice clean rooms, albeit a little small. </strong></p><p><strong>They allowed bike parking in the courtyard so that's a plus point. Also means unloading the bike is just ten steps away.</strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420030.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420031.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>Dinner was at this quaint restaurant serving genuine Lao food. </strong></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420032.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420033.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><strong>On our first day in Laos we covered 330kms. We started at 0800 and arrived 9 hours later. </strong></p><p><strong>I observed no more than 30-40 cars on the road throughout the whole journey from Pak Bent to Pak Mong. </strong></p><p><strong>Laos was also instantly a few degrees cooler than Thailand, although the elevation and latitude were the same.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Tomorrow will be our 17th day. We will resume riding after one day rest at Luang Prabang. </strong></p><p><strong>Time to give the riding suits a good wash.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>End Day 16, Thursday, 21april2011 </strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nikhuzlan, post: 542072, member: 19744"] [b]Day 16, Thursday, 21april2011 [/b] [b]I woke up to a dull morning, with no sunshine and an overcast sky. Breakfast was great. We met Mary, an English pensioner. She was travelling alone, touring Laos. She arrived by boat from Chiang Khong and will be taking a Van to Luang Prabang. She will eventually end up in Sydney where her two Grandaughters will be waiting. [/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004.jpg[/IMG] [b]I walked down to the banks of the Mighty Mekong. I expected more as the river was not extraordinarily wide. I assume this river to be very deep as its reputed to move large volumes of water. [/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110418nan434.jpg[/IMG] [b]Probably the best mode of transportation for this family.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110418nan444.jpg[/IMG] [b]As we prepared to leave, the Hotel boat heads for Luang Prabang, an 8 hour journey.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004a.jpg[/IMG] [b]Leaving Luang Say Resort.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420004a10.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420005.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420006.jpg[/IMG] [b]Just 10 kms from our luxury resort we rode through very rural Laos.[/b] [b]Plenty of fertiliser on the road. The air is heavy with the smell of cow dung. Its ok with me because I grew up in the kampong.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420007.jpg[/IMG] [b]This must be the hous of a well to do villager; nice reddish zinc roof.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420008.jpg[/IMG] [b]We spotted many kids returnng from school. All were very friendly, cheering and waving us on.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420009.jpg[/IMG] [b]We played Santa Claus passing the kids menthos candies for them to chew on.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420010.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420011.jpg[/IMG] [b]These are good children. Well behaved with lots of dignity, they lined up and take the sweets politely, never asking for more.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420012.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420013.jpg[/IMG] [b]Back on the road. We count onlt a handful of cars when we rode in this road.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420014.jpg[/IMG] [b]Plenty of agriculture[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420015.jpg[/IMG] [b]We reached Oudom Xai by midday, and with the sky threatening to rain, we wanted to have lunch wnerever we can. But neither of us remembered to get some Lao money so buying food from a rural roadside stall became impossible. We spotted this big Chinese Restaurant and decided to try our luck there. Luckily the owner, who is a Chinese from Kunming was happy enough to accomodate us. He even took Ivan to look for a moneychanger. After a quick lunch we moved on.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420016.jpg[/IMG] [b]We got onto Highway 3, the main artery that connects Vientiane to Boten, the bordertown that is the entry point into China. On the map the road looks like a Main Highway, but it looked so rural both of us were having doubts we were on the right road, despite the GPS saying so.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420017.jpg[/IMG] [b]The road was not too bad, although the surface would kill any bike other than a DP. Bumpy with sharp stones alternating with broken tarmac, we were also fearful of ny sharp stones that may tear our tyre apart.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420018.jpg[/IMG] [b]We passed through many one street towns.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420019.jpg[/IMG] [b]Then tarmac disappeared altogether and brown earth covered the road surface. With rainclouds threatening a downpour, i felt indescribable fear, morbid with worry in case the rain comes and the smooth road becomes a river of mud.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420020.jpg[/IMG] [b]After riding for an hour covering just 30kms, we stopped at this RnR looking for a drink and a toilet. We got our drink, but found no toilet. We do not just want to go to the side of the road out of respect for the locals. So while holding our bladders, some rich locals passed by in a Toyota Land Cruiser ( rare in Laos ) and stopped like we did. They too were looking to go, but being locals, they just walked to the open space and pee'd. I promptly joined them. Pigs were everywhere. They seem more macho and more hairy than the ones I've seen back home, looking almost like a Wild Boar with no tusk.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420021.jpg[/IMG] [b]This pig walked away in disgust after finding out this bike was a BMW, not a HOG.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420022.jpg[/IMG] [b]After 30 minutes we headed to Pak Mong, crossroads to Luang Prabang to the South West, and the Vietnam Border to the South East.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420023.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420024.jpg[/IMG] [b]At Pak Mong we stopped for a break and I found this in my tyre. Luckily a tyre shop was nearby, and I pushed my bike there in anticipation of a flat when I pulled the nail out. Luckily it was just the thread and not the tyre carcass.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420025.jpg[/IMG] [b]The remaining 110kms to Luang Prabang is just about the best roads Laos has to offer. We made good progress and stopped twice to take pictures of the Nam Oui River, a tributary of the Mekong.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420026.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420027.jpg[/IMG] [b]We reached Luang Prabang at 5pm, and went straight to a riverside cafe for a drink before we look for a place to stay in.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420028.jpg[/IMG] [b]We found this nice Resthouse at USD26 per night. Nice clean rooms, albeit a little small. They allowed bike parking in the courtyard so that's a plus point. Also means unloading the bike is just ten steps away.[/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420030.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420031.jpg[/IMG] [b]Dinner was at this quaint restaurant serving genuine Lao food. [/b] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420032.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20110417%20JW%20pt2/20110420033.jpg[/IMG] [b]On our first day in Laos we covered 330kms. We started at 0800 and arrived 9 hours later. I observed no more than 30-40 cars on the road throughout the whole journey from Pak Bent to Pak Mong. Laos was also instantly a few degrees cooler than Thailand, although the elevation and latitude were the same. Tomorrow will be our 17th day. We will resume riding after one day rest at Luang Prabang. Time to give the riding suits a good wash.[/b] [b]End Day 16, Thursday, 21april2011 [/b] [/QUOTE]
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