The Ho Chi Minh trails net still promise a lot of new enduro riding expiriences. Riding from Sepon mines known also as Muang Vilaburi there is almost only dirt and cobblestones.
Vilaburi
Local vendor heading to remote villages
Tipical Central Lao village
Asking for direction
I decided to try a detour road to Laboy ford. One of the main reasons was the stop at this Stone pillars sanctuary.
Behind pillars there is a giant tree with a small shrine. Respecting the local beliefs I did not took pictures.
After a shallow river crossing I reached the last village on this road. Maybe 50 km North-West from Vilaburi
From the village a jungle trail leads to the same river. Here the ford was deep and quite risky.
Few kms I rode a small jungle trail with several streams to cross
Finally I arrived in the village where the locals told me that further I can "Pai Sabai" which means "Easy go". By Lao standards of course.
Follow NW direction and you are not lost on several crossroads ahead
Approaching the Laboy ford there are more and more nice karst formations on sight
The tipical cobbles of the Ho Chi Minh net. Feel the history.
Happy to travel in safe area
Actually the people are extremely friendly in this place. Some humanitarian organisations from USA, Norway, Germany etc. works here. They really help the locals. After I crossed this stream 30 maybe 40 locals (adults and children) came out of their huts to welcome me. Very friendly. The locals looks wild. Topless women is a pleasant natural attraction as well.
Following the dirt road
Finally I reached the legendary Laboy ford. Now it is a brand new river ford. Bikes and cars are welcome. Free.
View from the ford
I tried to find but could not succeed the way to the alternate ford. I think the jungle ate this way already.
The Laboy village has maximum 10 households. Very poor. This is a school. Children do not have time to study today. They are off the land looking for a firewood.
There are three or four villages on the last ten kms before the border with Vietnam. War remnants are not available anymore. There is only the same house and the same gates with war missile pillars as few years ago.
Approaching the border the trail looks like museum protected archaeological masterpiece
The villages are clean.
And safe of course
Finally I reached the final point - the border. A small concrete house with a sound of a Thai soap opera inside. A very friendly official took my picture on the border. Of course I was not allowed to wonder around and to photograph.
On the way back to Vilaburi I took some photos of the rocks. I wonder how many caves the locals used during the war as a storage, shelter, hospital etc.?
How many of those caves are still unexplored by foreigners?
On the way back I took a shortcut but was lost for an hour.
When at dusk I finally arrived in Vilaburi I had only 0,30 liter fuel left in the tank. Totally this day I rode over 200 kms.
Vilaburi
Local vendor heading to remote villages
Tipical Central Lao village
Asking for direction
I decided to try a detour road to Laboy ford. One of the main reasons was the stop at this Stone pillars sanctuary.
Behind pillars there is a giant tree with a small shrine. Respecting the local beliefs I did not took pictures.
After a shallow river crossing I reached the last village on this road. Maybe 50 km North-West from Vilaburi
From the village a jungle trail leads to the same river. Here the ford was deep and quite risky.
Few kms I rode a small jungle trail with several streams to cross
Finally I arrived in the village where the locals told me that further I can "Pai Sabai" which means "Easy go". By Lao standards of course.
Follow NW direction and you are not lost on several crossroads ahead
Approaching the Laboy ford there are more and more nice karst formations on sight
The tipical cobbles of the Ho Chi Minh net. Feel the history.
Happy to travel in safe area
Actually the people are extremely friendly in this place. Some humanitarian organisations from USA, Norway, Germany etc. works here. They really help the locals. After I crossed this stream 30 maybe 40 locals (adults and children) came out of their huts to welcome me. Very friendly. The locals looks wild. Topless women is a pleasant natural attraction as well.
Following the dirt road
Finally I reached the legendary Laboy ford. Now it is a brand new river ford. Bikes and cars are welcome. Free.
View from the ford
I tried to find but could not succeed the way to the alternate ford. I think the jungle ate this way already.
The Laboy village has maximum 10 households. Very poor. This is a school. Children do not have time to study today. They are off the land looking for a firewood.
There are three or four villages on the last ten kms before the border with Vietnam. War remnants are not available anymore. There is only the same house and the same gates with war missile pillars as few years ago.
Approaching the border the trail looks like museum protected archaeological masterpiece
The villages are clean.
And safe of course
Finally I reached the final point - the border. A small concrete house with a sound of a Thai soap opera inside. A very friendly official took my picture on the border. Of course I was not allowed to wonder around and to photograph.
On the way back to Vilaburi I took some photos of the rocks. I wonder how many caves the locals used during the war as a storage, shelter, hospital etc.?
How many of those caves are still unexplored by foreigners?
On the way back I took a shortcut but was lost for an hour.
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