The Golden Triangle Rider

caromalta · Cyclist Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Malta

1400km in 8 days.

Vientianne - Paksan : 128km
Paksan - Thavieng : 173km + 20km lost
Thavieng - Phonsavan : 122km + 20km (plain of Jars)
Phonsavan - Sam Nua : 222km
Sam Nua - Nong Khiew : 273km (in rain)
Nong Khiew - Pakbeng : 235km
Pakbeng - Thaxaong : 20km (by boat)
Thaxaong - Thong Sa : 43km (dirt/mud road)
Thong Sa - Sayaboury : 110km
Sayaboury - Luang Prabang : 110Km

Took a night train from Bangkok to Nong Khai to enter Laos trough Friendship Bridge.

Sleeping is very comfortable on these trains. This picture shows the opposite.

We met with our Vietnamese friend in Vientianne and rented 4 XR 250's...
Checked the bikes and off we went.

This is the dry season and the terrain is very dry

Some locals on one of our refreshing stops

http://www.youtube.com/v/HuTRHxf9Vmc

Rice fields

Dinner on it's way....

Meal with the local police

Accident while crossing a stream. 1 broken finger!

Another fall by Jason where he fractured his rib and couldn't continue the trip

Waiting for the X-ray

Jason had to abandon the trip and took a taxi to recover in Luang Prabang were we will finish 6 days later.

http://www.youtube.com/v/HnZ6p-XWwko

Plain of Jars - Archaeologists believe that the jars were used 1,500–2,000 years ago, by an ancient Mon-Khmerrace whose culture is now totally unknown. Most of the excavated material has been dated to around 500 BC–800 AD. Anthropologists and archeologists have theorized that the jars may have been used as funeral urns or perhaps storage for food.

http://www.youtube.com/v/nbVA2twYjlU

Riding in the mist - 950m above sea level.

http://www.youtube.com/v/KiNvYGMl5H8

Tiger territory. mmm... I wonder were the hell they were!

http://www.youtube.com/v/GfvmR7oB6l0

Pakbeng - The road ended here. So we had to take the boat from here.

Drying our gear. Impossible task!!
http://www.youtube.com/v/45obYNe-owA

Loading the bike on boat

http://www.youtube.com/v/-epGkBgnp3s

http://www.youtube.com/v/iUYeWGghmb8

We stopped at Thaxaong to start 43km of dirt road which was a mess since it rained for 24 hours the day before.
http://www.youtube.com/v/1eBVC5uApKA

I had my first muddy fall but I managed to jump in time.

I was miles away from an ATM and money was becoming a problem

Luckily I managed not to break it. It just bend. I should have had an extra one!!

Luang Prabang - It's nice to have a hot shower at last!!!:freaky

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_________________
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The only way to travel, is on two wheels!
My Vietnam trip by MINSK - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288078
Around Sicily by XT 600 - http://sabaicaro.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!7489B2F2F4EB0BC5!499/

SilverhawkUSA · Posted: 09.03.2008, 17:05 Post subject:

Good report and some nice photos. I don't mean to be picky, but whatever map you are looking at in the photo must be off. The photos you say are the end of the road at Pak Beng sure look like Nong Kiew to me. Laughing

_________________
Dave Early

Ever notice that "What the Heck!" is usually the right answer?

caromalta · Cyclist Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Malta

You are right!!.....I made the change now...
_________________
__________________
The only way to travel, is on two wheels!
My Vietnam trip by MINSK - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288078
Around Sicily by XT 600 - http://sabaicaro.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!7489B2F2F4EB0BC5!499/

Moto-Rex · Cyclist Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 12

Great report caromalta, I hope to do a trip up there shortly myself, but I know one thing......Ill be taking a different line than the one you took through the mud. LOL

Cheers mate

Rex

caromalta · Cyclist Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Malta

Believe me, but that 50Km mud ride was one of the best moments of my live..... It was fun, long and messy....seen lots of acidents in this part. Only big convojs of trucks were passing trough. They all got stuck, overturned and on the steep hills it was impossible for them. so they basically were stranded for 3 days waiting for the mud to dry
_________________
__________________
The only way to travel, is on two wheels!
My Vietnam trip by MINSK - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288078
Around Sicily by XT 600 - http://sabaicaro.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!7489B2F2F4EB0BC5!499/

daewoo · Posted: 10.03.2008, 04:03 Post subject:

Superb pics... well done...

Cheers,
Daewoo
_________________
Nothing screams poor workmanship like creases in the duct tape...

gcurtis · Posted: 08.05.2008, 01:54 Post subject:

Nice trip report and pics. Enjoyed the video too.
Made good part of that trek with a friend in November. Great stuff. Would love to go back.
Thanks