The Golden Triangle Rider

adventourers · Posted: 16.02.2008, 00:39 Post subject:

16th Jan 2008

Morning in HXai was broken by the crows of the roosters. The rest of the riders had their breakfast while I went alone to settle the paper which was quite fast as we had green light clearance from Laos Embassy.

Cleared the paper work, we had our stomach filled, we rode toward LMT and to head on the Xieng Kok. Road to LMT was superb! Reached LMT at no time as we stopped along the way to visit a temple. We had our lunch at a good restaurant runned by the Chinese at LMT.

We continue to proceed to XKok which half of the road is not well maintained when the Shaji's Diversion side pannier flew off twice from the hinge. The box was tied back up using various method to ensure it stays that way.

The 2nd half of the journey was off roads all the way till XKok. The off road were like no ends and there is no proper civlization along the way except the tribes villages. I was so worried that when we reach XKok that there is no guesthouses to stay as it is so out of the world. The thought of us staying at the tribes's home worries me especially with the bunch of riders that I am with.

Finally we reach almost 6 pm where night fall comes earlier then Singapore. Managed to check into the XKok resort with each rider a room to stay. It is quite a creepy place as the huts are facing the Mekong River and there is nobody on sight except us. We parked our bikes in beside the huts.

Dinner was very very simple in a small coffee shop if that is a coffee shop or more like a sundry shop with a small stall in the front of the shop. They managed to cooked up some stuffs thru the supervision from some of the riders.

Back to the Resort, we all gathered at one of the Chris's room who had brought a notebook and we reviewed our movies and photos. The generator was off at about 930 pm and it was total pitched dark. All of us slept early knowing that we will have to ride back the same route the next day to Boten. What an Adventure!

The link to photos from Huay Xai to Xieng Kok:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603853756919/

Temple by the roadside...

The little girl was so happy getting the dress donated by one of the rider...

Diversion doing off roads...

One of the traditional tribe, I am refering to the lady and not the guy..

That's is how they catch their fish, with the mask and a home made wooden harpoon...

Ah Ma sat this way to video the riders....

Gathering in Chris's hut....

PS: Don't let my Singha boss know..Laobeer is good at room temp or cold but Singha is good only when it is cold. When it is drank at room temp, it is very bitter. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995

Davidfl · Posted: 16.02.2008, 00:50 Post subject:

Good on you Alex for keeping the posts coming.
Yeah I agree totally on Xieng Kok - not a real friendly or nice place to hang out at. Been there three times now & am always happy to leave & not spend a night there. It's a weird feeling there alright, & one that Ive never had anywhere else in Laos!
Ah Ma must be quite a tough adventurer riding like that to video the gang. I'm impressed & wonder what's the longest / furtherest she's gone sitting like that viedo-ing. Ha. Ha.
It's good to see some pix of all the riders too. They all look like they re mature experienced bikers, ready to go & do the biz.
_________________
Davidfl
Keep The Power On

adventourers · Posted: 16.02.2008, 08:41 Post subject:

Hi David,

Wow, 3 times..if it is alone, it must be really quite an experience, a bit eirie to be alone at that place. I should have organized a campfire with Laobeer to go with that night as the weather is cold and there is no electricity. Wondering is Phongsali is as such like this as our schedule was off due to an extra day in BKK and we need to cut off Phongsali and did another unplanned route. This is also to catch up with our schedule.

Wee morning again in XKok, we were woken up by some roosters at about 4 plus. It was still total darkness and I think all of us skip shower as the water is freezing cold.

We hang up our banner at the Resort and then rode down to the border of Laos/Myanmar and took some photos. Some of us top our gasoline using the bottle methods and off we go after a simple breakfast at the Resort. Our official Videographer, Steven had a head start of 10 minutes to go to the front to wait for us at 1 of the tribal village to shoot us to convoy in to do an entrance for the TV. Ah Ma was the unofficial photographer as we need a pillion to shoot while riding. Anyway, she only sit like that for about close to 10 km and it was too bumpy for her. As usual, the whole villagers crowded around us when we reached.

Ride out to Boten was faster as we are familiar with the route. Being over confidence has its disadvantages, some of us had many skids on the front wheels and Steven did a 240 degree skid and fell down chasing after my dust hoping to get a shot of me if I were to fall down as I was going at around 70-80 kmh on off road 2-up. It was quite a memorable fall as he had a camera mounted on his bike. He is the dustiest rider on that day. Another happenning is when his bike failed as too much dust had went into his airfilter and caused his bike to choke and Charlie had to tow him halfway thru to Boten.

Boten was a relieve and a total change from guesthouses to a 5 star hotel. A nite stay is $600 reminbi but we negotiated a 50% discount. The most expensive hotel in such a location.

The whole Boten town is runned by China Chinese from the legal businesses to all the vices. Feels like another world of China instead of Laos. Well as usual, we look for a good traditional massage and await tomorrow to visit China.

Link to the Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603840739892/

Let me introduce the Adventourers..from the right standing:Steven (Official Videographer, DR650), Shaji (Diversion), Ah Kong (VFR), Eric (GS12 Adv), Uncle David (67 yrs old on 650 GS), Ah Ma (Ah Kong's wife but my pillion, our Treasurer), Chris (GS12 Adv), Loh (GS12 Adv), bottom left to right Robin (650 GS), Alex (that's me, GS12 Adv), Charlie (Nighthawk750) and Terry (1150GS).

Steven with his fallen DR650...

Don't get me wrong, somehow bikers loves to relate themselves to all the sinful things, 3 things: Beer, Women and Dangerous Riding, below is 2 of them... Rolling Eyes

The expert handling the repairs of the bike..

_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995

adventourers · Posted: 19.02.2008, 11:49 Post subject: 18th Jan 2008

Boten to Nong Khiaw, supposedly Phongsali but changed due to group decision and also to catch up with our lost schedule...

We woke up as usual for breakfast provided in the hotel. We had a so so usual hotel standard breakfast. As Steven's bike had some problem, few of us stayed back while the rest when ahead to China border to try to cross over for a walz there. They came back decided not to take the chance as in case they could not come back into Laos as if they were to cross to China and thus coming back will have all the trouble again to do the paperwork. Instead they decided to take some photos and continue with our journey.

Journey was slow as the whole group's speed follows the last rider therefore, we decided instead of going ahead to Phongsali, we ride to Nong Khiaw. Reaching there, it is realy a good decision as the place is a beautiful place to stay.

It was breathtaking. The group splits to 2 group staying at 2 resorts located opposite each other. That night, we organized a campfire with a crate of Laobeer to go with.

Link for the rest of the photos..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603844365216/

The wrong bike for that kind of road but lucky the bike got a right rider on it....

The locals had that for their meals...wow talking about exotic food...

The VFR got a big puncture, we need 3 worms to hold the hole...

Some of the things that got loose from the thumping...

Terry with his rugged dusty look with NKhiaw's hills as the background..

Campfire in the coldness of the night with Laobeer..

_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995

adventourers · Posted: 22.02.2008, 11:57 Post subject: 19th and 20th Jan 2008

19th Jan 2008 Ride from NKhiaw to LPB & 20th Jan 2008 LPB

The group had decided to break into 2, 1 (3 bikes) using the easier road and the other bigger group using the off road passing Sam Soun via Pak Xeng where 12 km of very very steep off-road. It was a journey of thrill riding the off-road with our so called off road elephants. The journey took us the whole day but without major incidents except many photos and videos taken along the route.

We arrived LPB around 5 plus wheres the 3 bikes using the better route reach in 3 hours time before noon. Talking about finding trouble...but it was worth the ride.

The next day, 20th Jan was a full day in LPB where we change back to our tourist's form going for the cave and waterfall tours. The usual touristic things that must do when you are in LPB...

The link to the ride:
19th Jan 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603847605059/

20th Jan 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603850512670/

The road we rode thru...

The off-road is visible from one mountain to another...

The tribe (beast) among the tribe (beauties)..

The Adventourers halfway shek from the riding...

Terry must be pondering, what the hell am I doing here...

The steep off-road that David is talking about, give it another a year or 2, you will not have this off-road as they will be tarmaced, bad news for riders like me, no more fun.......

Another puncture hitting the rocks...

Another fall by our Videographer, Steven...

A typical day of a tourist..

This food created trouble for 4 of us which 1 was hospitalised...

Enjoy, till then...
_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995

bogster75 · Posted: 22.02.2008, 15:39 Post subject:

HI Alex,,,
Nice write up,,,Thanks for sharing ........

As for my ride,,,we dun wave much to share but I did penned down something in my blog.

Sorry bro,,,dun intend to hijack your thread or something,,,jus wanna share,,,,, Embarassed

Pls feel free to comment yeah,,,,,

http://bogster75.multiply.com/journal/item/1

bomb defuzer · Posted: 24.02.2008, 21:50 Post subject:

Fresh off the news stand.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/guide/story/0,4136,157187,00.html

Text as follows:

17 DAYS, 11 RIDERS, 9,000KM...
Storming the Indo-China trail
By Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

February 24, 2008

IT was bound to be a trip on which they could expect the unexpected.

Another one bites the dust on the sandy and gruelling trail in Laos. Falling was common, but luckily, none of the riders were injured. Picture: Steven Yap
Eleven motorcycles, 17 days and nearly 9,000km.

The trip, to Laos and back, was sponsored by Singha Beer. The 11 riders and one 'professional pillion' from Storm Riders set off on 11 Jan.

Their bikes, mostly dual-terrain BMWs and a few Japanese sports tourers, were packed with spare parts. Which came in handy.

Said Mr Alex Quah, 38, leader of the Adventourers, as they called themselves: 'We were just two hours into our journey when we had our first tyre puncture in Pagoh, Johor. The inner tube was torn to shreds.'

There were more tyre blow-outs, especially when the terrain got rougher. The gruelling terrain would also cause an exhaust pipe to break.

But while they were ready for what the open road was going to hurl at them, they did not expect delays from the railways.

After 900km on Malaysian roads, the plan was to load their motorcycles onto a train in Hat Yai.

This would 'fast-forward' their trip to Chiang Mai, their jumping-off point into Laos.

But, in Hatyai, Mr Quah, a sales manager in a printing firm, was told that the motorbikes would be put into three separate carriages, which would arrive in Bangkok at different times.

With their journey stalled, the team took a break in Bangkok.

THE FUN BEGINS

On 15 Jan, the group arrived in Chiang Mai with their motorcycles and rode towards the Laos border.

Their 11-day expedition in Laos would take them past towns like Luang Nam Tha, Boten, Vieng Kham and cities like Luang Prabang and Vientiane, before reaching the Thai border at Ratchathani, where they would take a train back to Hatyai.

Said Mr Steven Yap, 29, the group's photographer: 'It was common to ride off-road for 60km stretches. On such terrain, we would spread out to have better vision and avoid the dust clouds coming from the wheels.'

Nevertheless, Mr Yap had to take the pictures. 'I followed closely behind the riders,' he said.

'Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to be powdered with so much dust.'

The team could not ride fast as there were potholes, chickens and piglets to avoid.

Falls on sandy trails were common, but nothing too serious, said Mr Quah.

The riders had received training earlier, in oil palm plantations in Johor.

MEETING VILLAGERS

Stopping in villages, the team was greeted with smiles and curiosity.

Mr Quah added: 'The moment you stopped, the whole village would descend on you. It was hard to communicate, but simple gesturing usually got the message across.'

They gave clothes and Singha Beer watches and caps to the villagers.

Back on unpaved roads, the Adventourers soon found themselves riding 'into the clouds'.

Said Mr Yap: 'It was a strange yet pleasant feeling to ride among the clouds.'

The highest elevation of 1,500m above sea level was recorded on the team's Global Positioning System, said Mr Quah.

The mountains were beautiful but there were hidden dangers. A fall could send man and machine rolling down the sides of steep slopes.

Said Mr Yap: 'When you fall on an incline, picking up a 100kg motorcycle can be like trying to lift a 300kg bike.'

The temperature dropped to 13degC and one senior rider had to be bundled in several blankets in a hotel room.

Added Mr Quah: 'Whenever we rested at hotels along the way, we ensured that our bikes were safe and that there was hot water.'

With the muck off their bodies and helmets off their heads, the riders indulged in 'the tourist thing' - going to wet markets and visiting the sights.

Close to the Chinese border in Boten, porcupines, bats and rats were local delicacies.

Along winding rivers, metal-hulled sampans - made from fighter jet fuel tanks from the Vietnam War era - criss-crossed the waters, carrying locals and market produce.

The experience of watching the way people lived in Laos and meeting people on the road was priceless, Mr Quah said.
_________________
California bikes:
2006 KTM 625 SMC
2005 Honda CRF450X Dual Sport
1995 Honda CR500 The MONSTER

25 ~ street and dirt bikes gone, but not forgotten.

Thailand bike is coming soon!!

http://www.eodhero.com

adventourers · Posted: 27.02.2008, 11:10 Post subject:

Great news for the biking community to create more awareness of the wonders of riding! Hope to have more people take riding as another option for an adventurous holidays..

BTW, Yus, your write-up was a great one. Hope we could arrange to organise 1 again but not 2 countries at a same ride..Tibet, anyone?

It is a yearly affair for me, so one country one year unless the country is so big that I may do 1 country in 2 trips by sections such as China...

22 Jan 2008, Ride from LPB to Phosovan to Van Vieng

It was a wee morning when we had our breakfast provided by the hotel to start our journey early as we need to hit to Vientienne for an over nite stay. But we could not at the end of the day due to the distance and the pace we are riding so end up at Van Vieng which is a not a bad place to stay, though a bit touristic.

Ride to Phosovan was beutiful with me clocking the highest point there at 1522 meters. The view was awesome with the ride above the cloud and not so hot weather.

Plains of Jars gave me the feeling of a very isolated feelings. A feel that I am so alone when I was there. The sceneries along the way nearer to Phosovan is so different landscape compare to mountains that we have been riding as you can see fields and fields of spacious plains mostly in brown colors.

While riding, I was searching for Bomb Shells that the natives had used to built houses and I managed to only see all of those at the Tourist Information Centre.

Due to the return leg, we have to ride at night to Van Vieng which we do it the convoy style and riding at night was quite a pleasant change as the night gave us a different feelings. Not to mentioned the sunset scenery was very awesome.

When we reached Van Vieng and check into Nana, as usual, some went for massage and some sat at the special bed and chair at the coffee shop to enjoy some Laobeer at the coolness of the night. Awaits the next day for Vietnam border, Nam Pao.

The link to the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventourers/sets/72157603852976124/

Roti Prata, Laos and Thailand style..

A view that can kill a biker when we are riding (gotta watch the road too)..

Another perpective...I can the the road ahead..

Even further view...

Heh..heh..a Warning to all unintended and intended unlawful acts...

Should I jump over?

Big and small bombs...

Another view that can kill a biker but in poor lightings...

Relax and cruising mode..

More to come...enjoy..
_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995

adventourers · Posted: 07.03.2008, 12:34 Post subject:

Hi,

I have to apologize for the long absence as busy with work and work and work.

I will post another person's full reports from Day 1 to end of the trip after his report is published out into the Motorbike's Mag.

Thanks again and looking forward to another adventure year after year.

Enjoy and ride safe always to ride another day.

Regards.
_________________
Alex BT Quah Always Ride with FOCUS..remember, safety first!
Adventourer's Website : http://www.geocities.com/adventourers/alex.html
BMW R1200GS Adv, Honda King of Baja XR650R & BMW F650GS
Email: adventourers@yahoo.com
Mobile : 9685 9995