A meander through the North Dec 2011

[DavidFL]

Quickly catching up. A few brief pix from a Houei Xai - Luang Prabang - Vientiane ride in Dec 2011.

Late afternoon, the Houei Xai view from Chiang Khong.

Loaded up, waiting to cross over the next morning

It was a cool morning, but the ferries were running flat out carrying trucks & cars across the Mekong. On busy days up to 100 vehicles a day crossover!

The Lao customs are really good & all the paperwork is done at the one window # 5 (from memory.)
Once that is done just walk down the steps 30 metres & get it signed & registered in the book.

THEN get your AGL insurance.
Miss Ying is the rep, & she's fast & efficient.

link up with her on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001955268235&sk=info

I was not in a rush & spent a couple of nights in Houei Xai.

Happy hour / sunset by the Khong is always a joy.

R3 Houei Xai - Luang Namtha is all good now, except for a few bumpy sections in the first 25 kms from Houei Xai.
And you soon forget them once you're on the good stuff:

The Don Chai view 60+ kms out of Houei Xai

 

[DavidFL]

R3 Houei Xai - Luang Namtha

A semi trailer truck had lost control going downhill & crashed; wisely into the mountain side of the road & not over the edge.
In the process the truck had dumped its container on the road. This would have been scary stuff to see at the time that's for sure.

In Luang Namtha the staff at the Boat Landing Guesthouse were on an extended happy hour. They'd started drinking, & more importantly eating, in the morning @ 10AM! My arrival was at 3PM & they were well under way.

Miss Tik whom Id meet at the Tai Lue / Shan wedding

https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/threads/35637-Rim-Taan-Guesthouse-a-Shan-Tai-Lue-wedding
in Thoed Thai was also there.

The Nam Tha river @ happy hour time

a place of beauty & serenity!

The Luang Namtha night market

In Luang Namtha I met up with a group of BMW riders from KL in Malaysia

The hot new eating & drinking spot in LNT was the Forest Retreat Cafe
http://forestretreatlaos.com/
Aussie run, & sorry no photos.
But if you're in LNT make sure you check 'em out.

LUANG NAM THA - OUDOM XAI
This section from Na Toey - Oudom Xai used to suck because of the ongoing road works, but it all race track quality asphalt now.

but the road is too narrow!

 

[brian_bkk]

Those roads certainly look better than when we did them on our Ninja's Dec 2010.

 

[DavidFL]

brian_bkk;275535 wrote: Those roads certainly look better than when we did them on our Ninja's Dec 2010.

Yeah it's unbelievable the change, but Oudom Xai - Pak Mong is still RS & worse than ever, because they have not done any maintainence on it.

 

[Jurgen]

Nice illustrations and great road ... I am happy to go there in two days, to see all the smiling faces on your pictures (also for the insurance).