Lao Loop - Part 3
« on: Jan 11th, 2003, 9:10am » Quote Modify Remove
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The night we arrived in Luang Prabang, we were getting some dinner when we heard a loud crash outside. Going out, we saw that a brand new SUV had smashed into a stone wall.
The injured occupants were carried to the hospital - hand held on the backs of motor scooters. The SUV was still in the middle of the road the next morning.
Waking up to a rainy day, we decided to relax. We hired a boat, and went up the Mekong to the Pak Ou caves. These caves are filled with small and large Buddha statues. The upper cave is not lighted, so bring a flashlight.
On the way back downstream, we stopped at the "whiskey village". Lots of crude stills making rice whiskey - Lao-lau. Finely aged for at least 10 days.
The next morning, we headed south in the drizzle. I felt sorry for Peter and Carol - they have now ridden twice on one of the best MC roads in SE Asia, once in dark and fog, and now in rain and fog. But, they did discover Cafe Lao and Beer Lao.
We did have a minor epic on the way to Vang Vieng. There had been a major landslide about 25 km north of Kasi, and the road was not completely cleared. On the way north, it was packed dirt. After 2 days of rain - it was 8 inches of pure mud.
It was about 150 yards long, and a slight downhill. We went into it at a crawl - to no avail. Once the wheels packed up, you had no control at all - like riding on grease. Turned into slow slides until both bikes went down. No injuries or damage - just very muddy bikes and riders. There were a few more stretches of mud before Vang Vieng, but luckily on level road.
We stayed a dissapointing night in Vang Vieng. The GH and food were fine, but the town is just jammed with backpackers trying to find something to do.
Woke up to a dry day, and motored down to Vientiane.
After another rest day, we headed back to Thailand. It was a holiday weekend, so the bridge offices were a little busy.
I was leaving 7 days after arriving in Laos - but it was my 8th calendar day. I had overstayed my 7 day permission for the bike. They could not sign me out of the country until I went and paid 2 fines, totalling 200 baht. Biggest problem is finding the right office on the entrance side to pay the fine.
Peter had no trouble with his Carnet - except finding the only customs officer who knew what to do with the paperwork. Then across the bridge, and into Thailand. Five minutes of paperwork, and all legal.
More to follow.
BobS
« on: Jan 11th, 2003, 9:10am » Quote Modify Remove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The night we arrived in Luang Prabang, we were getting some dinner when we heard a loud crash outside. Going out, we saw that a brand new SUV had smashed into a stone wall.
The injured occupants were carried to the hospital - hand held on the backs of motor scooters. The SUV was still in the middle of the road the next morning.
Waking up to a rainy day, we decided to relax. We hired a boat, and went up the Mekong to the Pak Ou caves. These caves are filled with small and large Buddha statues. The upper cave is not lighted, so bring a flashlight.
On the way back downstream, we stopped at the "whiskey village". Lots of crude stills making rice whiskey - Lao-lau. Finely aged for at least 10 days.
The next morning, we headed south in the drizzle. I felt sorry for Peter and Carol - they have now ridden twice on one of the best MC roads in SE Asia, once in dark and fog, and now in rain and fog. But, they did discover Cafe Lao and Beer Lao.
We did have a minor epic on the way to Vang Vieng. There had been a major landslide about 25 km north of Kasi, and the road was not completely cleared. On the way north, it was packed dirt. After 2 days of rain - it was 8 inches of pure mud.
It was about 150 yards long, and a slight downhill. We went into it at a crawl - to no avail. Once the wheels packed up, you had no control at all - like riding on grease. Turned into slow slides until both bikes went down. No injuries or damage - just very muddy bikes and riders. There were a few more stretches of mud before Vang Vieng, but luckily on level road.
We stayed a dissapointing night in Vang Vieng. The GH and food were fine, but the town is just jammed with backpackers trying to find something to do.
Woke up to a dry day, and motored down to Vientiane.
After another rest day, we headed back to Thailand. It was a holiday weekend, so the bridge offices were a little busy.
I was leaving 7 days after arriving in Laos - but it was my 8th calendar day. I had overstayed my 7 day permission for the bike. They could not sign me out of the country until I went and paid 2 fines, totalling 200 baht. Biggest problem is finding the right office on the entrance side to pay the fine.
Peter had no trouble with his Carnet - except finding the only customs officer who knew what to do with the paperwork. Then across the bridge, and into Thailand. Five minutes of paperwork, and all legal.
More to follow.
BobS