Southern Laos & 10 days with the GF – “Madam Champa.”
10th -20th January 2016.
On an extended ride through Laos it was time to show the GF the delights of the deep south of Laos
So the solution is to fly the GF into Ubon, she catches a taxi to the border at Chong Mek & you pick her up on the Lao side of the border. Tour around the deep south, then run her back to Ubon to catch the plane home.
Kan Air has a daily flight Chiang Mai – Ubon first thing in the morning & a ticket is about 2600 baht one way. Flight time is approx. 2 hrs, then its 90 kms & an hour and a half to the border in a taxi. The taxi costs 1,000 baht.
Day 1 - the border
Pakxe to Vang Tao / Chong Mek & the border is 46 kms & about 30-45 mins fast travel time.
Pakxe - Vang Tao / Chong Mek. The good stuff
Some of the ongoing road improvements on the Pakxe - border road.
They've been at it for a few years now & the locals complain about the slow progress & the number of companies hired to finish the job that is never quite finished.
I arrive early in Vang Tao & have 40 minutes to kill before the GF arrives.
She eventually appears walking through the construction site & barrier with no bags & I wonder what the hell is going on.
The Chong Mek - Vang Tao walk in / out border crossing
Everything is ok honey she calls out. Pointing to a push cart 50 metres away carrying the luggage & her riding gear. Talk about a good “no questions asked smuggling service” if you ever wanted one.
The push cart- vehicle crossing
I ask about her passport & she says yes everything done already. I ask her again “passport stamped Thailand & Laos” and she says yes all done.
The bag is strapped on the bike, we kit up & are set to ride off. Then an official walks over & asks her if she has stamped her passport at the Lao immigration office. Well no, I did it back there at the border. Yes maybe, but that is only Thailand. Oh dear, now I know. Get down from the bike, riding kit off & on up to Lao immigration she goes.
Lao immigration Vang Tao
15 minutes later we are on the road, lung is damn hot & sweaty; but there's still a twinkle n his eye. It's definitely good to be back together again with the little lady.....this is gonna be another amusing fun trip.
More to come.
10th -20th January 2016.
On an extended ride through Laos it was time to show the GF the delights of the deep south of Laos
- Pakxe
- The Bolaven plateau – coffee & waterfalls
- Don Khong / the 4000 Mekong Islands / Khone Phapeng waterfall
- Champasak & Vat Phu world heritage site
So the solution is to fly the GF into Ubon, she catches a taxi to the border at Chong Mek & you pick her up on the Lao side of the border. Tour around the deep south, then run her back to Ubon to catch the plane home.
Kan Air has a daily flight Chiang Mai – Ubon first thing in the morning & a ticket is about 2600 baht one way. Flight time is approx. 2 hrs, then its 90 kms & an hour and a half to the border in a taxi. The taxi costs 1,000 baht.
Day 1 - the border
Pakxe to Vang Tao / Chong Mek & the border is 46 kms & about 30-45 mins fast travel time.
Pakxe - Vang Tao / Chong Mek. The good stuff
Some of the ongoing road improvements on the Pakxe - border road.
They've been at it for a few years now & the locals complain about the slow progress & the number of companies hired to finish the job that is never quite finished.
I arrive early in Vang Tao & have 40 minutes to kill before the GF arrives.
She eventually appears walking through the construction site & barrier with no bags & I wonder what the hell is going on.
The Chong Mek - Vang Tao walk in / out border crossing
Everything is ok honey she calls out. Pointing to a push cart 50 metres away carrying the luggage & her riding gear. Talk about a good “no questions asked smuggling service” if you ever wanted one.
The push cart- vehicle crossing
I ask about her passport & she says yes everything done already. I ask her again “passport stamped Thailand & Laos” and she says yes all done.
The bag is strapped on the bike, we kit up & are set to ride off. Then an official walks over & asks her if she has stamped her passport at the Lao immigration office. Well no, I did it back there at the border. Yes maybe, but that is only Thailand. Oh dear, now I know. Get down from the bike, riding kit off & on up to Lao immigration she goes.
Lao immigration Vang Tao
15 minutes later we are on the road, lung is damn hot & sweaty; but there's still a twinkle n his eye. It's definitely good to be back together again with the little lady.....this is gonna be another amusing fun trip.
More to come.
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