Saying final "Sabadii" to Lao
New photos:
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lloronapr/my_photos
Quite a few things happened along the way during the last week or so in Lao.
Starting off from Luang Prabang I had a nice day of rolling hills along a river. A very relaxing day where you are glad to be alive. No traffic and just small villages along the way. Met some cyclists in town (crossroad) and we shared a guesthouse with a number of rodents running around. Actually the last week was all about nice and rats in the guesthouses. I hate the damn things and they are so casual going about their business when you put a light on them!
Next day I was anticipating a 28km / about 900m climb and then I was assured that it would all "downhill".
Well you guessed it, it was mostly uphill, well the day as well as the road.
What turned out to be one of the toughest days due to mechanical problems which a guy from Canada fixed on my bike. If I ever go back to Luang Prabang, Derek, you better run and hide because this time I'm coming to Lao with a battalion of baseball bats. My wheel almost come of on a descent and when I checked the quick release, it was very loose. Next I noticed that the hub axle was not tightened properly and the bearings almost fell out. I did an emergency overhaul with bike lube and got on my way. As well gear and brake adjustments that he did were essentially a rubbish job. All the kids don't read the next line, but in Bangkok you can buy a nice t-shirt with "F*CK YOU, YOU F*CKING F*UCK". I will get one and dedicate to Derek from White Elephant Adventures in Luang Prabang.
The following day was the complete opposite. The scenery was splendid with rolling hills, mountain ranges on both sides of valley and a small section in a jungle. The last two days in Lao was something to remember.
Personal journal entry:
Captain's Log. Stardate 2545. Ok. just kidding.
"Cruising through quiet villages with locals going about their daily lives. Drying corn, washing children and clothes, attending livestock and kids going to riding their their bikes from school. All seems so simple and pristine. I really love the serenity and calmness of the Laotian people. They seems to be happy in their essence of life. Sitting down by Nam Bon (river) just off the side of Highway 2 is quite pleasant. A kid about 14 is running in his underwear, snorkeling mask and a homemade harpoon fishing small catfish and silverfish to enjoy with his friends over a bon fire. I know it is not that remote, but it does give a sense of traditional life. Life does make progress here due mostly to tourism and foreign exploration / exploitation (gold and copper, I met two Aussies looking for gold in the mountains, as well locals by the Mekong are sifting the riverside looking for gold). But the hunter and gatherer aspect of life still remains. ... It was quite interesting and somewhat awkward when I stopped to drink local rice wine / alcohol at a small village on the way. Most of the people in the village gathered around to see a crazy "Falang" on a bicycle stop to get drunk with the locals. It is essentially a big pot filled with fermented rice being consumed via a bamboo stick hollow inside. It did not catch up to me that this stuff was strong until I got on the bike. Good thing it was an easy day. (check of the photo)"
After the cycling was over I had to jump on the boat to take to the border up the stream to Thailand. Well, this was the only form of transportation I have undertaken in Lao, it turned out to be a very sad day. A Laotian man around 20 was on the boat with us. He looked a little sick at first with red dots on his legs and belly. I was sitting sideways on a bench in the back of the boat just ahead of this guy when suddenly a Lao man in front me yelled out something. As I turned around I saw the young fellow look back at me for split second and then he jumped into the river. It is essentially a death sentence when you jump into the middle of the Mekong. I saw him trying to swim to shore but the current was too strong. He resurfaced twice and then the third time the river pulled him under. His uncle/caretaker panicked and stripped to jump after him, but he knew his fate if he did it. A brave young man grabbed an empty gasoline container and jump after him, but it was too late. In the aftermath it turned out that the man had a mentally illness and while his uncle went to the back of the boat to have a drink with the locals he decided to escape. I'm not sure if he was aware of the consequences, for a while it look as if he was trying to swim but the river caught up with him.
Lao was great and I will definitely try to come back in the future. Sorry there's too much to write about...
Ok, I've spend about 3 hours on the computer today and I'm tired of it.
Lao Leg 2 and total:
Vientiane - Hin Huep - 100km
Hin Huep - Vang Vieng - 65km
Vang Vieng - Kasi - 59km
Kasi - Kiukachan - 93km
Kiukachan - Luang Prabang - 83km
Luang Prabang - Patmong - 113km
Patmong - Udomxai - 81km
Udomxai - Muang Houn - 94km
Muang Houn - Pakbeng - 52km
Total Leg 2: 740km
Daily Average: 82km
Best day(s): Gruelling 93km day with most of it climbing from Kasi to Kirukachan
Last two days of cycling in Lao in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges and a strech via a jungle.
Almost everyday of cycling in the north.
Worst day: Patmong to Odomxai. A "bike mechanic" from London, Ontario was working on my bike in Luang Prabang causing the front wheel to almost fall of on a descent. The day was tough enough with two mountain passes one of 28km. My body was not responding to the climbs that day and the bike as well.
Saddest Day: A Laotian guy drowing in the Mekong.
Rain Days: about 10 minutes on one day
Punctures: 0 (yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Dog bites: 0
Number of navigational screw ups: impossible to do in Lao!
Number of 'Sabadii': too many to count
Cycling satisfaction: Leg 1: 8 out of 10. Leg 2: 10 out of 10!
Total km in Lao: 1638km
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lloronapr/my_photos
Quite a few things happened along the way during the last week or so in Lao.
Starting off from Luang Prabang I had a nice day of rolling hills along a river. A very relaxing day where you are glad to be alive. No traffic and just small villages along the way. Met some cyclists in town (crossroad) and we shared a guesthouse with a number of rodents running around. Actually the last week was all about nice and rats in the guesthouses. I hate the damn things and they are so casual going about their business when you put a light on them!
Next day I was anticipating a 28km / about 900m climb and then I was assured that it would all "downhill".
Well you guessed it, it was mostly uphill, well the day as well as the road.
What turned out to be one of the toughest days due to mechanical problems which a guy from Canada fixed on my bike. If I ever go back to Luang Prabang, Derek, you better run and hide because this time I'm coming to Lao with a battalion of baseball bats. My wheel almost come of on a descent and when I checked the quick release, it was very loose. Next I noticed that the hub axle was not tightened properly and the bearings almost fell out. I did an emergency overhaul with bike lube and got on my way. As well gear and brake adjustments that he did were essentially a rubbish job. All the kids don't read the next line, but in Bangkok you can buy a nice t-shirt with "F*CK YOU, YOU F*CKING F*UCK". I will get one and dedicate to Derek from White Elephant Adventures in Luang Prabang.
The following day was the complete opposite. The scenery was splendid with rolling hills, mountain ranges on both sides of valley and a small section in a jungle. The last two days in Lao was something to remember.
Personal journal entry:
Captain's Log. Stardate 2545. Ok. just kidding.
"Cruising through quiet villages with locals going about their daily lives. Drying corn, washing children and clothes, attending livestock and kids going to riding their their bikes from school. All seems so simple and pristine. I really love the serenity and calmness of the Laotian people. They seems to be happy in their essence of life. Sitting down by Nam Bon (river) just off the side of Highway 2 is quite pleasant. A kid about 14 is running in his underwear, snorkeling mask and a homemade harpoon fishing small catfish and silverfish to enjoy with his friends over a bon fire. I know it is not that remote, but it does give a sense of traditional life. Life does make progress here due mostly to tourism and foreign exploration / exploitation (gold and copper, I met two Aussies looking for gold in the mountains, as well locals by the Mekong are sifting the riverside looking for gold). But the hunter and gatherer aspect of life still remains. ... It was quite interesting and somewhat awkward when I stopped to drink local rice wine / alcohol at a small village on the way. Most of the people in the village gathered around to see a crazy "Falang" on a bicycle stop to get drunk with the locals. It is essentially a big pot filled with fermented rice being consumed via a bamboo stick hollow inside. It did not catch up to me that this stuff was strong until I got on the bike. Good thing it was an easy day. (check of the photo)"
After the cycling was over I had to jump on the boat to take to the border up the stream to Thailand. Well, this was the only form of transportation I have undertaken in Lao, it turned out to be a very sad day. A Laotian man around 20 was on the boat with us. He looked a little sick at first with red dots on his legs and belly. I was sitting sideways on a bench in the back of the boat just ahead of this guy when suddenly a Lao man in front me yelled out something. As I turned around I saw the young fellow look back at me for split second and then he jumped into the river. It is essentially a death sentence when you jump into the middle of the Mekong. I saw him trying to swim to shore but the current was too strong. He resurfaced twice and then the third time the river pulled him under. His uncle/caretaker panicked and stripped to jump after him, but he knew his fate if he did it. A brave young man grabbed an empty gasoline container and jump after him, but it was too late. In the aftermath it turned out that the man had a mentally illness and while his uncle went to the back of the boat to have a drink with the locals he decided to escape. I'm not sure if he was aware of the consequences, for a while it look as if he was trying to swim but the river caught up with him.
Lao was great and I will definitely try to come back in the future. Sorry there's too much to write about...
Ok, I've spend about 3 hours on the computer today and I'm tired of it.
Lao Leg 2 and total:
Vientiane - Hin Huep - 100km
Hin Huep - Vang Vieng - 65km
Vang Vieng - Kasi - 59km
Kasi - Kiukachan - 93km
Kiukachan - Luang Prabang - 83km
Luang Prabang - Patmong - 113km
Patmong - Udomxai - 81km
Udomxai - Muang Houn - 94km
Muang Houn - Pakbeng - 52km
Total Leg 2: 740km
Daily Average: 82km
Best day(s): Gruelling 93km day with most of it climbing from Kasi to Kirukachan
Last two days of cycling in Lao in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges and a strech via a jungle.
Almost everyday of cycling in the north.
Worst day: Patmong to Odomxai. A "bike mechanic" from London, Ontario was working on my bike in Luang Prabang causing the front wheel to almost fall of on a descent. The day was tough enough with two mountain passes one of 28km. My body was not responding to the climbs that day and the bike as well.
Saddest Day: A Laotian guy drowing in the Mekong.
Rain Days: about 10 minutes on one day
Punctures: 0 (yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Dog bites: 0
Number of navigational screw ups: impossible to do in Lao!
Number of 'Sabadii': too many to count
Cycling satisfaction: Leg 1: 8 out of 10. Leg 2: 10 out of 10!
Total km in Lao: 1638km
posted by Rob at 3:14 AM
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