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D Eric | profile | all galleries >> Eric's Trip to South East Asia -2008 >> Riding in Northern Laos tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Riding in Northern Laos

After spending the New Year in Thailand, I went back to Laos to ride between the capital, Vientiane and the old capital, Luang Prabang. The ride took about 10 days, and was through some of the most amazing and beautiful country I've ridden through. I also teamed up with Femke, a New Zealander, to ride most of the way, and we also rode for a day with a fellow who rode all the way from Spain!
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Crossing back into Laos on the Friendship Bridge
Crossing back into Laos on the Friendship Bridge		 No signs to Vientiane, the capitol- I guess I'll ride this direction!
No signs to Vientiane, the capitol- I guess I'll ride this direction!		 I visited a non-profit that is clearing the tons of unexploded bombs. I apologized on behalf of the US & gave a big donation.
I visited a non-profit that is clearing the tons of unexploded bombs. I apologized on behalf of the US & gave a big donation.
Russian (?) motorcycle with Che Guevara- a quite popular image in this communist country
Russian (?) motorcycle with Che Guevara- a quite popular image in this communist country		 The Lao equivalent of the Arc d' Triumph. It was made of concrete to be used for a US military runway.
The Lao equivalent of the Arc d' Triumph. It was made of concrete to be used for a US military runway.		 Me in front of the fountain in front of the monument. It had pretty lights once it got dark.
Me in front of the fountain in front of the monument. It had pretty lights once it got dark.
I took a side trip to a local protected area and did some hiking. Water buffalo love water.
I took a side trip to a local protected area and did some hiking. Water buffalo love water.		 Heading into the jungle
Heading into the jungle		 Lunch at the waterfall- beautiful! There were butterflies everywhere!
Lunch at the waterfall- beautiful! There were butterflies everywhere!
It finally happened- my first experience barf-a-thon. It wasn't so bad, but it took out for a couple of days
It finally happened- my first experience barf-a-thon. It wasn't so bad, but it took out for a couple of days		 Back on the road again- a pretty hard 90km ride
Back on the road again- a pretty hard 90km ride		 Me, feeling better
Me, feeling better
Cultivating rice the hard way- by hand, like it's been done here for generations
Cultivating rice the hard way- by hand, like it's been done here for generations		 Typical lunch stop/truck stop. Yum- noodle soup with mystery meat!
Typical lunch stop/truck stop. Yum- noodle soup with mystery meat!		 Typical traffic- and a new riding partner!
Typical traffic- and a new riding partner!
I met Femke at a store along the side of the road- a Kiwi riding on her own & just starting her trip
I met Femke at a store along the side of the road- a Kiwi riding on her own & just starting her trip		 We teamed up and rode for the next 10 days or so
We teamed up and rode for the next 10 days or so		 Here we are coming into Vang Vieng- party central of SE Asia
Here we are coming into Vang Vieng- party central of SE Asia
Vang Vieng is set in a stunning landscape of limestone hills, next to the Nam Song River
Vang Vieng is set in a stunning landscape of limestone hills, next to the Nam Song River		 THE thing to do- floating down the river on an inner tub, drinking, and jumping from rope swings
THE thing to do- floating down the river on an inner tub, drinking, and jumping from rope swings		 Here we are starting out at 11am- joined by a group of other travellers
Here we are starting out at 11am- joined by a group of other travellers
Little kids would swim out, and drag tubers into the bars where they would feed us shots of local whiskey
Little kids would swim out, and drag tubers into the bars where they would feed us shots of local whiskey		 Cute, but shouldn't you be in school?
Cute, but shouldn't you be in school?		 Femke and her friend Kyle, no, Karl and a local passenger
Femke and her friend Kyle, no, Karl and a local passenger
A daring swinger high in the sky!
A daring swinger high in the sky!		 Hanging out and drinking below the swing towers
Hanging out and drinking below the swing towers		 Ditto
Ditto
Ditto, but with local kids watching in horror/amazement/boredom
Ditto, but with local kids watching in horror/amazement/boredom		 Stacks of tubes at the bar
Stacks of tubes at the bar		 Floating down the river
Floating down the river
Kids with falang (foreigner)- in this case, Hannah from the UK
Kids with falang (foreigner)- in this case, Hannah from the UK		 Our river gang- a mix of people from around the world, along with an interesting mix of drinks!
Our river gang- a mix of people from around the world, along with an interesting mix of drinks!		 Touchdown!
Touchdown!
Hitting the river again- we'd been on the river for about 3 hours, and had only gone a few hundred yards!
Hitting the river again- we'd been on the river for about 3 hours, and had only gone a few hundred yards!		 Beach volleyball game at the next bar
Beach volleyball game at the next bar		 Lawn bowling at the next bar- quite popular in Lao, likely due to the French influence
Lawn bowling at the next bar- quite popular in Lao, likely due to the French influence
The drinks have been flowing, and the sun was starting to set
The drinks have been flowing, and the sun was starting to set		 We made it back to town long after dark- we had to swim the final bit. The trip should only take 2 hours to float it directly!
We made it back to town long after dark- we had to swim the final bit. The trip should only take 2 hours to float it directly!		 Next day we were off on a motorcyle/caving adventure! Actually, it may have been the day after the next day...
Next day we were off on a motorcyle/caving adventure! Actually, it may have been the day after the next day...
Here we rented tubes, and pulled ourselves 100's of yards into a cave along a rope- very cool & scary!
Here we rented tubes, and pulled ourselves 100's of yards into a cave along a rope- very cool & scary!		 Wandering around the rice paddies to another cave- this place is riddled with them.
Wandering around the rice paddies to another cave- this place is riddled with them.		 Typical accomodations, with bike
Typical accomodations, with bike
Typical bathroom- this guesthouse cost me about $12, but had hot water and AC!
Typical bathroom- this guesthouse cost me about $12, but had hot water and AC!		 The famous part of town with the many bars that play 'Friends' reruns non-stop
The famous part of town with the many bars that play 'Friends' reruns non-stop		 Main street, Vang Vieng
Main street, Vang Vieng
'Friends' on the television- always!
'Friends' on the television- always!		 We start our ride towards Luang Prabang, with steep hills, remote villages, and possible guerillas lurking in the bush...
We start our ride towards Luang Prabang, with steep hills, remote villages, and possible guerillas lurking in the bush...		 The local school kids show us how to ride and keep out of the hot sun
The local school kids show us how to ride and keep out of the hot sun
Riding through the beautiful countryside- rice fields and limestone peaks
Riding through the beautiful countryside- rice fields and limestone peaks		 Keep in mind, that this is the main highway connecting the two major cities in northern Laos
Keep in mind, that this is the main highway connecting the two major cities in northern Laos		 Femke stopped at a school to drop off some supplies. She had to wake the teachers up to give it to them!
Femke stopped at a school to drop off some supplies. She had to wake the teachers up to give it to them!
The kids were a hoot- and I didn't see anybody minding them as the teachers were asleep...
The kids were a hoot- and I didn't see anybody minding them as the teachers were asleep...		 Femke greets the enthusiastic kids- we were the most exciting thing to happen by in ages!
Femke greets the enthusiastic kids- we were the most exciting thing to happen by in ages!		 It was hard to go...
It was hard to go...
The climbing begins...
The climbing begins...		 Our first stop- a nice guesthouse in a rather strange little village- the first place where the people weren't very friendly
Our first stop- a nice guesthouse in a rather strange little village- the first place where the people weren't very friendly		 Back on the road again- typical traffic conditions. A truck would come by every 5 or 10 minutes
Back on the road again- typical traffic conditions. A truck would come by every 5 or 10 minutes
Typical scene passing through villages- lots of high-fives were handed out amidst calls of Sabaidee! (Hello!)
Typical scene passing through villages- lots of high-fives were handed out amidst calls of Sabaidee! (Hello!)		 The valley drops away below us...
The valley drops away below us...		 Farmers working the fields by hand- all of the farming is essentially slash and burn, and worked by hand
Farmers working the fields by hand- all of the farming is essentially slash and burn, and worked by hand
Another village with excited kids
Another village with excited kids		 Everyone gets a go!
Everyone gets a go!		 Femke is a sucker for the cute ones, which is pretty much all of them!
Femke is a sucker for the cute ones, which is pretty much all of them!
Riding through a rural village- in this area, thatch huts were the norm.
Riding through a rural village- in this area, thatch huts were the norm.		 More high fives!
More high fives!		 The villages in this area were often perched on the ridgetops- most were moved from afield to the road when it was built
The villages in this area were often perched on the ridgetops- most were moved from afield to the road when it was built
The advantage of having a riding partner- occassional pictures of me in an amazing landscape
The advantage of having a riding partner- occassional pictures of me in an amazing landscape		 The future is coming- truckloads of scooters and motorcycles. Laos is not over-run like Thailand, yet...
The future is coming- truckloads of scooters and motorcycles. Laos is not over-run like Thailand, yet...		 Snack stop
Snack stop
Stopping to cool off on a very hot day
Stopping to cool off on a very hot day		 A beautiful, clean, cool, waterfall to stand under- heaven!
A beautiful, clean, cool, waterfall to stand under- heaven!		 Beautiful landscape, with burned fields in the foreground. There are no roads out there- just footpaths.
Beautiful landscape, with burned fields in the foreground. There are no roads out there- just footpaths.
Every turn was beautiful
Every turn was beautiful		 The road winds along the ridgetop to the next village
The road winds along the ridgetop to the next village		 Packing up at the next guesthouse- not the nicest one around...
Packing up at the next guesthouse- not the nicest one around...
The road winding along the mountainside
The road winding along the mountainside		 The spaniard- who rode all the way from Spain, the hard way!
The spaniard- who rode all the way from Spain, the hard way!		 The man was hardcore- he rode & sweat like no one I've ever seen- he drank straight from the creeks and slept in the villages
The man was hardcore- he rode & sweat like no one I've ever seen- he drank straight from the creeks and slept in the villages
Thatch roofs and satellite dishes- the world really is a village
Thatch roofs and satellite dishes- the world really is a village		 Burned hillsides
Burned hillsides		 The Spaniard and the Road we Rode
The Spaniard and the Road we Rode
Riding though another village- Femke ahead of the Spaniard (Javi, for the record)
Riding though another village- Femke ahead of the Spaniard (Javi, for the record)		 Did I mention that this is the main highway?
Did I mention that this is the main highway?		 More amazing scenery
More amazing scenery
The kids aren't sure what to make of this guy...
The kids aren't sure what to make of this guy...		 At the next guesthouse- we stopped just before the rains started- good thing!
At the next guesthouse- we stopped just before the rains started- good thing!		 Another small kid with a big knife. Kids grow up fast in this part of the world, but are still kids at heart. It's cool!
Another small kid with a big knife. Kids grow up fast in this part of the world, but are still kids at heart. It's cool!
Handing out stickers...
Handing out stickers...		 Typical kitchen- the cookers are fired by wood or charcoal
Typical kitchen- the cookers are fired by wood or charcoal		 Our room next to the kitchen- it was a bit smokey from the fires
Our room next to the kitchen- it was a bit smokey from the fires
Local transport
Local transport		 Another stop to cool off during a big climb
Another stop to cool off during a big climb		 High above the valley floors
High above the valley floors
Twisty mountain roads, no traffic, scenic villages, nice weather, good company, what could be better?
Twisty mountain roads, no traffic, scenic villages, nice weather, good company, what could be better?		 Stopping to enjoy the scenery
Stopping to enjoy the scenery		 Happy bikers
Happy bikers
The road. ahead
The road. ahead		 Coming back to civilization after four days of hard riding
Coming back to civilization after four days of hard riding		 A fit reward- a swimming pool at the top of a hard, hot climb
A fit reward- a swimming pool at the top of a hard, hot climb
Ahhh, Luang Prabang- my favorite city in SE Asia, I enjoyed noodle soup & a fruit shake along the ubiquitous Mekong River
Ahhh, Luang Prabang- my favorite city in SE Asia, I enjoyed noodle soup & a fruit shake along the ubiquitous Mekong River		 Speaking of ubiquitous- Beerlao, the national beer of Laos is everywhere, and is quite tasty. This big bottle costs about $1.25
Speaking of ubiquitous- Beerlao, the national beer of Laos is everywhere, and is quite tasty. This big bottle costs about $1.25		 Monks enter the modern world- surfing the web
Monks enter the modern world- surfing the web
Local transport
Local transport		 Luang Prabang, a world heritage site, is nestled in the hills next to the Mekong
Luang Prabang, a world heritage site, is nestled in the hills next to the Mekong		 Buddha at the temple
Buddha at the temple
Wandering through the local market
Wandering through the local market		 Sampling the street food- yum!
Sampling the street food- yum!		 Mmmmm- meat on a stick
Mmmmm- meat on a stick
Lots of meat on a stick
Lots of meat on a stick		 Monks on parade- their morning rounds
Monks on parade- their morning rounds		 The monks make their rounds collecting food in the morning
The monks make their rounds collecting food in the morning
Luang Prabang is set at the confluence of two rivers- a beautiful location
Luang Prabang is set at the confluence of two rivers- a beautiful location		 Contemplating the Mekong
Contemplating the Mekong		 A lovely mix of french and Lao architecture throughout the city
A lovely mix of french and Lao architecture throughout the city
Two woman in an alley
Two woman in an alley		 Robes drying in the temple
Robes drying in the temple		 Typical transport around town
Typical transport around town
Me and my locally made rice wine... to bad I forgot and left it on the boat later!
Me and my locally made rice wine... to bad I forgot and left it on the boat later!		 Femke buys a scarf from a local weaver
Femke buys a scarf from a local weaver		 Distilling whiskey
Distilling whiskey
Femke sporting her new scarf
Femke sporting her new scarf		 We took a boat trip up the Mekong to visit a cave with lots of Buddha statues
We took a boat trip up the Mekong to visit a cave with lots of Buddha statues		 There's the cave- on the left
There's the cave- on the left
Buddhas in the cave...
Buddhas in the cave...		 The guesthouse in Luang Prabang
The guesthouse in Luang Prabang		 The guesthouse...
The guesthouse...
My new ride... much nicer than my old ride!
My new ride... much nicer than my old ride!		 Lot Thiip! Falang! Lot Thiip means 'bicycle' in Laotian- Femke labelled her bike
Lot Thiip! Falang! Lot Thiip means 'bicycle' in Laotian- Femke labelled her bike		 A sad day- getting on the bus at the end of my bike trip...
A sad day- getting on the bus at the end of my bike trip...
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