A traveller's reflection

Monday, 19 December 2016

2016 Q5 4NR Day 08 : Stung Treng - Pakse

“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict...” - William Ellery Channing

(A mini Niagara Falls of Khone Pha Pheng)

Day 08: Sunday, 04 Dec 2016

Route: Stung Treng - Pakse

Distance: 238 km

Hotel: San Aroun Hotel

We started riding out of Stung Treng towards the Laos/Cambodia border around 8:45 am. The road leading to the border is better than the last time we were here in Dec 2015, although some stretches are still unpaved and dusty but with less potholes. Before entering the border, we had hot coffee at the coffee shop and changed the balance of our Riel to Kip.

At the Cambodia Dom Kralor Immigration, we stamped our passports and paid USD2 each person. We submitted the conveyance form and paid USD10 for a Letter to authorise us to bring our motorbike out of Cambodia. At Laos Nong Nok Khien border, we stamped our passports and paid USD2 each. The Letter of Authority to bring our motorbike into Laos cost us USD5.

After border clearance, we rode to Khone Pha Pheng Waterfalls situated 13 km from the border. The entrance fee is Kip5000 per motorbike and Kip55000 per person, quite expensive for foreigners but the view of the falls worth every Kip. There are several more viewing platforms and buggies are used to transport visitors all the way to the highest point. As it was a Sunday there were many tourists visiting the waterfalls and offering prayers at the temple.

After a few photo shots and a cool glass of lemongrass tea, we rode direct to Pakse. We checked in Sang Aroun Hotel for USD25/night with complimentary breakfast. After our showers and prayers we walked to a nearby Daolin Restaurant to have tomyam kung and omelette with rice.

We rested in the hotel for the rest of the afternoon and later had a late dinner of garlic nan and chicken curry at Hasan Halal Indian restaurant, a short distance away from the hotel.

(Dusty unpaved road to the border)

(The new Cambodia Immigration Complex)

(The Laos Immigration Complex)

(The muddy water of Khone Pha Pheng waterfalls)

(A cool glass of lemongrass tea)

(A delicious tomyam kung for lunch)

2016 Q5 4NR Day 09 : Pakse - Thakhek👉

👈2016 Q5 4NR Day 07 : Phnom Penh - Stung

2016 Q5 4NR Day 09 : Pakse - Thakhek

“Nothing is more beautiful than the smile that has struggled through the tears…” - Demi Lovato

(A public transport between towns)

Day 09: Monday, 05 Dec 2016
Route: Pakse - Thakhek
Distance: 336 km
Hotel: Villa Thakhek

After refueling in Pakse we started riding towards Thakhek around 9:00 am. Although the road is good, we rode with great care as there were buffaloes, cows and dogs crossing the road unexpectedly.

We stopped at Paksong to refuel and rest. The owner of the petrol station was very friendly and helpful and tried very hard to assist with his little English. We arrived in Thakhek town around 2:30 pm and went to have a heavy lunch at Sabaidee Sunset Restaurant by the Mekong River before we checked in Thakhek Travel Lodge for Kip100000/night.

We were lucky to get a room as the resort was fully booked for tonight. As we did not make any reservations, we settled with a room without air-conditioning.

(The road was busy with animals crossing)

(Another mode of transportation)

(Sabaidee Sunset Restaurat in Thakhek)

(Having lunch by the Mekong River, Thakhek)

(Planning to explore Thakhek attractions)

2016 Q5 4NR Day 10 : Thakhek Caving Experience👉

👈2016 Q5 4NR Day 08 : Stung Treng - Pakse

2016 Q5 4NR Day 10 : Thakhek Caving Experience

“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong...” - Audrey Hepburn

(Exploring Tham Nang Ene Cave via underground river)

Day 10: Tuesday, 06 Dec 2016
Route: Thakhek Caving Experience
Hotel: Villa Thakhek

The Thakhek Loop is a must-do for those wanting to have a true motorbiking adventure. It is a 450 km of captivating scenery. It would take three days or more to complete the loop and visit the attractions along the way.

As we have only a day to spend in Thakhek, this morning, as arranged earlier, by 9:00 am the tuk-tuk was ready to take us for a day tour of four caves and a lake around Thakhek for Kip300000 equivalent to about USD30. The caves visited were Buddha Cave, Tham Nam Ene, Pha Thao Cave and Elephant Cave. At the Tham Nam Ene Cave, we rented a rowboat to bring us to the end of the cave. The underground river is 2 km long and very clear and clean. At the end of the cave we climbed up and down steep steps to reach the very end and the most beautiful chamber of the cave.

After visiting the four caves and sweating buckets, the tuk-tuk brought us back to Thakhek Villa where we collected our things from the store room and checked in the new Villa Thakhek.

We had tuna sandwich, mushroom soup and baguette for lunch at the cafe. After showers and prayers we took a nap for the rest of the afternoon.

Today the Truecolour Bikerz gang will be crossing the Thailand-Laos border at Chong Mek/Vang Tao and will be meeting us at Villa Thakhek. There will be three motorbikes, Mat Put, Mad Wan/Effa and Nizam/Faiza and a 4x4 vehicle driven by Pok Deng/Aizan and their three kids.

The gang arrived safely when it was already dark. After they freshened up, we had dinner at the café with the food that we brought from home. From here on, we will be riding/driving together doing the loop through Laos, Thailand back to Malaysia.

(Renting a tuk-tuk for the day tour)

(Limestone mountains and caves)

(A leisurely walk in the jungle)

(The narrow opening of a cave)

(The entrance of Tham Nam Ene cave)

(Two kilometers of underground river)

(A chamber of another cave with river flowing underneath)

(A calm lake for swimming and sun-bathing)

2016 Q5 4NR Day 11 : Thakhek - Vientiane👉

👈2016 Q5 4NR Day 09 : Pakse - Thakhek

2016 Q5 4NR Day 11 : Thakhek - Vientiane

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness...” - Susan Gale

(Patuxai Victory Gate of Vientiane)

Day 11: Wednesday, 07 Dec 2016
Route: Thakhek - Vientiane
Distance: 337 km
Hotel: Avalon Hotel

By 8.15 am, after a short briefing and reciting of prayers the four motorbikes and the 4x4 started our journey towards Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.

The road was good all the way to Vientiane. We made a few stops for refueling and at Pak Kading Bridge we had some photo shots and a short rest. We arrived in Vientiane around 2:30 pm and checked in Avalon Hotel for USD30/night. Later, we walked to Nazim Indian Halal Restaurant for a late lunch.

After a short rest in the hotel, we strolled along the Mekong River to the Chao Anouvong Statue of the last King of Laos. Later we visited the night market, bought some t-shirts and had banana pancakes for dinner.

Back in the hotel we had to park the motorbikes in the lobby as it was not safe to leave the bikes on the streets at night.

(Getting ready to ride together)

(A brief stop at Pak Kading Bridge)

(Time to rest and photo shoot)

(Passing small towns on the way to the capital city)

(Refueling and toilet stop)

(Some distance of unpaved dusty road)

(The Victory Arch in the center of Vientiane)

2016 Q5 4NR Day 12 : Vientiane - Vang Vieng👉

👈2016 Q5 4NR Day 10 : Thakhek Caving Experience

2016 Q5 4NR Day 12 : Vientiane - Vang Vieng

“Be very strong and be very methodical in your life if you want to be a champion…” - Alberto Juantorena

(The river under the Hin Hup Bridge)

Day 12: Thursday, 08 Dec 2016
Route: Vientiane - Vang Vieng
Distance: 158 km
Hotel: Phatty Villa

This morning we planned to visit the Malaysian Embassy before we rode out of Vientiane. As we were not sure of the current location we had to ask the locals for direction and finally managed to locate the Malaysian Embassy at Asem Villa. We met with the embassy staff and was briefed on the safety and road conditions in Laos.

After the embassy visit we made a stop for photo shots at the statue of the last king of Laos. We rode on AH 12 direct to Vang Vieng with a few stops for refueling and a stop at the Hin Hup Laos-Japan Bridge for photo shots. We rested while watching people picnicking by the riverside.

We arrived in Vang Vieng early afternoon and checked in Phatty Villa for USD18/night. After a short rest we rode to Nazim restaurant for a delicious Fried Rice and seafood Tomyam lunch.

After lunch, some opted to go boating upstream the Nam Song River while the rest crossed the wooden suspension bridge to the other side of the river for Kip10000 and watched the paragliding and hot air balloon activities against the beautiful sunset from the stilt stalls by the river.

(Visiting the Malaysian Embassy at Asem Villa)

(A group photo with the Embassy staff)

(The statue of the last king of Laos)

(Taking a rest by the river under the Hin-Hup Bridge)

(Winding road with sweeping curves)

(Phatty Villa, Vang Vieng)

(The town is full of back-packers)

(Crossing the suspension bridge)

(Stalls on stilts by the Nam Song River)

(A light jovial moment with the gang)

2016 Q5 4NR Day 13 : Vang Vieng - Luang Prabhang👉

👈2016 Q5 4NR Day 11 : Thakhek - Vientiane

2016 Q5 4NR Day 13 : Vang Vieng - Luang Prabhang

“Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths…” - Drew Barrymore

(On top of Kasi Plateau)

Day 13: Friday, 09 Dec 2016
Route: Vang Vieng - Luang Prabhang
Distance: 184 km
Hotel: Sabaidee Guesthouse

This morning we rode on a winding road on highway 4 towards Kasi Plateau and enjoyed the spectacular surrounding scenery. The road is mostly in a very good condition except for a few stretches where there were massive landslides eroding the steep slopes and still under major repair.

We stopped at Pak Mong Junction for a short coffee break then rode direct to Luang Prabhang. We arrived at Luang Prabhang around 2:00 pm and made a detour to the breath-taking Kuang Si Waterfalls and spent some time there.

At 5:15 pm we checked in Sabaidee Guesthouse for USD30/night. We had dinner at Wat That Halal Restaurant and later visited the night market. We had an hour of strong foot massage at the Sabai-sabai Spa before we retired for the night.