Travelreport 25

Vientiane (Laos, 28-01-2002) till Lakxao (Laos, 10-02-2002)

As we left Thailand and arrived in Laos there was a little tiny problem. If you do not use your head, you must use your feet (or in this case your bike). Martin left our pictures on the counter at the Thai side of the border (so across the bridge). There was no doubt about, he had to drive back and so he did. While we were waiting at the border he was driving the guards on the Friendship bridge crazy for they did not know what was going on. They tried to stop him before the bridge but his bike was too fast.

Route through Laos; 28-01-2002 / 10-02-2002

They were yelling at him demanding him to return which he did but not after getting the pictures. The pictures were on the counter where he left them. He crossed the Friendship bridge again and now there were only smiling faces except from a guy who stopped him and demanded to stop right here. So he did, he left the bike on the middle of the road. We were already in line in front of the counter for a new visa upon arrival as we had no visa yet to enter Laos. At the border they give you a 2 weeks visa (for USD 30) and for us that was long enough as we only want to visit the south of Laos.
I have to admit that the Immigration officers have their own rules. For instance on second thought they didn't like Martins bike on the middle of the road so they demanded to move the bikes elsewhere. And this elsewhere was exactly the place where we weren't allowed to park our bikes the first time we entered Laos. No problem, so we moved them. Men are like children and they were all around the bikes. We were there with Mark riding on a Triumph Tiger and Erik on a BMW F650 GS and us on a BMW 1100 GS, so they had plenty to look at.
We arrived for the second time in Vientiane. The city is like a big village, with many French buildings and not so much to do. We needed to stay at least one day as we had to obtain a new visa for Vietnam. For the insiders already no new information as we were refused at the Vietnamese border at Lao Bao the first time. This time we wanted to take the right crossing and that was Cau Treo. The application meant: Bingo! USD 55 for getting into Vietnam. We saw at the embassy that from 10 until 14 February they were celebrating their Tet Holidays and this meant that they are celebrating the Chinese New Year but they assured us the entry during these days was no problem. We had to wait for three days and Vientiane was not a sparkling town, so we decided to go to Vang Vieng together. Erik was for the first time in Laos and for Mark it was his second time (although the first time on his bike). The first time we left Vientiane for Vang Vieng it was raining cats and dogs and this time the clouds were dark and the wind was blowing. There was no sun and we got freezing cold, so we zipped our raincoats in, but it kept dry this time.
Vang Vieng to us is a place I describe as 'Ha Di Hadie High'. Many tourists you see there are looking for the grail and they forget it's in their selves. If you have no piercing or sandals, get them and you be come one of them. Peace man! But no worries about us as first of all I'm scared for needles, and secondly we don't like doing what everyone else is doing as my meaning is: 'Live and let live'.
Vang Vieng has a beautiful scenery with rocks and mountains and if you love caves then it's paradise here. We wanted to float on the river in a tube but it was too cold for this. So we decided to drive around in the area. The day we drove into Vang Vieng I saw a nice road and I was curious were this road went to. As expected it was a village but after the first village the road did not end but went into a beautiful landscape, surrounded by rocky mountains and ... waterpools, river crossings. The first barrier they had to take was a small creek. There were men working on a new bridge and they told us we could through easily. For Martin and me, we knew we could do it and so it was peanuts for us. As I do hate wet feet, and particularly wet socks, I stayed on the back and I also knew I could trust the Captain and Martin went trough without problems. Next it was Eriks turn and it was his first time. He has proved to be our best model for pictures and so this time as well.

Erik crossing the creek

All went well until... he got through the water and slipped away in the mud on the other side. The results for Candid camera were great.

Erik slipped in the mud after the creek

For Mark it was his first time as well and seeing Erik made him very excited and nervous. He had to do it differently, he felt like a scary chicken. While he drove through the creek he screamed to Martin: "Get out of my way!". All what Martin did was just taking a picture. Once they got through they both had a great feeling and wanted to continue the track. The boys wanted some action shots so they gave me their cameras. I had to sit the other way around on the back and Martin did not telling me deliberately that we were entering a little hill to cross a bridge, but Mark saved me and told me about the horror that was coming on. But we crossed the bridge without problems but the shots turned out to be a little dusty. This dust was exactly Eriks problem as he is very clean and everything on him and the bike has to be bright and shiny, but driving at the back of the group didn't help him to stay clean as it was everywhere. So he overtook us all and raced ahead.
When we faced the next river crossing it remind me of a song from Joe Cocker called: "Many rivers to cross" and so we did. Number two was a crossing of a river. It was not deep or with a steep ramps but with a lot of loose stones. Erik had already passed this crossing and was waiting in an ambush to take good (= falling) shots from us. Martin is not getting hot or cold from a river crossing and I am not scared either to get wet, so we arrived dry.

Martin and Jeannette crossing

Mark did the same and it was a spectacular thing to see the Triumph Tiger through the water.

Mark gets the thrill as well

The guys all had wet feet for the water ran into their shoes. Mine were dry, so lucky me! The third crossing was not a real highlight, and we all came trough as well.
The road ended in a small village and we took some time to walk around and enjoyed the friendly people and we took lot of pictures before taking the same road back (with the same river crossings).

Mountain scenery in Laos

At a junction we decided to drive straight back to Vang Vieng. We knew that there was a wide river at Vang Vieng and only some small bridges to cross it.
Crossing this river was too deep so we had to go over the bridges. The first bridge was easy as I looked and told the guys they could easily cross it. But the second one was first inspected by Mark and Erik on foot and suddenly Martin drove up and told every one to get out his way. He was followed by the others as they had no options anymore. I was the one who had to pay the crossings and this was 5000 Kips (USD 0.50) each. I walked over the bridge still wearing my helmet and fortunately without a bike.
The next day the Mark and Erik went to the North of Laos and we drove back to Vientiane to pick up our visa.

Streetlive at Luang Prabang

We visit the sculpture garden with giants sculptures.

Buddha sculptures

Heading south we first drove to Thakek were we met (by coincidence) our Belgium friend Philip on a Transalp again. He was already 4.5 years on the road.

How Philip is packing his motorbike

We stayed over in Savannakhet before heading further South. We wanted to go Champasak as we had seen a very nice picture of this village in the Lonely Planet. We crossed the Mekong river on a small ferry. The hotel was really basic, the room was cheap and the flees were for free. We were sitting outside at the waterfront and the flees were jumping on our table for free. What I did not realised was that there were more animals for free as we only found out days later.
The Mekong river was amazing and the sunrise over the river was beautiful. We used to say: "An early bird catch a worm" and so we did. We visited Wat Phu and spent there some time. It was nice to see but that's all. We left Champasak and had to take the ferry back but now there was only a little boat. The guy said it was safe to board and Martin went on the boat. I was shaking my head and kept on praying. Not showing the others that I was a little worried. Very bravely I stepped on the boat and when we reached the other shore I took some good shots of my Captain with his bike.

Ferry across the Mekong river

I felt relieved when the bike was safe and sound on the other side of the river.
We drove then to the Bolivan plateau. The scenery was nice but better in the North of Laos. In the late afternoon we saw a sign to the Tatfek waterfalls. We have a few weaknesses and one of them are waterfalls. The road went over into a sandy road and I reached my limit as the bike was sliding and I was holding Martin very tight. He felt this and asked me if I wanted to take drive the bike and to be honest.... I wish I could! every time when we have to go through sand I am getting scared! Martin his driving was great but the first road was the wrong one so we had to return through the same sand. Martin did not wanted to gave up and his next choice was better. There was a beautiful shelter at the waterfalls with a beautiful view on the waterfalls and its rough sound. We looked to each other and knew we had found our place for the night.
The next morning we had the idea to have breakfast in Attapeu. It was only 60 km further down the road. I wish we never had this idea! The first 20 km was OK and a nice road. Then the roadworks started. To be able to work on the road they had made a temporary road along the main road. But its quality wasn't to good and very bumpy and... sandy again. Some stretches were very loose sand but we got through 18 kms. without any problem until we fell with the bike in the sand. Fortunately no damage or injuries but I had enough and wanted to turn around. But as this is impossible to do in the loose sand Martin drove further to a more solid part of the road. When he wanted to turn he saw suddenly, like a fata morgana, a brand-new asphalt road ahead of him so we continued to Attapeu on this road.

Happy children with new cloths

We first did some shopping at the market and then had some lunch (instead of breakfast) here before turning around. Our approach was different now. We now stayed on the 'main road' as long as possible, even when road signs directed otherwise, as it was more solid. The only disadvantage was that we had to go up and down steep ramps and one time our speed wasn't enough so Martin got stuck on the top of the ramp and I had to give the bike a push to get it free again.
We returned to the waterfall and the only thing we wanted to do was have a swim in the water and... Laundry is a thing that keeps coming back and Martin was already in the water when I arrived. We were having fun as he was trying to imitate a washing machine, when I suddenly saw a snake coming into my direction. I was standing half up into the water. Wish I could grab my camera as he was really beautiful. Looking at his colour I saw that it was a cobra and it was getting closer. My goodness, "Martin, Martin a snake!" I knew snakes could swim so I wasn't safe in the water. My only weapon was splashing the snake with cold water. The snake didn't like this and moved away. Another moment I will never forget! When we walked back up to the shelter we were making so much noise that the snake, if still around, must have thought there were two elephants coming up. But you get used to this and it's useful practise for all the camping we will do in Oz.
The next day we left the waterfall and over a dirt road although it was marked as a main road on the map, but very easy driving. The only thing was that every time we had to take a bend I could only thought oh shit, sand!, but we came through without falling. We heard about another waterfall with nice accommodation, but when we arrived there we saw another thing.... lots of tourists! For us that meant good food, French fries with mayonnaise, and then leave as soon as possible. Also the waterfall wasn't that nice compared to the Tatfek.
We drove to the district capitol and this turned out to be a sleepy town. Its main road towards the highway, Savannakhet - Pakxe, turned out to be a dirt road and so we had to drive 80 km over this road which was no problem except for that it was really dusty. Back on the main road we were looking for a guesthouse but we couldn't find anyone. So we had to drive all the way back to Savannakhet but it was already getting dark. The main problem were the road works ahead. We had to make a detour over dusty bumpy bypasses and because there was no wind the dust kept hanging over the road and we were getting tired. Once we had a big truck with bamboo sticks in front of us and when suddenly the sticks started to move because of the bumpy road Martin decided to get away from behind the truck as quickly as possible. So when there was a little possibility Martin overtook the truck. As we were still driving through sand we were slipping and sliding along the truck. I wasn't very happy with this action and told this to the Captain. He agreed this fully but staying behind the truck wasn't a good option either.
We managed to get back on the asphalt before it was completely dark and we drove to Savannakhet following a truck which didn't drive too fast. Fortunately we had the hotels GPS-coordinates so we drove straight to it. We drove that day 405 km, and mainly over dirt roads, no matter we were exhausted when we arrived.
The next day we started slowly and drove to Thakek. When we arrived it was already late and it was hard to find a place to sleep. We were on this moment like a married couple as Martin his microphone had just broken and that was his final drip for that day. So he exploded and got upset about everything. I was also tired and an other problem was that we almost ran out of money at that time and we couldn't find a place to change USD's. The tiger in me woke up and I told him I would find a place for the night myself and I would meet him the next morning, and so I asked him for some money. He woke up and started laughing as we had only money for one room left.
Finally we found a hotel, not very nice but the people were so friendly and Joyce, a 17 years old girl, stole my heart. She gave me her only golden ring. I gave her one of my rings. It reminds me forever on a very beautiful person with a generous heart. It's easier to give if you have much than when you have nothing.
We were on the road again the next day and now we wanted to camp in a shelter so we had to do some shopping for diner. Just before the crossing with the road to Lakxao we were looking for some food in a small village. We could get everything here... frogs, chicken and the most delighted thing here were the rats on the barbecue. I yelled at Martin when I saw this.

Fried rats on the menu

He was laughing as friends had already told him, and he thought it wouldn't be a good idea to tell me about it. The vendors had fun and Jeannette?... she was not hungry anymore. Martin had his noodlesoup and everywhere I was asking for fried rice the answer was: "No have!". When I saw a wok, rice, eggs and vegetables I showed them with body language what I wanted and they smiled and started to cook fried rice for us. After we paid (always important), we asked for water. It was ground water that was pumped up and when our camelbag was filled they wanted to charge us excessively for it. We smiled and waved them goodbye. If they wanted a milkcow they found the wrong people in us. We arrived at the shelter and there was still the problem of the lice from Champasak. Martin was pretty busy in screening my hair when two tourist went up and came into the shelter. Our motortrousers were hanging out and we apologised for not being properly dressed. They were only having a view at the scenic surrounding and left. Next couple that came up were two Americans on two 250 cc bikes. The guy was very rude in his behaviour. We didn't say much but we were real stars with body languages.
The next day we drove the last bit to Lakxao. Here we had to meet Erik and Mark again to enter Vietnam tomorrow together. When we had lunch Ennio, the Italian on a Transalp showed up. He had met Philip who told him about our planned border crossing. Philip had told us in Thakek that he wanted to go to Vietnam as well and probably would join us. So late in the afternoon Erik, Mark and Philip arrived in Lakxao and they had brought Simon, Ireland on also a Transalp, with them as he had similar plans. So tomorrow we would cross the border with 6 motorbikes together.
Needless to say we had a great evening, seeing together everyone and we had lots of stories to tell each other. But there were other important things as well. The hotel was great and we had our own bath. For the first times since... we couldn't remember we had a real hot bath and used it afterwards for sucking our cloth in it and you could made a strong soup out of it. The water was blacker than black.
After a last good sleep in Laos we left and drove to the border. We drove on front and the view in the mirror was great to see all bikers behind each other. On the way we stopped and made a some pictures of all of us.
'We' are: Mark Summer (USA, Triumph Tiger), Phillipe Janowski (Belgium, Transalp), Simon Kennedy (Ireland, Transalp), Ennio Cavallucci (Italy, Transalp), Erik Bauwens, our friend (Holland, F650GS) and the both of us.

Together up to Vietnam