Had a great Christmas Day. I spent it at The Hub Pub, the Pub is owned and run by a guy from Liverpool called Alan and his wife May, as well as the pub they also have a hostel next door to the pub. It was a day when total strangers, including some locals just had a good time eating and drinking
I was made to feel welcome, the hospitality of Alan and May was great
If you are in the area I would recommend popping in for food, drink, or a good old cheap bed for the night

IMG_0976 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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Alan

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May

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Coords

Wayne

__________________
The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

Woke up to this, this morning, a good view before a good days ride.

IMG_0990 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

What a ride I had today through some great countryside and mountain climbs with lots of bends.

Day 14 Chiang Khong to Thung Chang via Thoeng by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 14 Chiang Khong to Thung Chang via Thoeng 1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I set off from Chiang Khong at around 0815hrs as I knew it was going to be a long day to get to my destination Chiang Klang, but I ended up in a place called Thung Chang
From Chaing Khong is took the 1020 then I went on to the 1155 which was a really good road through the mountains with some terrific views.

IMG_0991 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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I went into Thoeng to visit a guy from the Netherlands who lives in the area, I have been in touch with him from the Rideasia site, I had some very nice coffee and some Christmas bread and his hospitality was great, Thank you Brake034.
Once I has left his house I used the 1021 and then the 1148, again through the mountains, towards Chiang Klang,

IMG_1003 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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I did my usual ride through the little town to see what was happening , not a lot, as I could not find any place to sleep in Chiang Klang or and good eateries I decided to push on a bit further and I needed fuel and I got a petrol station from the Satnav which was a bout 2 k’s away. After that was a place called Thung Chang which after sitting and having a Mocha Frappe and asking for hotels I managed to get the place where i am now, The Nice Bungalows in Thung Chang....coords N19.41831 E100.87993, not a bad room, got a bed and shower room with the all important Wifi.

IMG_1025 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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Tomorrow is the short journey to the border and on into Laos, fingers crossed. Going to get there nice and early as I don’t know how long it will take to cross.

Wayne

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https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

Wayne,

I'm interested in what protective gear you are using on the trip and how comfortable you are finding it. From one of your recent photos, it looks like you have full body armour in addition to motocross boots and helmet.

I plan to be out there this time next year and am starting to think about what riding gear I should take with me.

Thanks,

Craig

__________________
2014 overland adventure to Russia and Central Asia in Land Rover Defender www.bermudarover.com

Hi Craig



Yes mate I am wearing full motocross gear, I brought it across with me. Light weight motocross trousers and top, body armour is one of those mesh ones with the arm, breast and back protectors built in, I have also got some knee armour and of course motocross boots. The boots are great for riding but not very good for walking about in. Brought this rather than my RST touring stuff as it allows the air to blow through. I have been cold on a morning up north but nothing too bad, you have to take the rough with the smooth temperature wise.

If there's owt else let me know



Wayne

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Up and out early this morning so I could get to the border sooner rather than later the ride from Thung Chang to to the Thailand/Laos border crossing certainly woke me up, it was really cold and covered in mist in the hills, route 101 which took me straight in to the crossing was a nice road with lots of ups and downs with the usual bends and twists.

Day 15 Thung Chang to Sayaboury, Laos by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 15 Thung Chang to Sayaboury, Laos1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Once I got to the border it was already very busy, there was a market there also and a lots of people buying and selling goods.

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The Customs Building Thailand

I went straight to the departures window at the passport control and gave then my passport, arrivals card and the copies of the paperwork given to me by the rental people. In return he gave me some paperwork to fill out which was something to do with me being allowed back in with me taking one of there bikes out of the country. One of the guys behind the desk was f\very helpful and came outside to fill it in for me (sorted). Once that was done they stamped me out of the country and then sent me to customs with the other half of the paperwork I had with me. Again they were very helpful in the office and there was no messing about. I was given my customs paperwork, he pointed out that I have to be back in Thailand no later than the 25 Jan 15 or face a fine, and then told have a good trip.
So armed with my passport, Information of Conveyance letter from Immigration and my Customs form I went down the hill to leave Thailand.
No problems, I was waved through once they had seen all my paperwork.
Got to the Laos Border, the guy there looked at all my paperwork and pointed out that they had put the 26 Dec on the Information of Conveyance letter and the correct date in my passport, the 27th
So I was sent back to the Thai border to get it sorted.
Back at the Laos Border post, I was this time let through.
Went to the arrivals office where I had to get a visa on arrival, so after filling in an arrivals card and paying $35 I was given my Laos Visa for 30 days. Next up was customs, Gave them my passport and the Customs paperwork and Information of Conveyance letter from Thailand and in a few minutes I was given a green TIPV and parted with 200 Bht.

IMG_1032 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Laos Customs in the wooden hut

IMG_1033 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
The Visa Office, Laos

That was it all done, off I went to the last Laos Border control point where they checked my paperwork and I was them allowed through. I left a parting gesture of a unopened packet of Oreo biscuits which he was quite happy with

they drive on the other side of the road to Thailand.

IMG_1035 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
The first photo inside Laos

First stop was to find somewhere for breakfast and sort out where I was going to end up this evening. Found a nice little place on the right just down the road, had some good food and sorted myself out for the ride to Sayaboury along the 4A

IMG_1036 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1037 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Breakfast

The 4A was quite a good ride, it stared off quite a big, wide road then as it progressed just after the big Power Station it went on to a narrow road all the way to Sayaboury. It was very enjoyable with some stunning scenery.
They do however like putting the stone chippings on the corners as I found out, it gave me a bit of a ar*e twitch the first time I came found the bend on to it. I was quite regular and you just got used to it. The villages I passed through high in the hills were great, kids and adults waving as you went through.

IMG_1038 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Early 4A

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Later on the 4A

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Got to Sayaboury at about 1430hrs, went to the bank to change some money, sat and had a cold with some spicy squid and rice while try to find some place to sleep.
I went for a ride round and after trying a couple of places I eventually picked the Makee Guest House N 19.16078 E101.42769, the bike is parked round the side of the building out of the way.

IMG_1053 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

It is just glorious countryside there, great pics Lonerider
Glad that the border gave you minimum grief, yet I suspected worse with a rental bike.

__________________
My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Yeah I thought it would have been painful doing the border crossing but it was fine

Wayne

__________________
The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

Had a nice and relaxed day today, I travelled from Sayaboury to Luang Prabang after spending a couple of hours trying to get to the Elephant Conservation outside Sayaboury. I could not find a track to get there, the only place I could find was a boat to take me across the lake but I was not willing to leave the bike overnight. So off I went to Luang Prabang.

Day 16 Sayaboury to Luang Prabang by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 16 Sayaboury to Luang Prabang1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I was a good ride and I took a leisurely pace stopping at quite a few villages on the way for a drink and a relax. Of course the breakfast stop was done, had a very good noodle soup with some rice and a plate of salad, tasty indeed.

IMG_1078 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

The route I took was straight up the 4 and I crossed the newish bridge over the Mekong River, then I went back across to try and find the ferry, I went down to the waters edge where you could see vehicles had driven and waited, hoping that one of the boats would come across from the otherside, after waiting for about 20mins I gave up and continued on my journey.
The road got a bit pole holed in places and there was even places where the road was completely gone. but it kept it interesting.

IMG_1061 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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Finally got to Luang Prabang and found the town centre, once there I had a bacon sarnie and a Oreo and banana milkshake whilst trying to get some accommodation. That was to prove a task in its self, i looked the HUBB and Rideasia sites and found some to go see, but everywhere was full, I took me over an hour to find a place, eventually I managed to get myself in to the Seng Phet Guesthouse N19.88892 E102.13245, a nice clean place with aircon, tv, hot water and a nice outside sitting area so you can watch the world go past. The bike was parked outside on the road till the evening then I was bought in to the sitting area at night and the gates are closed. There is also someone on all night.

IMG_1083 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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Staying local till after New Years Eve now

Wayne

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Relaxed day in Lauang Prabang

Visited Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham which had some old temple pieces and a newer temple. It also looked like it was a Monk school as there were some classrooms there.

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From there I went on to visit Wat Pathouak which is set just below Phou Si Mountain. In the temple the walls are covered in a mural which is said to date to back to 1860

IMG_1115 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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I there I climbed Phou Si Mountain and visited That Chomsi and got some great views of the surrounding countryside and Luang Prabang. There was also an anti-aircraft gun from the Vietnam War perched on the hill

IMG_1124 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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I can recommend the Lemon Grass Tea, very good indeed

IMG_1114 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Another Temple on the main road in town centre

Wayne

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Day 18 Kuang Si Waterfall and Trailing in Luang Prabang by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 18 Kuang Si Waterfall and Trailing in Luang Prabang1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Visited Kuang Si Waterfall, they are well worth a visit, cost 2000 Kip to park the bike which was watched by the guy who took the money and it cost 20,000 to visit the falls, worth the money, there is also a bear sanctuary which was good also, there bears were out and about and playing when I was there. Just before the falls there is a Butterfly farm but I did not visit it.

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Then went off road, met a guy from Denmark, forget his name, and we rode a great track, the track started off quite wide and then went into a really narrow close in track, this we followed for a lot of kilometres before coming out in Muang Nan and went our separate ways after a well earned rest and drink in the village. It made a really nice change to ride with someone rather than doing it on your own.

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Wayne

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The coord format used could be hddd mm.mmm (degrees, decimal minutes) or hddd.ddddd (decimal degrees), I have now changed both the Garmin and Basecamp to hddd.ddddd for future posts as it seems to be the more popular
Sorry if there has been any confusion

Wayne

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New Years Eve was spent with the family who owned the Guesthouse I was stopping in, it was a good night, lots of Laos food and lots of Laos , they made me feel really welcome as we ticked off the hours. It was a good night. There hospitality was great. There was a couple of younger lads there who spoke quite good English which was a bonus for me, and they were into their western music.

IMG_1229 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1230 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I traveled from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng today, I took the old road rather than the new, which was a longer route but the road was far better for bends and scenery

Day 20 Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 20 Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I set off at around 0815hrs and I took the 13N, The climbs and the valleys were great and the views wearisome of the best . It was about 150 mile but I took it nice and steady with lots of breaks and the obligatory stop for some food at about 1030hrs.
I stopped in one of the hill top villages for the Noodle soup of the day which was very nice, I also had a coffee as I was a bit cold, in fact is was quite cold and my hands were starting to get a bit numb

IMG_1243 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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As I left my food stop there were a group of Malasian riders went past on there big bikes, I latched myself on to the back and was the tailend charlie for about 30Km’s till they went left and I carried on right in a little place called Phoukhoun. But it was nice for awhile to have someone to follow and I was acknowledged by there rider in front more than once.
Some of the views to be had are fantastic and I am getting close to saying that they are better than the views in Thailand.
Once I got to Vang Vieng I did the usual and stopped for a drink after a drive through and looked for somewhere to stop for the night.

IMG_1232 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

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I went for Dok Khoun Guesthouse which I got for 200,000kip, when I questioned his price he did say its New Year?! Ummm it finished yesterday?! Not a bad room but had better during my travels. Coords N18.92602 E102.44854.

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I think I am going to stay for and extra day and have a bit of a play about in the local area, there are a couple of caves which might be worth a visit.

Zzzzzzzz, the photos have taken about 3 hours to upload on to flickr, not the fastest, been and had food and still not done, haha

Wayne

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interesting, keep it rolling!

I will and thx

Wayne

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Love the waterfall pics Lonerider ok & some of the others too

What camera are you using out of curiosity ??

You know, the more I read your great journal, the more I am tempted to book a flight back over there & say "stuff work"

__________________
My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon