25 Days of Laos (Part 15)

This is a journal of our 25-day trip around Laos on a rented Honda FTR that we fondly called Mustafa. It starts with a long bus ride from Hanoi to Laos and ends with a longer bus ride back to Hanoi.

Day 20: Vientiane to Phu Hin Boun NPA
After having gone through our loop and with 5 more days in Laos, we decided to go to the Phu Hin Bun NPA which is around 311 kilometers for Vientiane. The roads from Vientiane to Vieng Kham were pretty straight and were sort of boring after going through the mountainous terrain up north. The only thing you'd probably find exciting during the trip would be having a glimpse of North Eastern Thailand across the river or the occasional traffic jam caused by water buffalos. We had two stopovers before getting to Sala Hinboun where we were going to stay for the night. One was at a restaurant (for the sports commission according to the sign) by a river and a bridge and a small store in Vieng Kham.

A Temple That We Passed Along The Way

In Laos, water buffalos tend to have their way on the road.

Beep all you want but they ain't moving.

It was after a turn in Vieng Kham that the landscapes changed. The karsts that we passed were definitely striking. Around 38 kilometers from Vieng Kham was a view point. Below it stood several limestone karsts that had a dark, gothic appeal amidst the green and blue hues that surrounded them. It was absolutely breath-taking.

The View From The Viewpoint

The Sala Viewpoint 

 It was already 7 in the evening when we finally reached Sala Hinboun. There, we got a charming bungalow with a spacious terrace by the river. It was well-maintained and the bedroom was beautifully decorated. The only complaint that we've got would be the water running out at night. And, on our first night there, we did have some challenging shower situations. Since it was already dark, we didn't get to appreciate the beautiful view opposite our terrace.

Quick Travel Tips:


Sala Hinboun. It's around 15.1 kilometers from the Kong Lor Caves. http://www.salalao.com/Salalao/Content/Hinboun.htm

Sala Kong Lor. It's around 1.5 kilometers from the Kong Lor Caves. We didn't get to stay here when we were in the area since it was open yet. http://www.salalao.com/Salalao/Content/KongLor.htm


The Journey Continues:

• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18

25 Days of Laos (Part 14)

This is a journal of our 25-day trip around Laos on a rented Honda FTR that we fondly called Mustafa. It starts with a long bus ride from Hanoi to Laos and ends with a longer bus ride back to Hanoi.

Day 18: Luang Prabang to Kasi
The next day, we packed up our things and headed to Cafe Bat Van Sene for our last breakfast in our favorite cafe. When we got back to the Khem Khong View, we were ready to hit the road. But, our bike wouldn't start and we had to wait for someone to come and fix it. The good thing is that the owner of Jules Classic Rental had a lot of contacts in Laos. And, he was able to ask a mechanic in Luang Prabang to pick up our bike and have it fixed.


We ended up leaving Luang Prabang around 12:30. Since we knew that we weren't going to make it to Vientiane before dark, we decided to spend the night in Vang Vieng. Although the motorbike problems held us back, our spirits weren't dampened because the landscapes that we passed on the way back to Vientiane were more beautiful because of the noon sun. It was the perfect time to take pictures. 

Taken from one of the view points indicated in the GT Rider Map

UH-OH!

 As we made our way through the town of Kasi, however, the weather suddenly changed. The skies became darker and then the rain fell in torrents. Although we had our rain gear on, it was impossible to drive through it. So, we had to stop by a shade in one of the houses that lined the streets. We were lucky that the rain fell when we were already in town and we weren't stuck in the middle of nowhere. It rained for a long time and we were lucky that the owners didn't mind having us in front of their house. They even asked us to come inside but we didn't want to intrude. And, we wanted to leave as soon as the rain lifted.


When it finally did, it was starting to get dark so we had to stay in Kasi. Since truck drivers use this town as a stopover, we were able to find some guest houses along road. We ended up staying in a small bungalow by a farm. We had dinner in a nearby duck restaurant and karaoke joint which seemed to be popular in the area. It wasn't the best dinner we've had in Laos but we were happy to find a place to stay and something to eat.


Day 19: Kasi to Vientiane
The next day, we headed for Vang Vieng with a craving for a greasy breakfast. We reached Vang Vieng around 10 in the morning. And, we found a nice, quiet restaurant where we got some cheesy garlic fries and toasties. The place had a unique motif -- It was filled with monkey figurines.

We finally reached Vientiane at around 4:30 PM. We decided to stay in the Mixay Guest House where we got a fan room for around 90,000 kip. The room we stayed in was very clean. And, there was a shared veranda outside our room. After we've taken our bags into the room and chilled for a bit, we headed to The Pizza Company for a pizza. 



The Journey Continues:

• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18

25 Days of Laos (Part 2)

This is a journal of our 25-day trip around Laos on a rented Honda FTR that we fondly called Mustafa. It starts with a long bus ride from Hanoi to Laos and ends with a longer bus ride back to Hanoi.








Day 2: Vientiane to Vang Vieng

The second day started with a nice breakfast at Joma's, a cafe located beside Jules Motorbike where we rented our FTR. Outside the cafe was a man who seemed to be selling bracelets. When we got out, the man tied one around my wrist while chanting some prayers. I tried to pay him but he didn't accept my money. I was quite amazed to see someone sitting under the heat of sun, giving away bracelets and prayer. And, I wondered what belief motivated him to do that.


After breakfast, we left for Vang Vieng which is around 108 kilometers from Vientiane. Instead of taking the usual route to Vang Vieng, we went through the more scenic Route 10 which passed Don Noun, Tha Ngon, Hat Klang, Phong Mang, Na Pheng, Keune Kang Kagnoung, Phonemy and Phonhong. It was a pretty easy ride. The roads were relatively flat and straight. It was a very long trip though. So, sore bums didn't come as a surprise at the end of the trip.


On the way to our destination, we stopped by a viewpoint where I took some pictures of the river below. Our next stop was a family-owned guest house and restaurant by a bridge. The food was really good -- We had fish lap and sticky rice. 


We had a few more stops before we reached the Pha Tang Resort which is 17 kilometers north of Vang Vieng. Located beside a river, this serene and quiet place is a contrast to Vang Vieng's party atmosphere. For around $12, we got to stay in a beautiful rustic, bungalow. Since we had a long drive, around eight hours, dinner and sleep was all we needed.

River Restaurants

Life In The Countryside

Beautiful Mountains

Monks on Bikes

Free Range Cows

A Peaceful Spot

Cows In A Line

A Really Huge Bug

Yumm!

Elephant Deco in the Restaurant

Seats By the River

The Temple On The Other Side

The Bridge By the Restaurant

Really Interesting Decoration

Fish Laap

Served With Cucumber and String Beans

Back on the Road Again!

The Most Uphill Part of the Trip

Vang Vieng

Be Ready To Dodge Cows!

Pha Tang Resort's Welcoming Committee

Where We Stayed For The Night

Quick Travel Tips


Motorcycle
We rented the Honda FTR from Jules Classic Rental. The rent was reasonable and it included loads of assistance from the rental shop. It was so nice to know that they have affiliates around Laos who could assist us if we encounter any problems with our bike.


Accommodation
We stayed at the Pha Tang Resort for around $12 a night. The rooms are really beautiful and well-decorated. Being a family-owned place, the service was amazing and the people were warm and friendly. Try not to order too much when you're here -- The portions are huge.


Map
My boyfriend got his map from GT-Rider. It's really useful because it gives you an idea of what the terrain would be like. 



The Journey Continues:

• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14 
• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18