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 3)

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 3: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

We woke up early to start a long journey through more challenging terrains. The distance from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is around 110 kilometers. And, the zigzagging roads are mostly uphill and downhill.


What I loved about being on the back of the motorbike was having an unobstructed view of the beautiful landscapes that surrounded us. Also, we got to have more interaction with the friendly locals. 


At the beginning of the journey, we passed karsts cloaked with white feathery mists. And, as we headed towards Kasi, we saw majestic mountains rising from the side of the road. Kasi, being a small town is just a stopover for bus and truck drivers. It doesn't have a lot of accommodations but it does have spectacular landscapes. And, it's worth stopping by for a picture. Since, we weren't with any tours, we had the option to get off and enjoy the view.


From Kasi to Pukhoun, the roads were winding and uphill. Because our weights kept on shifting, staying on the motorbike can be a bit difficult. But, the beautiful landscapes made it worth it.


Pukhoun's a stopover for most tours. There's a place where you can get some lunch and snacks.  Don't expect anything fancy though. They only serve rice and noodles.


We had another uncomfortable but exhilarating ride downhill from Pukhoun to Luang Prabang. Being the passenger, I had a hard time keeping myself from toppling over my boyfriend and pushing him to the front of the bike.


Around 20 kilometers from Pukhoun, we had another stopover. This time, we stayed in a restaurant overlooking the mountains. This is a nice place to take photos and have lunch. You get to have more choices. And, they seem to have a better way of preparing food here.


We reached Luang Prabang just in time for the sunset. We stayed at the View Khem Khong Hotel by the Mekong River for around $20 a night. The cheerful ladies managing the place are very easy to talk to. We were supposed to pay $22 but we negotiated for a lower price by telling them that we'll be staying for three nights.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Pukhoun

Quick Travel Tips:


Accommodation
We stayed at the View Khem Khong for around $20 a night. The sisters that own this place are really friendly. You never see them frowning.  



The Journey Continues:

• 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