Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Sabaidee,

We started the day in Vang Vieng where it was raining and didn't see any signs of it easing (Forecast was for solid rain and thunderstorms for the coming week). We headed north on Route 13 towards the Junction at Kasi with Route 4 (The newer road over the mountains with very steep climbs and decents). 

Route 13 North towards Kasi

Avoiding the many cows and chickens along the route we arrived at Kasi and stopped just up Route 4 to grab a drink and buy some Chocco Pies in case we got low on sugar over the mountain.

A very wet yet wonderful ride up and down Route 4 with some breathtaking scenery, freezing our butts off at the top of the mountain almost being blown off the mountain by the wind gusts combined with slippery roads. Will let the pictures and video do the talking here, simply breathtaking views . 

Off the mountain we stopped for a drink and snack at the intersection with Route 4 and the road to Luang Prabang.

Unfortunately the rain only increased in intensity as we got into Luang Prabang, we must have looked like drowned rats when we arrived at the hotel and tipped the lake out of our boots from the ride. 

A hot shower and a wonderful dinner at the Xiengkeo Restaurant at the hotel and it was time to pass out.

So good to be back in Luang Prabang to see our good friends Joy, Paul, Dan and of course Little Chris.

Thanks for staying tuned and sorry for the delay in these posts, hope you enjoy the story and the pics, such an amazing place :)

Vientiane to Vang Vieng

Sabaidee!

We had a relaxing few days in Vientiane. We visited the Malibayphit family home in Vientiane and got to meet Angela, Bou and little Belle. Mrs Malibayphit and her family prepared a wonderful Laos home cooked dinner for us which was amazing! We had many drinks and talked for hours, such a wonderful visit and so glad to have gotten to meet the extended family. After the rain eased later in the evening we made our way back to the hotel and spent the next few days relaxing and exploring the city. 

Vientiane is a bustling city with plenty of markets and amazing places to dine. We thoroughly enjoyed our stop in Vientiane and at the S Park Design Hotel which is now our Number 1 spot in town. We also got to see Luna (Vongsamay's Second Youngest Daughter) sing with her band at the Musso Bar and Restaurant directly below the hotel. Luna recently won a national contest to become the Pepsi Ambassador in Laos. She can be seen all over town on massive billboards, such an amazing voice and such a beautiful person. The last night we were in Vientiane, Luna invited me to get up and sing a number with the band (Who is famous in Laos) which was so much fun.

Due to the National Boat festival and public holidays, we were unable to purchase our AGL Insurance for the motorbikes in Thakhek. Thankfully we had safe rides and on Monday morning in Vientiane we purchased our insurance before heading north to Vang Vieng.

With our insurance stickers on the bike, we road north out of town towards Vang Vieng, our next stop for for the evening enroute to Luang Prabang to see our good friends Joy, Paul, Dan and Little Chris who many will remember from previous years blog posts. Little Chris works in Luang Prabang as the number 1 motorbike tour operator in town! Such an awesome knowledgeable bloke from the UK. He has saved us with the bikes many times over the years and we are so glad to call him our good friend.

The ride to Vang Vieng was quite short (Only 167kms) which we knocked over in about 4hrs including a Lunch Stop for some fried rice enroute. As we rode into Vang Vieng, nothing much has changed except for the increased number of hotels and guesthouses. Still quite a part spot for Contiki Tours and Drunk Foreigners looking for a "Good Time", not so much to our liking but if you put that aside such amazing views over the river to the limestone mountains surrounding the town. We at at Gary's Irish restaurant in the evening and had a lovely Steak and Ale homemade pie with Chips, Cheese and Gravy! Yes i know not Laos Cuisine but glad we tried it as it was amazing! We headed back to the hotel for an early night before our 190km ride the following day north along Route 13 and over Route 4 (What a road!) enroute to Luang Prabang.

Stay tuned as we piece together some of the amazing video footage of the rides and sunsets etc which we will post asap in the coming days.

Thanks for joining us for our journey and we hope you enjoy the ride as much as we are!

Next video to be uploaded shortly :)

Howdy folks,

Sorry we have been quiet for a few days, had a lovely ride from Sainamhai to Vientiane and visited the Malibayphit family at their home in Vientiane to meet Angela and her partner Bou's new born baby girl, Belle. Such a little cutie! Was so lovely to see our old friends and meet many of the rest of the family, felt very welcomed and a little tipsy by the end of it :)

Sitting in our Hotel the S Park Design in Vientiane relaxing in Air Conditioning whilst editing hours of Go Pro footage to create our next video which should be uploaded tonite. For all those back home in Australia, you will be able to see it tomorrow morning :) We hope you enjoy!

We have two more nights in Vientiane (including tonite) before we head to Vang Vieng for an overnight stay enroute to beautiful Luang Prabang.

Thanks for staying tuned and hopefully the posts will become more regular from now on, the worst and longest of the rides are all done now :)

Thakek to Vientiane via Sainamhai Resort

Sabaidee all,

We headed off relatively early from Thakhek to make it to the intersection of Route 8 and Route 13 our favourite noodle place just before the road to Sainamhai. 

Route 13 is quite a boring stretch of road in the south of Laos so we were glad to get onto Route 8 which winds through and over the limestone mountains of Khammoune Province  after an awesome twisty ride and a great view of the mountains from the Viewpoint lookout we can down the mountain into Na Hin to our next destination, the Sainamhai resort.

When we arrived we were greeted by our second family, Mr & Mrs Malibayphit. Vongsamay gave us the news that their first grand daughter Belle had been born only a few hours prior to our arrival. We were shocked they had both waited to greet us before racing to Vientiane to see Angela's little baby girl. Vongsamay's youngest daughter Nana was their to look after us until they planned to return from Vientiane a few days later. 

After they had left we relaxed and pondered our activities for the coming days. In the end we decided rather than staying at the Sainamhai Resort for the original planned 4 nights, we would instead ride to Vientiane the following day to see the new baby girl.

The following morning Vongsamay had arranged for us to visit the Ban Oh village school where we had brought the book party two years prior. After we had left last time, Vongsamay had organised for a Water Well to be built at the school which is approx 1km from the Village. We headed out on the road to Kong Lor Cave and the Ban Oh Village passing between some of the most breathtaking limestone mountains.

When we arrived at the school we were greeted by the teachers and head master who showed us the water well and took us to see the kids in the classes. Lots of Saibadees and smiling kids faces :D Priceless! As we were riding to Vientiane in the afternoon we had planned to head back to Sainamhai shortly after to pack and load the bikes for the 270km ride along Route 13 following the Mekong River to the Capitol. It was then we realised the villagers and school teachers had planned a Baci Ceremony for us to the celebrate our visit and wish us well, absolutely amazing! Quite a few arm bracelets, some steamed chicken, sticky rice and a few Laos Whiskeys we said our farewells and were headed back to the resort to pack.

Leaving the Sainamhai resort was saddening as we said farewell to Nana (Vongsamay's Youngest Daughter) who looked after us like family :) That said very excited to get to Vientiane and meet the new addition to this lovely family. Whilst it threatened to rain for much of the trip we only ended up seeing a 5min light shower enroute to Vientiane which was thankfully on the straightest part of Route 13. Such a crazy road with the looney bus drivers and mad men driving Hilux Utes at 130kph+, easiest to just move over and let them go on their stupid way.

After 5hrs we arrived just after dark at the S Park Design Hotel in Vientiane (Our New Favourite place to stay in Vientiane). All in all a great ride and was lovely to arrive at our high level apartment overlooking the City and Mekong to Thailand. As the Boat festival was still in full force the city was alive with activity and the night markets were pumping with music. Being deafened for an hour we headed back to the hotel for an amazing dinner at the Musso Restaurant and Bar directly beneath the hotel. Such a cool spot with amazing decor and even better food. We then retired for the evening and a well deserved sleep before heading to see Vongsamay and the family at their home just out of the town centre.

So glad we came, as always a wonderful experience and amazing people, gotta love Laos!

Apologies for the delay in these posts, the heat and riding has taken it out of us that at the end of the days so far we have just been too tired to sit and blog about it, relaxing now in Luang Prabang we are playing catchup! Thanks for staying tuned and look out for our next Video Blogs in the coming days. :)