| Laos March '09 - part 1 |
| Another quick swing through Laos (16 days) from Chiang Mai, this time on the cheapo Suzuki "Smash" ("Mr. Smash" actually). |
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| G'bye hunny. Stay home and don't forget to miss me! Out on the road at last. |
| Quick photo stop at Wat Rong Khun near Chiang Rai. |
| Slight diversion to the Golden Triangle. Very hot and hazy this time of year. |
| Boats of varying sizes going over to Huay Xai in Laos. I'm next. |
| For my small bike it's just a lift onto a Laos "canoe" to the vehicle landing upstream. |
| At the ramp up at the customs office - surprisingly easy to bring the bike to Laos. |
| The road to Luang Namtha is now excellent most of the way. This is mainly why I'm here - many many miles of quiet scenic roads to enjoy the ride. Very little traffic. |
| Some short stretches are still affected by last year's heavy rain and landslides. |
| Guesthouses in Luang Namtha - I stay at the Manychan GH on the right. |
| Comical welcome sign on the other side of town. |
| Close look at the replica Wat That Luang sitting on a nearby hilltop. |
| The 55km road to China is very good, save for a few wash-outs like this. |
| Near the Chinese border is this mocked-up shopping strip with tacky Chinese-style hotel in the background. Seems many Chinese tourists just pop down here so they can buy souveniers and say they have "been to Laos". |
| Found these two Japanese bikers working their way home on cheap Chinese bikes. Said they bought the bikes in Luang Prabang and just taking it a day at a time - way to go. |
| Back to Luang Namtha with good roadway and big dry rice fields. |
| The road to Muang Sing has some cliffy parts, not the place to stop for a picnic. |
| Countryside oven for making charcoal (which is then mainly used for cooking). |
| Many teakwood plantations all over northern Laos. Cash crop for China. |
| Near the Chinese border you see these every minute or two - always blue and always loaded down with bamboo. They don't stop for anything so just get out of the way. |
| Quick pic of China. The bored guard guy seemed to enjoy turning me back. |
| Police station in Muang Sing. Sort of elegant don't you think? |
| The Muang Sing - Luang Namtha road is good with scenic villages all along the way. |
| Chinese funding has created convenient urinals along most of the way. |
| Scenic roadway following the river back to my Luang Namtha base. |
| Seems customary to always camouflage your bike on the roadside here. |
| Back at the Manychan GH for Mien Kham (local munchies) and a Beer Laos. |
| Next day at the Na Toey turnoff. China left, my next destination right. |
| This little piggy. |
| I've seen this Luang Prabang - Kunming (China) bus many times. Seems a horrible way to go - trapped inside for 24 hours. The woman was rushing out to projectile-vomit. |
| Nearing Nong Kiew, irrigation leads to verdant lush scenery. Good vibes. |
| Locals on their post-tubing walk home also seem really chuffed. |
| Finally reaching Nong Kiew here's the neighborhood. Guaranteed alarm clock (chickens). Many riverfront bungalows full and others stupidly expensive. Nong Kiew is the new hip destination in Laos. |
| In time for sunset from the big bridge. I can see why this is increasingly popular. |
| South of Pak Mong I saw a lot of road construction and smelled a lot of tar. |
| ... and then you hit the road following the Nam Ou river and it gets really nice. |
| Nearing Luang Prabang one big peak appears and gets bigger. |
| Nice stretch of road down to the Nam Ou river crossing. |
| You cross the Nam Ou here with nice clunky hill scenery. |
| After a couple days of hot dusty riding, The Sayo River Guesthouse is a good spot. |
| Luang Prabang is a tourist haven so join the flock. |
| A favorite riverside restaurant - the Mekong Fish Cafe. |
| Every time I looked around these two miserable complaining German tourists were there. Finally I had to turn the camera on them. Entschuldigung ;-) |
| There are bears in the woods. Take care. |
| Actually it's part of a preservation project near the Kuang Si waterfalls. Have been here many times - always a good side-trip. |
| The main reason I'm here again is to see my niece and her betrothed dude Erik. We met up in Luang Prabang and had some brief but great times together. Good-looking couple! |
| The last day I went back to Wat Xieng Thong - the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Anyway it's next to my guesthouse =) |
| Unmissable photo - The whihan at Wat Xieng Thong with monk in doorway. Yep it's got to be done. Photoesque Tree-of-Life on the right ;-) |