The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 29

19 July 2016, Tuesday. I left Thakhek at around 8am this morning, and had planned on arriving Pakse by 2pm – which should give me some time to get a room and perhaps explore the area.

Today's route - Thakhek to Pakse. I'm heading south!
Today’s route – Thakhek to Pakse. I’m heading south!

But the roads in southern Loas are…. REALLY GOOD! Long and straight, seemingly endless roads of decently good quality (actually FANTASTIC by Laos’ standards!) see me doing triple-digit speeds for the FIRST TIME in a very long while! Northern Laos’ roads are typically mountain snake passes. Before that, I was in Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai with a newly rebuilt engine, and running-in procedures forbid me to reach those speeds. And of course, there was a 8-day downtime when my Pulsar was being repaired in Chiang Mai. And before that, of course, I was doing the Mae Hong Son loop – hardly any opportunity to do triple-digit speeds. So yeah – I missed long stretches of good roads.

So not surprisingly, I reached Pakse earlier than expected, and I found a hotel in town. With accommodation secured, I went for lunch, and then headed back to my room for a short nap before heading out to explore the area.

Vat Phou is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple dating back as early as the 5th century.
Vat Phou is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple dating back as early as the 5th century.
Vat Phou.
Vat Phou.
Vat Phou against the evening sky.
Vat Phou against the evening sky.
This path leads to a really steep climb.
This path leads to a really steep climb.
The view from the top.
The view from the top.
Locals praying.
Locals praying.
The temple, or what's left of the temple at the top of the hill.
The temple, or what’s left of the temple at the top of the hill.
Buddha statue and locals praying inside the temple.
Buddha statue and locals praying inside the temple.
Another view of Vat Phou glistening from the setting sun.
Another view of Vat Phou glistening from the setting sun.
Another prayer site.
Another prayer site.
I'm pretty certain these are not ancient structures, but recent tourist-created ones.
I’m pretty certain these are not ancient structures, but recent tourist-created ones.
Part of Vat Phou undergoing reconstruction / restoration works.
Part of Vat Phou undergoing reconstruction / restoration works.
Some feeble attempts by tourists in helping out with the restoration works.
Some feeble attempts by tourists in helping out with the restoration works. Yeah – I made a ONE-stone contribution.
On my way back, I spotted this eerie looking seemingly-abandoned building.
On my way back, I spotted this eerie looking seemingly-abandoned building.
Dinner at Sabaidee Pakse Restaurant...and some online research because good internet WiFi is so hard to come by here in Laos.
Dinner at Sabaidee Pakse Restaurant…and some online research because good internet WiFi is so hard to come by here in Laos.

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