The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 31

Day 30 route - travelling south of Pakse.
Day 30 route – travelling south of Pakse.

21 July 2016, Thursday. I head to Si Phan Don (literally means “four thousand islands” in Laos) today. That’t about the southern-most tip of Laos, where the Mekong river meets with an archipelago, creating a system of rapids. There are many islands in Si Phan Don, the biggest of which is Don Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 31”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 30

20 July 2016, Wednesday. Decided to stay another day in Pakse, as the region around Champasak has loads to offer. Travellers on motorcycles typically do the loop in Bolaven Plateau. The area offers waterfalls, ethnic villages and coffee plantations. I left early in the day as the Bolaven Plateau loops (there’s a big loop and a smaller loop) are typically completed in 2-3days. I planned on completing it in 1 day.

I reached Tad Fane waterfall before 8am. The entrance wasn't manned and I just walked in.
I reached Tad Fane waterfall before 8am. The entrance wasn’t manned and I just walked in.
The twin falls of Tad Fane plummets more than 100 meters and looks spectacular from a distance.
The twin falls of Tad Fane plummets more than 100 meters and looks spectacular from a distance.

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 30”

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…. Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 29”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 28

18 July 2016, Monday. I left Vientiane with a (finally) (hopefully) healthy motorcycle. No more technical troubles. I set off at around 7am in the morning, as I had planned for a long day today.

The first part of my route today.
The first part of my route today.
Route to Konglor cave.
Route to Konglor cave.

Konglor Cave (Tham Kong Lo) is a Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 28”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 26 and 27

16-17 July 2016, Sat-Sun. And so I decided to set off for Vientiane – the capital city of Laos. Breakfast in Vang Vieng in a nice little cafe with wifi somewhere near my hotel. Needed that wifi to update the blog as the hotel’s wifi was horribly slow.

Meet Nicole from Ohio, USA. She's here on a work-holiday programme. Works in the cafe in exchange for food and accommodation. No pay. Great way to "tour for free". Almost.
Meet Nicole from Ohio, USA. She’s here on a work-holiday programme. Works in the cafe in exchange for food and accommodation. No pay. Great way to “tour for free”. Almost.
Mr Tuth runs this motorbike rental shop. Just an "R" away from "Truth". He has automatic bikes, manual bikes, and.... oh, oh. Now we know where the "r" in the truth has gone to. STAY AWAY! =P
Mr Tuth runs this motorbike rental shop. Just an “R” away from “Truth”. He has automatic bikes, manual bikes, and…. oh, oh. Now we know where the “r” in the truth has gone to. STAY AWAY! =P

I was worried about Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 26 and 27”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 25

15 July 2015, Friday. I woke up with disappointment this morning. I had hoped for the weather to turn good and the fog to clear. But unfortunately,  the roads were still wet and the fog remained thick – not exactly the best conditions for motorcycle travel, especially on a mountain snake pass filled with loose gravel, sand and soil patches. But instead of getting stuck here, I decided to trod on.

So I packed my stuff, and hurled it onto my bike. Bid the nice staff at the guesthouse goodbye and continued my journey through the thick fog. At first, I was doing speeds of below 30kmh, taking extra precaution not to fall. I think my already injured patella will go if I impacted it the third time in 3 days. Thankfully, the roads started drying up, and the fog started lifting as I descended from the mountains towards Vang Vieng.

Finally! A stretch of straight road!
Finally! A stretch of straight road!

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 25”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 24

14 July 2016, Thursday. So I woke up at 4:30am this morning, determined to witness the morning alms giving ceremony I missed yesterday. Left my room around 5:15am and walked towards Sisavangvong Road in Luang Prabang.

Local vendors have set up these stools and mats mainly for tourists to participate in the alms giving ceremony.
Local vendors have set up these stools and mats mainly for tourists to participate in the alms giving ceremony.

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 24”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 23

13 Jul 2016, Wednesday. I decided to remain in Luang Prabang for one more night. So this gives me some time to explore the area. Woke up at 5am in the morning to witness the traditional daily alms giving ceremony, but I didn’t get to see too many monks. In fact, I was waiting in my room with my balcony door ajar, waiting to hear some commotion – my signal to dash out to watch the ceremony. I didn’t hear any. So I walked out to the balcony only to see the last remaining monks briskly, swiftly and very silently walking by. Ahhh… Maybe tomorrow.

The morning market.
The morning market.
I concluded that the Laotians are super tidy people. Look at how they take the effort to arrange the veg on sale for the day.
I concluded that the Laotians are super tidy people. Look at how they take the effort to arrange the veg on sale for the day.

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 23”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 22

12 July 2016, Tuesday. Since I was already quite far up north in Laos, and was only about an hour’s ride from the Yunnan Chinese border, I thought I’d just go check it out. I’ve always been curious about border towns – they typically buzz with human activity – trade, tourism – both cross border and international, shops, and sometimes other dodgy activities.

9km more to the Yunnan border.
9km more to the Yunnan border.

Honestly, the border was a little underwhelming. It’s used more by Laotian and Chinese trucks carrying construction sand and granite than passenger vehicles. After experiencing the expensive border crossing from Thailand to Laos yesterday, I wasn’t in the mood to explore another one. Also, my research has suggested that Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 22”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 21

11 Jul 2016, Monday. If you’ve been following my adventure tracks so far, you might have guessed that I’m trying to head into Laos. So I woke up early this morning in anticipation of the typical border hassles, especially at these relatively remote borders.

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise. View from my hotel room. You can see Laos just across the Mekong river.
Woke up to a beautiful sunrise. View from my hotel room. You can see Laos just across the Mekong river.
Good morning Laos! Here I come today!
Good morning Laos! Here I come today!

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 21”