Vientiene, 31 December 2005 We spent two nights exploring Louang Phabang. It was not enough. to capture the beauty of this place. However we must leave.The ticket bus was ordered in travel agent that stretched along the Xiang Thong road. It was depart at 830 am from Southern Bus Station cost for $8 each. In the morning Louang Phabang covered by thick fog with the temperature around 15C. We will follow the trip towards Vang Vieng took 7 hours from Loaung Phabang. The route 13 was one section of the Laos road between Kasi village - Vang Vieng. This route was previously known with its ferocity of the bandits that partly from insurgent Hmong ethnic. There is no bus service at night. The road condition was bad and the possibility of the landslide made this route even harder. That morning our VIP bus was ready. Oh don't think about how nice VIP bus is but this bus just like economic class - old , broken bench, and without AC. I saw a Lao troops hid the riffle beneath his camouflage jacket. Then in one jump he entered one of the bus towards Vientine. Although the route 13 was notoriously wild but here you will find the best view. Scenery along the road was extraordinary. Mountains stretched as far the eyes gaze on. Limestone walls a high as several hundred metres on right and left side made my eyes couldn't even blink. I felt grateful that we didn't take flight on this route. This scenery could not been bought with money. At 5pm we arrived in Vang Vieng a place that regard itself as a new stopover for backpacker. In high season like december it was difficult to find suitable guesthouse. Just before sunset we found a room at Villa Nam Song which had a great view of the cliff across the Nam Xong river. Thanks to Nefran for Vang Vieng information. This place is a hidden gem of Laos. Happy New Year 2006, we will celebrate in Vientiene.
Indochina Journal 3: The Notorious Route 13 January 8, 2006
Indochina Journal 2: Crossed the Border January 8, 2006
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Originally uploaded by About Asia.
Louang Phabang, 28 Dec 2005 at 5:31pmBeyond the main gate was inscribed “Gate to the Indochina” I felt ready set my foot on it. Visa for Laos could be done in 1 hour cost 1,500BHT for all citizenship. Huoay Xai (Laos side) only five minutes on boat from Chiang Khong (Thai side). The imimigration office no more than 3×5m that was full a fflock of traveller from various countries. We found a counter to exchange our 20US dollars into kip. It turned out to be a whole bunch of kip notes.
This is what we were waiting for, a speedboat down Mekong river. The small long tailed boat with only 6 passengers was propelled with the Toyota 16valve engine. The speedboat is only for those hooked on adrenalin. You don’t only need to contend with the speed and the manoeuvrability over shallow river but the exhilarating wind in your face as you were sat squashed up in to a patch of floor less than 2ft Square, all meant the trip could be classified as an endurance test. Oh we also had ear-plug as well to reduce noise from the Toyota beast as there was no silencer on the exhaust.
But scenery was really amazing as we passed by at 50MPH. The Mekong was unlike the river I had imagined. The hills and mountains in the background were awesome ! It took seven hours in the boat, certainly exhausting trip. We stopped several times by the villages or local food stall stretched along the river. When the sun down we reached Ban Don village about 7km from Louang Phabang.
Nine of us bargained tuk-tuk to carry into main city. $2 each seemed outrages for chinese people that got off same time with us. We tried to bargain based the price of a vehicle rather than per person. The driver agreed with $10 delivered as far as Old City. We stayed in Sokdhee Guesthouse, and enjoyed Louang Phabang- one of the old kingdoms that was crowned as World Heritage. It was so peaceful and calm just like river Mekong that flowed by the city.
