Well thats according to Google Maps, what do they know..Mind you there was nothing in between Pakse and Savannaketh except of jawdropping scenery and farmers, farmers and more farmers on their homebuilt tractors. Mingling with the locals was a bit harder than Thailand and Cambodia, the Lao people are bit more reserved, but nothing that cannot be solved with a smile and some Oreos!
Eventually we got to Savannaketh, exhausted from encountering new hazards on the roads...Animals are all over the roads in this place. Especially cows! I tell you, these animals are like turf gangsters from south east central LA, they will stick to their position, regardless if you are charging against them at 100 km/h. Oh well, a good nights sleep and a good start of the day today gave some good vibe to do another long stretch.
Vientiane is actually just a day away - 450 km. Its not an easy stretch, and I was considering to divide the drive into two days. But it would be awesome to get there today! Out of Savannaketh I had to ask for direction at least 10 times, because of the total absence of road signs. The problem now was the language. Speak English?
No...Parle Francais? Oui! But I didnt...hmm OK Vientiane? Nobody understood until one old lady actually spoke two words in English and guided me in my wanderings.
The scenery on the road was still amazing, and after a while it just switched from very dry and hot climate, to North European-like terrain with some chills dragging your bones.
After a while the roadsurface changed drastically and the conditions could be only described as -Iraqi.After a couple of hours of driving on these appauling roads , I reached a Customs Agent station...
Hmm It must be the Lao /Thai border one, as the road I was driving on was really close to the border. But I had a bad feeling about it and asked one of the officers to see if this was really the way to Vientiane...It wasn't. It turned out that I was actually approaching the Vietnamese border and was confirmed with all the Vietnamese registered trucks and cars around.
Oh damn....this wasnt good at all...I went back a bit and saw the first sign for Vientiane since Savannaketh : 650 kms. Sigh....
After a bit of planning, I had to tell my self the truth; I must go back to Savannaketh.
There were no towns where I could get a room or something for the night, and I also found out that the sleeping bag has fallen out the backpack of all the bumpy-ness of the road. So no camping either.
Hungry,tired and a bit pissed off, I headed back. Darkness fell and the bad roads became even worse! It got really bad and I heard some crashing and knocking from the bike when hitting the craters, which almost threw me off the bike several times.
The weather got much colder and I freezing my butt off was least to say. Naturally these conditions puts the fear in god into you.. But attack is the best defense so to speak, and I laughed out my sorrow instead and once again my music on the phone saved the moment! Many hours later, I got back, just where I started this morning. Slightly unmotivated, but happy to be in one piece.
Vientiane is actually just a day away - 450 km. Its not an easy stretch, and I was considering to divide the drive into two days. But it would be awesome to get there today! Out of Savannaketh I had to ask for direction at least 10 times, because of the total absence of road signs. The problem now was the language. Speak English?
No...Parle Francais? Oui! But I didnt...hmm OK Vientiane? Nobody understood until one old lady actually spoke two words in English and guided me in my wanderings.
The scenery on the road was still amazing, and after a while it just switched from very dry and hot climate, to North European-like terrain with some chills dragging your bones.
After a while the roadsurface changed drastically and the conditions could be only described as -Iraqi.After a couple of hours of driving on these appauling roads , I reached a Customs Agent station...
Hmm It must be the Lao /Thai border one, as the road I was driving on was really close to the border. But I had a bad feeling about it and asked one of the officers to see if this was really the way to Vientiane...It wasn't. It turned out that I was actually approaching the Vietnamese border and was confirmed with all the Vietnamese registered trucks and cars around.
Oh damn....this wasnt good at all...I went back a bit and saw the first sign for Vientiane since Savannaketh : 650 kms. Sigh....
After a bit of planning, I had to tell my self the truth; I must go back to Savannaketh.
There were no towns where I could get a room or something for the night, and I also found out that the sleeping bag has fallen out the backpack of all the bumpy-ness of the road. So no camping either.
Hungry,tired and a bit pissed off, I headed back. Darkness fell and the bad roads became even worse! It got really bad and I heard some crashing and knocking from the bike when hitting the craters, which almost threw me off the bike several times.
The weather got much colder and I freezing my butt off was least to say. Naturally these conditions puts the fear in god into you.. But attack is the best defense so to speak, and I laughed out my sorrow instead and once again my music on the phone saved the moment! Many hours later, I got back, just where I started this morning. Slightly unmotivated, but happy to be in one piece.
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| Conditions only acceptable for an IED infested country |
Awe...atleast you are alive. Please dont drive at night in these crazy towns!!!! You are too precious to be lost!!! :xxxx
SvaraRadera