Category Archives: Laos

A wonderful Mekong River cruise and Thailand achieved!

Saturday December 6, 2014

Saturday December 6, 2014 We boarded the slow boat to Huay Xai, Laos on Thursday and quickly settled in for our 9 hour trip to Pakbeng. It was very fun and relaxing to just sit on a boat and watch the world go by on the Mekong River. Pakbeng is the midpoint and all passengers must find a guest house for the night. We unloaded all our gear and bikes and settled on the first one we came upon. At $7 per night ($8 with the air conditioner remote) it was clean and we immediately met another cycling couple across the street at an Indian restaurant. Eric and Amaya have been cycling since 2006.

http://worldbiking.info

Friday morning we once again boarded, on a different boat, and left for Huay Xai for another 9 hour cruise. We arrived close to sunset and decided to enter Thailand at the town of Chiang Khong. This took a bit of finagling with transportation to the Lao exit point on the Friendship Bridge. This bridge does not allow walkers or bicycles so after exiting Laos we had to take a bus across to the Thailand border. Once there we checked in at our 25th country and since it was dark we hired a taxi to take us into town. The previous night I received an email from another cycling couple, Bruce and Andrea, saying they were staying at the Ban Rimtaling guest house. Jocelyn directed the driver and by the time we unloaded everything we were exhausted from the long two days. Fortunately there was a restaurant on premises so we settled in for a delicious Thai meal and several beers. After dinner we met Bruce and Andrea of

(http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=14607)

and enjoyed much conversation about Thailand. We also decided to spend today in town and start our ride to Bangkok tomorrow.

Our tuk tuk is loaded for the trip to the boat dock outside of town.
Our tuk tuk is loaded for the trip to the boat dock outside of town.
Our chariot awaits.
Our chariot awaits.
A well deserved rest for our bikes.
A well deserved rest for our bikes.
We bought a box of red wine for the two day trip. Tapping it before we left the dock.
We bought a box of red wine for the two day trip. Tapping it before we left the dock.
Underway!
Underway!
Delivering bamboo by floating it downriver.
Delivering bamboo by floating it downriver.
Elephants!
Elephants!
Scenes from along the Mekong.
Scenes from along the Mekong.

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We ate all day it seems.
We ate all day it seems.
Many riverside villages.
Many riverside villages.
There was a small snack concession onboard.
There was a small snack concession onboard.

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The alternative to the Slow Boat is the Fast boat which takes less than half the time.
The alternative to the Slow Boat is the Fast boat which takes less than half the time.

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Our Mekong River route from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai (Houey Xay), Laos. About 500km.
Our Mekong River route from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai (Houey Xay), Laos. About 500km.
Another slow boat.
Another slow boat.
Sunset while arriving at the halfway point Pakbeng, Laos.
Sunset while arriving at the halfway point Pakbeng, Laos.

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Pakbeng, Laos.
Pakbeng, Laos.
A family in Pakbeng with early morning chores.
A family in Pakbeng with early morning chores.
Backpackers everywhere in Laos travelling from hub to hub. We like biking.
Backpackers everywhere in Laos travelling from hub to hub. We like biking.
Jocelyn's good deed for the day, feeding a hungry dog.
Jocelyn’s good deed for the day, feeding a hungry dog.

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The skipper with only a wheel and throttle. There is no depthfinder, GPS, chartplotter or radio.
The skipper with only a wheel and throttle. There is no depthfinder, GPS, chartplotter or radio.
Looking aft. Where's Waldo?
Looking aft. Where’s Waldo?
The port at Huay Xai, Laos.
The port at Huay Xai, Laos.
The skipper is threading a needle with his boat.
The skipper is threading a needle with his boat.
It takes a lot of work to load and unload our bikes and gear. Often times it is quite precarious.
It takes a lot of work to load and unload our bikes and gear. Often times it is quite precarious.
Jocelyn is a "beast". She earned this nickname while on the track and field team at Cocoa Beach High School.
Jocelyn is a “beast”. She earned this nickname while on the track and field team at Cocoa Beach High School.

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Riding to the border.
Riding to the border.
Our final Laos sunset.
Our final Laos sunset.
Heading to the border in Huay Xai, Laos.
Heading to the border in Huay Xai, Laos.
Two fine Thai beers.
Two fine Thai beers.
The view of the Mekong River and Laos from our room.
The view of the Mekong River and Laos from our room.
Baan Rimtaling Guesthouse in Chiang Khong, Thailand. Our room is on the right.
Baan Rimtaling Guesthouse in Chiang Khong, Thailand. Our room is on the right.