Hello all!
I've not long been on this forum and joined looking for advice about living and working in Laos as I am going to be moving there in the near future.
Anyhow back in January 2011 me and a friend embarked on a massive trip from Cha-Am in Thailand to Laos!
The route took us from Cha-Am to Saraburi on day one, day two was Saraburi to Ubon Ratchathani and day three took us from Ubon Ratchathani through the border at Chong Mek and down to Pakse in Laos.
Anyhow here are some pictures! We carried on up Laos, I will explain the route as I post pictures:
The bikes just prior to leaving Cha-Am
Stopping near Phetchaburi to re-secure bags
No pictures from within Bangkok as we spent a hell of along time severely lost!! We ended going up the complete wrong way and ended up in Bang-Na!!! We got to Saraburi at about 1:30 am!
Day two took us from Saraburi to Ubon Ratchathani which was a long ride!
Picture from near Nakhon Ratchasima
Stopped for lunch and there were a load of Army vehicles parked up.
Big Wat just near Nakhon Ratchasima.
The bikes did us very well indeed!
7-Eleven break
Another break near Ubon Ratchathani
No pictures from the Thai side of the border at Chong Mek however we passed through the border all OK and arrived in Laos!!!
We were very nervous at the border as we stopped at a immigration office near the border in Thailand who said that bikes had to be 250cc or bigger to cross the border so potentially we had ridden all the way from Cha-Am for no reason!
Anyhow we got through because apparently that rule is only for Thai and Lao people to stop loads of them crossing the border every day on mopeds and it is fine for foreigners.
We had to fill in some paperwork etc and pay for a month's insurance in Laos and also had to exit via the same place.
Anyhow we were in Lao!!!
We road to Pakse where we found somewhere to stay and went to a friends restaurant to go and have some food and a drink.
My friend rather enjoying a beer Lao ha ha.
My Mr's came down from Vientiane to Lao on the bus to meet me.
After a few too many beer Lao my friend decided to go swimming in the river ha ha.
The next day me and my friend went to do a bit of exploring! My Mr's friend was getting engaged so she spent all day getting her make up done etc...
Some water buffalo wallowing in the mud and rucking.
A bit of off road riding on the waves
We spent a few more days in Pakse and then my Mr's went back up to Vientiane on the bus so me and my fried decided to go down to 4000 Islands.
Stopping off on the way, I cant remember where this was though to be honest...
We took the ferry to Don Kong.
We stayed on Don Kong for one night, it wasn't great to be honest.
The next day when setting off to get the ferry we bumped in to two women on British registered bikes who were on a round the world trip!
Who would have thought it hey!!
We went to another one of the island where we stayed two or three nights however I cant remember which one it was?
We then rode back up from 4000 Island to Savannakhet in one day!
I have loads more pics, just got to pop out now, I will update with the rest of the pics and journey when I get back.
Hope you all enjoy!