Thailand Part 2 , the video

 Where we climb mountains on Honda 125s , get lost and meet some elephants

Into Vientiane

Well we made it, just over 750km on probably some of the worst roads I have ever had the misfortune to ride on . Near Death experiences with Chinese truck drivers and the local idiot's. It has been exiting and very tiring. We stayed in some outstanding places where we rested in nature and ignored the harsh reality of North Laos before getting back on the bikes do do some more. I do wonder why the locals dont kick up a stink about the infrastructure,  the Chinese built a railway from Luang prabang  to the capital Vientiane  but the roads have got worse, If you take the train I believe its like an airport check in with airport type security and everyone is being watched , watch the news for some kind of chinese takeover in the future.

We had a nice couple of days just South of Vang Viang , idyllic actually,  met a couple from Kazakhstan, Mara and Marina, had a great laugh with them, he runs a moto tour company throughout the Stans so now that is definitely an option in the future

Several people warned us before we left luang prabang the roads were bad but we had to find out for ourselves. 

So now in Vientiane the capital of Laos which is very noisy, back in the land of perverts and very young girls and dodgy businessmen 

It all feels wrong. 

It's been a blast but we are both knackered, the adrenaline has subsided and been replaced for a need for sleep.

The yamahas have been outstanding, only 115cc but my god they have been amazing.

I may do a comparison at some point ( after we recover) the photos show the highs, not the lows.

Would I recommend it, well yes and no, speak to me / us offline to get the real story 

Stunning sunset

and not too shabby during the day

Booze cruise 

waiting for passengers 

Fiona oot for a paddle 

oor wee hoose

sunset Fiona

our new Kazakh friends

Stayed in this very interesting place for a night, a story to be told in Person

The bar 

Handing the bikes back

And a welcome drink before we got into our hotel for a sleep 

On the move Southwards

 After a few days hanging around in Luang Prabang people watching, getting a washing done and sending the bulk of our luggage to Vientiane for us to pick up next week we were glad to leave on Friday,  we had overstayed but it was quite pleasant meeting up with Alan from Canada and Tony from England but it was time to leave, we even gatecrashed a birthday party ,drinking wine with the bar owner, it was all getting too familiar plus we both picked up a bit of travelers stomach.

We set off fully expecting terrible roads and we weren't disappointed,  just under 140 km and it took us just under 3 1/2 hours and found a hotel in Kasi, nice enough and only £7. out for a meal which happened to be on the side of the very busy road, the nice lady wiped the table which was full of dust from the passing traffic, no point it was manky again in a minute flat. I never see anyone washing their hands whilst cooking, patting the dog or cat, playing with the kids but washing hands no, its no wonder we get the dodgy belly. everything from the goods in the shop to bottles have a layer of dust.

The roads quite frankly are a disaster every few yards it feels like we are doing a full on trials or enduro section, the wee Yamahas  are brilliant though, they seem to plough on no matter what, overtaking trucks is the biggest nightmare, you cant see for the dust, or even breath sometimes but we are well despite all that, actually enjoying it in a perverse way. 

Pictures tell the story better than I can

Not the Corran Ferry

Dodgy

The wee Yamahas

Looks stunning but the roads oh no

Fiona still managing a smile

Lunch/ breakfast, needed black pudding eggs and bacon, got rice

still smiling

Not the same

35pence shop

Dusty but happy Fiona

Out of sequence, the ferry again, tying up the rope that pulled off the stick

nice

Our  Balcony in Kasi, very safe.....

Kasi, or dusty city

Our digs  just nearby Vang Vieng

The blue lagoon, very safe bridge

Cave entrance

The blue lagoon

you get the idea

Fiona looking good

the roads

again

and again

And again

They sometimes spray water to keep the dust down and to make it slippery for us

It is never ending!

Nong Khiaw

We spent 4 days in Nong Khiaw , a very nice place where we met fellow bikers Alan from Canada and Tony from England, we kept meeting up in the same bar in the centre of the Village which was nice it started to feel like a local pub!. The village had a very nice vibe to it and was worth staying for a few days

 We visited a cave where the locals hid from the relentless bombing from the USA during the secret war. There was a small museum as well which was full of bombs ( used obviously ) The photos explain it better

 Fiona took one for the the team by climbing up a Hill to get some great photos whilst I slept, ( I need beauty sleep more than she does ) . 

The bar we met in seems to be the meeting place for all the over privileged back packers from around the world, most of them were rude to the staff and generally obnoxious. 

 We also met some Aussies at our hotel doing a guided tour, two mates and a daughter of one of them, had great crack with them. 

 We left on Monday not looking forward to the craziness and intended to stop again back on the way to Luang prabang but we seemed to be on a roll so we just went for it, 90 miles took us about 4 1/2 hours, I was broken when we got back here but a least we have a bed that doesn't feel like it has a solid wood mattress to help us recover for the next part. 

 Shout out to the yamahas, ideal for the shit roads and so far so good. Heading south on Friday on what we have been told is the worst road ever, excellent

On the road

Jungle

Bombs

These guys have had a hard life

Bombs being used in the stairs   

Heading to the cave, very hot

Shrapnel all over the wall

View from our Hotel

Fionas walk, some scary warnings

Superb

BTW she fell on the way down, glad i didn't go because i would have fell harder

Street scene

Alan from Canada

View from the bridge

Still flying the flag

No idea

En route back to Luang Prabang

Having a well deserved Vino

One for my former colleagues

Breaks every rule in my rule book anyway

Nice cafe 

And one for Eric