Vang Vieng Down To Champassak

Vang Vieng done and dusted and what a cool place is.

Travel days, ok, so every now and then you gotta tuck in and get on with what you are doing, given the imitation irritation immigration gave us 30 logical days for humans but Xiao Lyu an illogical 14 days so we had to think how we are going to make the most of want we don’t have.

Normally in true TMK fashion we would slow right down, get on the ground level and enjoy Laos for what it is, for us it is a mission as we are here on our own transport which is how we love to travel and get to see what we want to then we a not stuck on a bus with a bunch of old people going to somewhere they take you to which is normally the hotel which are stark and they get a kickback from and the eating venues where the bus driver gets a free lunch, this is pretty obvious here without sounding like a fat shammer (but the people here have no idea of the shit that sugar does to you, they getting podgy bro).

So blasting down the main road in 450 style (90-100), stunning flat nice new road for a change took on a hole new dimension, I will explain.

So, there are two types of Hilux’s here, one that comes with only 1.5 gears and only does 30kmph with steering that is ridiculously unpredictable at best.

The second is the 38 speed fast and furious model, these come with wankers in them who think the entire road is theirs and they do 130kmph in heavy traffic, there are assertive/aggressive drivers which I like cos ya know what they are goin to do…then there are complete fucktards who pull out into oncoming trucks, flash the lights and they go through and fuck them….and us …which I don’t like, the appeal of being a hood ornament is less then enticing.

I think China has sent their worst drivers to Southern Laos and said…go make a fucken mess. We saw Utes that had been considerably shortened and they were not hit by flies.

That off my chest now it was a drive and survive day and we survived somehow, getting our accommodation sorted in Paksan we had a good kip and very nice homestay guesthouse, the lady bent over backwards for us, a diamond she was.

Next desto, Savannakhet, again another death defying day of “will the Kiwis get killed today”, nah, easy done. Was a long hall but remember we are busting a few km to see what we wonna.

Our first sunset since leaving home

 The second mission in Savannakhet is to figure out when and where we can extend Xiao Lyu’s temporary import permit (TIP). Off we went to the No2 Friendship Bridge which is 6km away from town center. A nice customs officer who can speak a little bit English which was very helpful. We were told that we can only renew the TIP on the expire date. We can do it at any international boarder town. Even weekends. They are working 7 days. Here you go, google said we have to do it at least 3 days prior, don’t rely on the net get the info from the guys who know.

Valet parking sir, why not

We went out to the river (MecKong) for dinner. Here we found the biggest night market we’ve been in Laos. Lots of lots of eateries here. Most of food Ellen still can’t eat – being cautious for not getting her hives back. We finally chose a big bowl of mushroom soup. It’s delicious. Unfortunately, neither of us didn’t slept well, not sure it had something to do with the green colour.

Savannakhet to all the way down to Champassak to the ruins, reasonable day at 220km but, well big for two old farts on a Chinese Donkey anyway. Deciding to stay near to the ruins we stopped at a hotel, checking it out the beds were like bricks and the courtyard was empty as a ghost town ….NAH. I had in our nav a guesthouse just around the corner where I am writing this from so yeap it panned out cool being on the waterfront and all.

The place we stayed at the kitchen was not working that night (his son and daughter were away) so we piled next door for a romantic dinner for two, riverside with nice music, green curry chicken, coconut banana pudding…and mosquitos, to be fair the mossies only come out at a certain time which funny enough is dinner time, we were it LOL.

Dinner, the view and the pud

The ruins, just some of many pics

The ruins provided us with a pretty cool afternoon, amazing the craftsmanship that went into building the walls, building etc...then we went to the museum, Ellen liked it but I would rather go to the dentist.   

We left the ruins, the skies quietly darkened behind us and we made it back before mum nature rinsed the place. So, having firmly reached the bottom of our Laos attack, nothing like a firm bottom (that I can remember) it was time to do a 180 and head back up to get Xiao Lyus extension done (she is a trouble maker).

That to come.