After a perfect two day cycle from Chiang Rai to Chang Saen and then to Chang Khong along the hilly roads hugging the shores of the Mekong. There is nothing quite like cycling in the morning mists sweeping from the Mekong and being serenaded by the gibbons in the surrouding jungle, it makes you feel very far away from the N11. These were my last few kilometres in Thailand and though I would not like to say my best they certainly reminded me of how much I enjoyed the past 5 weeks touring through this beautiful country.
After a night in Chang Khong I took a boat across the river and in doing so entered in to Laos. From here I decided to take the "slow boat" down the Mekong to the world heritage town of Luang Probang. Throwing my bike on the roof of the river barge and paying an extortionate amount for this privilage I embarked upon the two day and 15 hour journey down the Mekong. This, as I had hoped, was a stunning journey through gorges, jungle lined mountains and small fishing villages, by the time I arrived in Luang Probang yesterday evening I was quite sad to be saying goodbye to that leg of my journey. That feeling was soon overshadowed by the beauty of this very touristic town, decaying 19th century French architecture splashed with a large amount of intricately detailed golden temples and wats and all lined by tall palm trees, quite unlike anything I have ever seen.
This morning from the vantage of a golden temple on a hill, I watched the rising sun peel its way slowly over the surrounding jungled mountains and clear the valleys bellow of their shroud of mist. After strolling through the bustling morning market and munching on some succulent ripe mango I breakfasted on noodle soup (which unbelievably is better then in Thailand), baguette and wonderfully thick, strong local coffee. Why yes I thought to myself, it is very good to be in Laos.
4 comments:
hi will patrick o'h from up the road and just met your mum who told us about your trip and your blog.It looks very exciting and i was wordering what type of mountain bike you have and how much it is.I think your dicription of the journey is incredible!im just at the end of my first year in willow and exams are coming up.So if you want to reply my e-mail is patrickohalloran@hotmail.com. So have a good tripand hope you enjoy yourself.
hay spanky,
thats mad around this time last year myself and sarah done the exact same thing, slow boat ect. its a beautiful place, did you try the beer yet? bk to the dissertation its due tomorrow, such a piss up im going to have after it! pat rafter will take care.
sounds beautiful man, especially since I've just arrived in from spending some quality time stuck on the N11 ;)
It just sounds like the trip is getting better and better!! Keep it up.
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