Vang Vieng – A Town Surrounded by Beautiful Mountains

Day 17 – Day 20 | 5th June 2016 – 10th June 2016

I woke up late. – The usual lazy ass me as I know it was just 160km to Vang Vieng from Vientiane. Didnt bother to explore Vientiane much. What a waste.
Had the “free” breakfast provided in the hostel and I started pretty late.

The roads to Vang Vieng was pretty twisty and most of the time I did not exceed 90km/ hour. No point rushing, cant see shit when rushing. Laos scenery is very beautiful but it comes at a pretty risky price. The roads. One will have to watch out for the roads. A pothole will not even appear to your eyes and your vehicle will just go into a sudden, deadly bump, which might cost a blowout [ (Happened to me) (Post is soon to come) ].

 

Potholes are just the least and first of your worries. Much worse road conditions are encountered the longer I am on the crappy “road” in Laos.

Well, Laos roads are not the worst in the world after seeing crappier mudways on the internet, but they are enough to hinder your journey and stress the crap of you. You might not really feel it when travelling in a group. It affected me pretty much as I am alone most of the time. When I get into “shit”, I have to get out of the “shit” by myself.

Many factors actually add up to put me into stress. Small factors that doesn’t seem too big a thing can be a big ass headache when factored in together. At one point of time, I felt like giving up, dump the motorcycle there (send it as cargo back), and just take a darn flight home. Spend all that hard earned money to bring me to the airport and pay for a stupid flight home. Just like that.

Examples of minor factors that gave me a big headache in the coming day:

1) Not being able to get communicate with the locals due to language barrier.
2) Not being able to find a shop that is able to help you.
3) Not knowing if there is even a proper shop that exist to help you.
4) Not being able to get spare parts in a 3rd world country.
5) Breakdown happens in the middle of nowhere. No town nearby, just a rural village. My only help, my only resort for now (Next post).

The cons of travelling alone when I get myself into “Shitty” situations are time wasting, helpless AND feeling helpless. Its difficult to get out of some sticky situations being alone, especially when most roads are secluded where you have your falls/ self accidents.
The pros of it: I get intellectually smarter and stronger mentally when I rectify the problem by myself.
As the saying goes, “What doesnt kill you, makes you stronger.”

Upon nearing Vang Vieng, I started to see the karst landscape coming up. The amazing views on the way is just an appetiser for me.
The bendy roads through the hills from #Vientiane to Vang Vieng was a mix of half done asphalt road, gravel, a load of cattles + children + small motorbikes cutting across the small villages! Barely able to hit 80km/hr on most stretches… Trying to hit 100km/ hr means getting yourself killed or getting something or someone else killed on these roads.

 

 

I sourced for a back packer inn again and this time it cost USD 5.5. No “free” breakfast. A dormitory with 7 beds. Only 2 guys and me though.

Slept for the night there and the next day I went out exploring the outskirts of the town with my motorcycle. First time without my helmet and Safety PPEs as I am too tired of wearing them. haha. The time taken to don the gears is a turn off. Well it was a risk for me but I know I am not even able to go fast on the road as there are too many hazards like cattle, village kids running on the roads, small motorcycles cutting across abruptly.. Probably to a max of like 25km/hour for me without helmet and proper gear. What an ass.

I just slipped on my cheap secondary sneakers and off I go. I need shoes at least, to tame this heavy machine. Slippers is a no no for this even for short distance as it is too heavy. Loads of grip is needed!
With the sneakers my legs are able to touch the ground better, giving me more grip.
My legs are short, and the seat height for this bike is pretty high for me.

Cattles blocking the entire road is pretty common here when the farmers have to reherd the cows to another location for grazing.

Bridge over Nam Song river. This river is used for tubing (Float down the river on tyre tubes), kayaking and zip lining! Small pubs and bars also line along the river to cater to tourist wanting to purchase a drink and relax on the way. Alot of farangs died here in this river. Check it out here.

Getting mud, dust and shit on your bottom is pretty normal here. Shit is smeared in the threads of my front tyre as shown. Looks pretty different from Mud huh? Dont ask me why I rolled over shit. Skills that I did not self skid due to shit on my wheels though.. keep your handlebar straight while u roll over shit they said..

A calf wanting to go on a head on with me.

I made 2 new friends in Vang Vieng soon after and I decided to stay with them in in Vang Vieng before I leave here for China to cut cost. Well, least I paid lesser than staying in a backpackers inn by myself!
1 of them, a Lady Boy while the other, a girl. After getting to know a lady boy and learning more about their life, they are actually just like us, and they arent scary after all!

Really crafty wooden bridge towards Nam Song River.

Eateries, small pubs and markets are set up along Nam Song River as the river is filled with tourists streaming down with Tyre Tubes and kayaking down the river

My instinct to cut accommodation cost is getting the hang out of me as on the 17th day of travelling.

Getting cheaper and cheaper day by day. But it can be cheaper still. Instinct to cut cost naturally comes to me soon after as the days on the road gets longer and tougher. Travelling solo will also teach me to be mentally tougher and be street smarter.
Everyday is a +1 experience up for me. Is it possible to not even spend a single cent while travelling? I will find out in the days to come.