Thursday 13 November 2014

Day 28-30: Thailand border run, Chillin' in Pakse, Pakse to Thakhek

Bridge over the Mekong towards Thailand
 
Mon, Nov 10

Left at 9:30 and drove 45 km (1hr) to Thai border today to renew our 30 day export papers for the bikes. Went through:

-Lao Customs: check bikes out

-Lao Immigration: check ourselves out

-Thai Immigration: check ourselves in

-Thai Customs: check bikes in

-Drove around to the other side of the Thai building

-Thai Immigration: check ourselves out 

-Thai Customs: check bikes out 

-Laos Immigration: check ourselves in 

-Laos Customs: check bikes in

Whew, 4.5 hours and several copies, photos, scans and reams of paperwork later we were done and headed back to Pakse.

Transporting monks in Pakse





Tues, Nov 11

Enjoying the laid back pace of Laos, we decided to stay an extra day in Pakse to cruise through the countryside.  Enjoyed staying at the Sala Champa Hotel where we met Doug, a Canadian, who splits his time between travel in SE Asia and running DogSledFarm.com north of Toronto.  We also met 3 Malaysian guys who are riding bikes through Laos and Thailand and shared some experiences of the roads.  Drove 40km to Tad Fan waterfall which was spectacular – 2 long plumes of water falling 120m from an almost vertical wall of jungle.  

Patient transfer with IV bag!
Tad Fan Waterfall - 120m











Wed, Nov 12

Headed north to Thakhek on gravel and dirt road construction just leaving Pakse then the rest of the way was paved and fast.  Occasional potholes and goats or cows on the road were the only obstacles.  Pulled into Thakhek just past 3:00 and stepped out to watch the sun setting over Thailand across the Mekong.


Total Driving Time:  5:00hrs
Total Distance:  335km


 

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