Aw. my new friend, the bicycle! In the bicycle store in Vientiane, Laos.
One of the workers in the store, helping to fix and replace brake cables. They were incredibly helpful, and this guy even rode around town with us, helping us get deals on tools - bike pump, wrenches, tire repair kit - for the road.
My French friend Fabien outfitting his bike with "panniers" - well, our Chinese-backpack-version-panniers at least! Bamboo and plastic string hold the whole contraption together for 700km.
First morning, packing up in the guest house.
Ready to ride..
Cycling past Laos' version of the French "Arc de Triomphe." It is actually called Patuxai and is a monument in the center of Vientiane built in the 1960's. It is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. The ironic thing is that the Patuxay was built using American funds. The US had given Laos money to build a new airport, however the Laotian government of the day used the money to build the monument instead. Consequently, it is sometimes referred to as the "vertical runway".
Me heading toward the "Vertical Runway" or Arc de Triomphe de Laos...
Checking bag, reorganizing the packs.
Getting lost in...Elephant Territory?...on the first night.
Instead of going into elephant territory, asking Buddhist monks if we can sleep in the monastery.
They say "yes."
However, our lessons for the night are: #1 Don't put bicycles in front of Buddha. #2 Always ask the boss (our nickname for the head monk) if you can stay...
Sleeping time.
Leaving the monastery.
Buddhist monastery.
Signs marking the passage of time...and kilometers.
So so hot. Taking a water break.
Passing school kids along the way. In the morning and afternoons we were bombarded with "Sa bai dee!" (hello in Laos) shouted from nearly every child. Friendly snickers and laughter at us also followed as we pedaled by.
Fabien giving a kid a high five (or maybe it is a low five) while on the move.
We started in Vientiane...Savannakhet was our next goal.
Riders and bikes resting along the road.
Typical store encountered en route. Note the Beer Lao sign.
And, home sweet home. One of our guest houses.
Yep, bikes inside. But the shoes will have to come off.
Sleeping bikes near sleeping people.
Aw, death of the maroon shirt! After hiking the Camino de Santiago in 2007, traveling Central America in 2008, and cycling Thailand and Laos in 2009...this shirt was done for. So, to Katie W. (especially) and others that I've journeyed with in this shirt along the way...may it RIP in rural Laos. It was too sweat and dirt filled to be welcome along the journey anymore... :)
Noodle soup! Aw, our arch nemesis! Often times it was the only food available, but a) you never actually knew what would be in it and b) not the best energy food for cycling over 100 kilometers a day. But, noodle soup it was, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...
When something other than noodle soup was available...sticky rice, fried eggs, and Lao coffee (served with sweet and condensed milk at the bottom of the cup) was the breakfast of choice.
Oh, how I love you coffee Laos! You are so much better than your distant distant cousin, instant Nescafe...
Bicycles on a boat, going to Champasak.
Temple ruins at Champasak, an UNESCO world heritage site with similarities to Angkor Wat in Cambodia (although Champasak is only a percentage of the size and brilliance of Angkor Wat).
Again, it was so hot. I wished I was the Buddha with an umbrella over my head!
Climbing up to the main temple.
Buddha, Buddha.
And more shady (lucky) Buddhas.
Buddha's footprint? They say yes, but I'm not so sure...
Looking down on portions of Champasak.
Attempting a "short cut" - it didn't work. We ended up bouncing along a rough, dusty road in the midday sun for over an hour looking for a way to cross the Mekong.
Whew, a ferry to cross the river! Ferry = 4 small boats tied together.
Sunset at Don Khong Island - our final day of pealing, 700 kilometers after beginning 7 days previous in Vientiane.
Taking the bikes down to the river for their final river crossing.
On Don Khon Island. Tired and happy after many days on the road. It was an excellent, random trip full of lots of laughter, hot sun, and time to contemplate life while on the open road.
Morning mist on the Mekong in the region of the 4000 Islands. How many "islands" can you count in this picture? 1, 2, 3, 4...10, 25, 31...you get the idea.
The Li Phi Waterfalls on Don Khon - quite impressive. The Mekong suddenly drops, thus churning rapidly though narrow rock slots before reaching the Cambodian border.
Mekong River from Don Khon.
Fishing at sunset on the Mekong. Don Khon Island.
Water buffalo and cranes on the island.
So sad! Well, happy and sad. Fabien and I were both able to sell our bikes (the two on the left, unlike the others...). However, if was a bit sad to leave them behind. I think we both become more attached to them than we realized. Here they are "naked" without their panniers and our backpacks bungee corded on.
And back on the bus, seeing the countryside in a blur, unlike the experience of moving through local spaces while on the cycle. Good bye Laos...on my way to Cambodia.
