Travel across Laos on a bike!! anyone???

[sally_who]

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[glzco]

whao... awesome pics you have.. are you a photographer by hobby or by profession as well? wow.. i loved the pics you have.. its.. wow.. really awesome.. wished i could have gone on a trip like yours but just couldn't.. but am glad to see the trip went well despite the hic-cups before and during the trip.. amazing..

[sally_who]

thanks!

fact is i dun even own a camera hehee.. borrowed a fren's digital camera then did some basic idiot- proof editing with mac.. aaaand yeah it turned out pretty!

 

well glzco, what you mean "couldn't" make this kinda trip happen..

 

as you know, im still not quite satisfied this time round and i should be planning for another (bike- related) trip soon. i had wanted a whole different experience (i mean this one wasnt too bad) but i had wanted something more erm rough u know, like adventerous, a more free spirited kinda ride. going off road on a trail not reflected on a map with a dirt bike, going the distance till i tire myself out..get trapped, get lost, get dirty.. *sigh* maybe im too much of an optimistic idealist, unmindful of the real dangers that it poses.. haiyah.. dunno lah

[glzco]

lol.. what i meant by i couldnt was that i din have the available time to go for one now after dec due to sch commitments.. but like you said.. i'm thinkin of going towards the end of the year.. nothing is confirmed and in the thought process.. in any case, i think i'm getting the idea that you have.. and yeah.. it'll be interesting and great to have such a trip~! the unknown is always tempting and exciting! esp off the trail.. thou thr are concerns that are quite impt too.. haha.. we are planning a short ride to mersing after CNY thou.. planning process.. but most likely confirmed..

 

looks like ur photo edting skills are really good den? haha.. mayb you've done it alot so you're familiar.. i'm a noob with photo editing thou i do a little photography myself.. underwater too..

[Fredd]

if u dun mind me askin..hw much did u spend in total? could you break the prices down as well? thanks for sharin

 

thanks!

fact is i dun even own a camera hehee.. borrowed a fren's digital camera then did some basic idiot- proof editing with mac.. aaaand yeah it turned out pretty!

 

well glzco, what you mean "couldn't" make this kinda trip happen..

 

as you know, im still not quite satisfied this time round and i should be planning for another (bike- related) trip soon. i had wanted a whole different experience (i mean this one wasnt too bad) but i had wanted something more erm rough u know, like adventerous, a more free spirited kinda ride. going off road on a trail not reflected on a map with a dirt bike, going the distance till i tire myself out..get trapped, get lost, get dirty.. *sigh* maybe im too much of an optimistic idealist, unmindful of the real dangers that it poses.. haiyah.. dunno lah

[sally_who]

ok freddy, heres the breakdown to the best my mental ability can recall.

*note: im "cheap" so to speak. because going on a shoestring budget is all i can afford, (that or simply the thrill of being cheap )

and this is my personal costs, (so im not gonna mention how much - what- would have cost - or suggest other options etc etc)

and no im not gonna convert for you

 

in getting there, my option 1. fly to bkk (sgd59) overnight train to nongkhai- thanaleng (usd26). however, tiger cancelled my flight so i went ahead with option 2.

(now that i write this, tigerairways owe me some money!!!)

option 2. flight: sin - kl - vtn (kl - vtn 3x a week via airasia- explains why i was in melaka for 4 whole f***ing days - i swear off melaka i tell you!!) paid myr 204

(of course theres the most convinient hassle free option of flying straight out from here to there)

 

paid between sgd5 for a shared dingy room at a dingy town (scoop water out using a bucket type of shared bathroom) to as much as sgd20 for a nice room with a nice balcony- even a tv, aircon and hot shower - praise the lord for hot baths in cold weather- overlooking the lake.. sweeeeeet! (at this price, its already considered high end )

 

cant believe i forgot what i paid for the mopeds. i'll look it up and let u know. heh. but for sure i remember that it wasnt cheap! and petrol was a whopping 10 000 kips per litre! (which is pretty darn expensive if u ask me)

 

i didnt find mcd so i cant compare that. food is cheap nontheless. like 7 000kips for a footlong sandwhich. halal food is, as expected, waaay more expensive. and the tidbits was a rip- off! (cost pretty much the same here) which is ridiculous considering their economy

 

theres always small fees to get into the reserves or waterfalls or "necessary donations" to get into temples. additional cost to ride if ur gonna rent their riding gear (which could amount to quite a bit) and additional miscellaneous stuff like maps -USD $7.50 - most reliable ones around- written by the big boys from gt- rider - i have if one if anyone wants to save $$ , smokes are at 13 000 kips for a pack of marlboro. theres of course the cheaper brands that could probably make u wheeze when u wake up in the morning, which is less than half the price. beer? i forgot. (i dont drink see) but im sure the lao beer is err cheap.

 

so do the math! i was away for 3 weeks - in msia lao and thai. i dun wish to get into so much details for im sure you can google away or grab the (what i call) travel bible - lonely planet - which is waaaay comprehensive. however i can still recall specifics of location of bikes shops like french owner jule's bike or the local pvc, or the street where the halal food can be found in major towns, or or or or or... just ask awaaaaaaaaaaaay.......

 

dingy dingy

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally21.jpg

 

the good stuff

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally20.jpg

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally19-1.jpg

 

 

if u dun mind me askin..hw much did u spend in total? could you break the prices down as well? thanks for sharin

[sally_who]

so how was the new year trip! i reckon u rode up to mersing?!?

 

i ended up riding up to desaru as well on that weekend. it wasnt planned. and my bike was, well, in no position to ride that far (my rxz was literally fallin apart) but i made it (not quite safely tho) there and back. my first time. very nice. i like i want to do again

 

lol.. what i meant by i couldnt was that i din have the available time to go for one now after dec due to sch commitments.. but like you said.. i'm thinkin of going towards the end of the year.. nothing is confirmed and in the thought process.. in any case, i think i'm getting the idea that you have.. and yeah.. it'll be interesting and great to have such a trip~! the unknown is always tempting and exciting! esp off the trail.. thou thr are concerns that are quite impt too.. haha.. we are planning a short ride to mersing after CNY thou.. planning process.. but most likely confirmed..

 

looks like ur photo edting skills are really good den? haha.. mayb you've done it alot so you're familiar.. i'm a noob with photo editing thou i do a little photography myself.. underwater too..

[glzco]

haha.. nt yet.. the trip's scheduled to be next week.. haha.. will update again on how it goes though.. lol... but the places you stay.. oh... so simple yet beautiful.. i would have loved to the be.. down on the beaten track.. or unbeaten too.. haha.. cool stuff..

[Fredd]

nice! thanks for sharing. maybe it will be my turn soon..if money n time permits..hehehe

 

ok freddy, heres the breakdown to the best my mental ability can recall.

*note: im "cheap" so to speak. because going on a shoestring budget is all i can afford, (that or simply the thrill of being cheap )

and this is my personal costs, (so im not gonna mention how much - what- would have cost - or suggest other options etc etc)

and no im not gonna convert for you

 

in getting there, my option 1. fly to bkk (sgd59) overnight train to nongkhai- thanaleng (usd26). however, tiger cancelled my flight so i went ahead with option 2.

(now that i write this, tigerairways owe me some money!!!)

option 2. flight: sin - kl - vtn (kl - vtn 3x a week via airasia- explains why i was in melaka for 4 whole f***ing days - i swear off melaka i tell you!!) paid myr 204

(of course theres the most convinient hassle free option of flying straight out from here to there)

 

paid between sgd5 for a shared dingy room at a dingy town (scoop water out using a bucket type of shared bathroom) to as much as sgd20 for a nice room with a nice balcony- even a tv, aircon and hot shower - praise the lord for hot baths in cold weather- overlooking the lake.. sweeeeeet! (at this price, its already considered high end )

 

cant believe i forgot what i paid for the mopeds. i'll look it up and let u know. heh. but for sure i remember that it wasnt cheap! and petrol was a whopping 10 000 kips per litre! (which is pretty darn expensive if u ask me)

 

i didnt find mcd so i cant compare that. food is cheap nontheless. like 7 000kips for a footlong sandwhich. halal food is, as expected, waaay more expensive. and the tidbits was a rip- off! (cost pretty much the same here) which is ridiculous considering their economy

 

theres always small fees to get into the reserves or waterfalls or "necessary donations" to get into temples. additional cost to ride if ur gonna rent their riding gear (which could amount to quite a bit) and additional miscellaneous stuff like maps -USD $7.50 - most reliable ones around- written by the big boys from gt- rider - i have if one if anyone wants to save $$ , smokes are at 13 000 kips for a pack of marlboro. theres of course the cheaper brands that could probably make u wheeze when u wake up in the morning, which is less than half the price. beer? i forgot. (i dont drink see) but im sure the lao beer is err cheap.

 

so do the math! i was away for 3 weeks - in msia lao and thai. i dun wish to get into so much details for im sure you can google away or grab the (what i call) travel bible - lonely planet - which is waaaay comprehensive. however i can still recall specifics of location of bikes shops like french owner jule's bike or the local pvc, or the street where the halal food can be found in major towns, or or or or or... just ask awaaaaaaaaaaaay.......

 

dingy dingy

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally21.jpg

 

the good stuff

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally20.jpg

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/FB666Y/laosally19-1.jpg

[sally_who]

nice! thanks for sharing. maybe it will be my turn soon..if money n time permits..hehehe

 

freddy salvatore! I know youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

what a small world!

 

come on, u dunno the girl that rides rxz that stays at bedok?! ask the tripod / clique 4a !! (don)

 

and dont expose my name here! ill let you guess before i pm you!

[glzco]

Lol.. Nw that's a very small world.. Haha..

[Fredd]

oh ****..i noe who u r!!! hahaha..wasted nobody tag along wif u..hotbabe alert

 

freddy salvatore! I know youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

what a small world!

 

come on, u dunno the girl that rides rxz that stays at bedok?! ask the tripod / clique 4a !! (don)

 

and dont expose my name here! ill let you guess before i pm you!

[AeROSmitH]

i'm keen!!!

[glzco]

Lol.. Trip over bro.. Haha.. And freddy.. Shld ask your fren join us keep next time..

[sally_who]

yeah keen on what aerosmith! trip is over and done with! (altho im pretty sure theres more coming up!! )

 

and glzco and freddy knows each other?? for all u know glzco i know u too!! the world is getting too freakishly small!

[Fredd]

haha..u certainly do not know glzco. nt from our clan

 

yeah keen on what aerosmith! trip is over and done with! (altho im pretty sure theres more coming up!! )

 

and glzco and freddy knows each other?? for all u know glzco i know u too!! the world is getting too freakishly small!

[glzco]

lol.. yea.. i dun tink i know who you are.. but... what clan? haha.. who knows i know her from another place? haha.. yeah.. the world is freakishly small.. haha.. i'm planning a trip from thailand to laos to cambodia to vietnam ard may/june period.. but i'll be on foot.. haha..

[2405]

Laos is driving on the right, please be careful. Road conditions still ok in Vientiane.

[esperar]

sally_who, i'll take the gt-rider map if no one wants it! Thanks for the updates. You certainly have a very, very good eye for pictures!

[ProFatSir]

Pictures and ride report?

[glzco]

she did write some of her stuff earlier in the thread..