Postby trishcanfish » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:17 pm
just an addit - Thailand and laos, absolutely no problems to cycle, eat and sleep. the following hints for all who follow
Mae Hong son loop, west of Chiang Mai, I would definately recommend, having said this - from Mae hong son to chiang rai via pai, the road gets steep, curvy and challenging. I ended hitching up a couple of hills in the midday sun, which was easy to do, no shortage of utes. No probs in Norway, but for some reason, these hills seemed a challenge - a few fellow cyclists opted for buses or hitching. Fantastic scenery
Chiang mai to golden triangle via Mae Salong also nice, a few steep moments.
Chang Khong to Laos by boat - took boat to Pak Beng and cycled the loop to Oudomxai and Luang probang - great roads and villages were very humbling to cycle through. got caught up in a Lao wedding - and woke up with a headache. you can cycle straight from the boat as the roads have just been completed.
luang prabang to vientiane - well, great scenery and a 25km uphill - lots of undulations and great hot springs 15km north of Kasi. the road was dusty and broken about 50km either side of vang vien, and also the scenry is spectacular, the town itself reminds me of the gold coast during the end of schoolies week. I took a detour to plain of jars at phou khoun, and from phon hong to ban na keun via thalat on hwy 10 - the giant man made lake was the quietest place in laos, no early morning chikens or television wake ups. Vientiane is a bit dusty, but the market baguettes are cheap, and the coffee strong!!
Now time to head south - lots of cyclists in vientiane so no shortage of company for chirstmas season (apparently thats soon).
have to cut short the trip, cambodia will have to be next time - hope to catch you Michelle.
cheers
trish