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Going Tribal
I'm at the small & beautiful island of Koh Lanta, Thailand, ready to meet Haley for the beginning of the 2nd Father-Daughter adventure in SouthEast Asia -- this time, as our first trip to the country of Laos. Haley is a good student and carrying a lighter load of classes this term. Thus, she didn't mind ducking out of a week of school in order to grab the opportunity and join me on this wild adventure.
She's leaving pretty shortly (with the time difference, hard to say exactly), flying solo from college in San Luis Obispo to San Francisco -- then the long 15 hour flight to Hong Kong -- then a 3 hour flight to Bangkok, where I will meet her in the airport terminal if all goes to plan (it better !). We will then fly to Luang Prabang, Laos. 4 continuous flights for Haley, 21 hours in the air, and a 14 hour time difference !
We will be riding motorcycles off-road for 547 miles over a 5 day period through multiple villages of Laos -- to see the local people & their customs, hidden caves, lush rivers, and giant elephants.
The training began over the summer of this year, with off-road motorcycle training with Tim from The School of Dirt. Tim did an awesome job teaching us both, beginning with the introductory training course, and then a full day of trail riding in Victorville. Despite a few falls through the day, we came away with a great deal of hands-on experience and confidence for our motorcycle adventure in various terrain. I know Tim is anxious to hear about our motorcycle journey, and we hope to make you proud, Tim, on the other side of the world on two wheels.
We are going with the tour operator, MotoLao, and the journey is called "The White Elephant". It will be just Haley & myself, and our guide. I'll be on a Honda CRF250L, and they have a smaller 135 cc motorcycle that will be perfect for Haley's size. (The same size bike she trained on with Tim) There will be many stops along the way, to visit the local people, see their villages and way of life, and interact with the children.
Our first night will be a home stay, sleeping in a local family's home, and eating dinner with them. Our guide is bilingual in case we need any translation. And, as the below itinerary shows, during the last 2 days, we spend the time at the Sayabouri Elephant Conservation Center. It should be another great experience for Haley as an Animal Science student. On our way back, we will have a brief 9 hour or so visit in Osaka, Japan before our flight home.
Here is a 3 minute video from MotoLao, to give you an idea of what we will be doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JThSG0_ daYI
I doubt there will be ongoing blog entries as I did in "Going Ape: Malaysia", as we will not have access to internet along the way. However, I will certainly be taking plenty of pictures and video, and intend to produce a video of the journey to share. So, in about 1 week, anticipate receiving a link to the video production if all goes well.
The last several days have been great, with no troubles, no injuries and I've been completely healthy. The most fun for me has been meeting people along the way, and virtually all from other countries as it seems there just aren't a whole lot of Americans travelling over here. Spent the day on Monday riding a motorbike up & down the weaving roads on the coast of Phuket, up to Surin Beach and down to Phromthep Cape at the very Southernmost tip of Thailand. Great sunset views, and you can look across the ocean and see Malaysia in the distance.
Hung out with some friends from Thailand & France, socializing & enjoying a good meal over the great view. Tuesday morning started with my early departure from Phuket over to the ferry terminal, making it just in time. It turns out they only had 7 passengers for this ferry transfer, so no big boat this time, but rather a speedboat. Having twin-250s was great, except for the rough seas and the smaller boat, which ultimately made for a "spirited adventure" for the 2 hour boat ride to Koh Lanta. I felt the need to party it up a little bit on the last night in Phuket, coupled with an early departure for the ferry terminal, leaving just 2 hours for sleep. Now, logic told me that I'll just sleep on the ferry boat -- not this time, as we were all tossed around & sprayed with seawater along the way. So, the rest of the day became the opportunity to catch up on sleep.
After the sleep deprivation was cured, I made it over to a Thai Cooking Class. I probably should start with "any" cooking class, as cooking isn't even close to a strong point for me, but it was a fun thing to do overseas. And yes, I know I look goofy with the provided cooking class hat. I thought we all looked a bit like Mario & Luigi. Joined in with 3 others for a small group class, and we each had our own station and cooked our own 4 courses, one at a time. After each course, we'd take our plates back to the table and enjoy our creations and socialize -- met others from Canada, and we all enjoyed each other's company. We made Som Tom Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, Tom Kha Gai, and Khang Kew Wan Gai.
Today, I made it back into the water for some scuba diving, and went to the same dive sites that Kevin & I hit in April: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, and Koh Haa. It was a great day, with pretty good conditions, but unfortunately, still no manta ray or whale shark sightings. However, had a great encounter with a big group of Cuttlefish, including a National Geographic uncensored mating session -- got it on gopro video. Had a good time throughout the day with dive buddies Erich from Switzerland & Guillaume from France. Tomorrow I'm planning to spend the day back on motorcycle, covering the island of Koh Lanta -- all the way over to Old Town and to the National Park.
Farewell for now, and onward to our first arrival in the country of Laos !
Robert & Haley
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU – NONG KHIAW – BAN NAGNAN
Your motorcycle journey begins in Luang Prabang before heading up north toward Nong Khiaw along some magnificent dirt and asphalt roads. You will cross the mighty Mekong River by ferry and visit the historic Pak Ou caves along the way. Thousands of Buddha sculptures have been added to the Pak Ou caves over the years, making it an important site for Buddhism. You will then continue your motorcycle ride toward Ban Nagnan, where you will observe the continued tradition of silk weaving and silk dying from natural materials. Your night consists of an authentic home stay with a local family in Ban Nagnan, where you will enjoy freshly cooked Lao food and have a deeper understanding of their unique way of life.
DAY 2 BAN NAGNAN – OUDOMXAY – LUANG NAMTHA
The next morning you will ride out through the breathtaking Lao countryside on tar roads to Oudomxay. This province is known its mountainous roads, providing a scenic adventure in Laos that cannot be beat. You can stop in any local village in Oudomxay, where you will enjoy a quick bite and meet friendly people willing to share stories with you. Once you arrive in Luang Namtha in the late afternoon, you will be accommodated for the night at a local guest house.
DAY 3 LUANG NAMTHA – PAKBENG
The third day of your motorcycle tour begins in Luang Namtha, where you will take your motorcycle off-road toward Pakbeng. This leg of the journey is more challenging, however it is well worth it because you will be able to access local villages and remote towns that experience very few tourists. You can interact with friendly people who come from various ethnic groups along the way. When you arrive in Pakbeng, you will be accommodated at a comfortable lodge that is within walking distance to the Mekong River.
DAY 4 PAKBENG – HONGSA – SAYABOURI
On your fourth day, you will leave early from Pakbeng and ride out on your motorcycle to Hongsa. Hongsa is a remarkable village that has two bustling markets packed full of freshly prepared Lao food. You will continue through Hongsa to Sayabouri along winding dirt roads in the countryside. Upon arrival in Sayabouri, you will enjoy a freshly prepared Lao meal, and be accommodated overnight at the Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC).
DAY 5 SAYABOURI – MUANG NAN – LUANG PRABANG
The following morning you will be able to ride, feed, bathe, and befriend these Lao elephants. A trip to Laos is not complete without getting up close and personal with an elephant! You can also visit their medical centre to learn more about how they help treat and rescue elephants. After Sayabouri you will traverse the Mekong River and drive through Muang Nan, a quaint village with hospitable people. On the final stretch back to Luang Prabang, your will ride out on dusty roads along the Mekong River with a few river crossings along the way. Your five-day motorcycle ride concludes once you arrive in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
She's leaving pretty shortly (with the time difference, hard to say exactly), flying solo from college in San Luis Obispo to San Francisco -- then the long 15 hour flight to Hong Kong -- then a 3 hour flight to Bangkok, where I will meet her in the airport terminal if all goes to plan (it better !). We will then fly to Luang Prabang, Laos. 4 continuous flights for Haley, 21 hours in the air, and a 14 hour time difference !
We will be riding motorcycles off-road for 547 miles over a 5 day period through multiple villages of Laos -- to see the local people & their customs, hidden caves, lush rivers, and giant elephants.
The training began over the summer of this year, with off-road motorcycle training with Tim from The School of Dirt. Tim did an awesome job teaching us both, beginning with the introductory training course, and then a full day of trail riding in Victorville. Despite a few falls through the day, we came away with a great deal of hands-on experience and confidence for our motorcycle adventure in various terrain. I know Tim is anxious to hear about our motorcycle journey, and we hope to make you proud, Tim, on the other side of the world on two wheels.
We are going with the tour operator, MotoLao, and the journey is called "The White Elephant". It will be just Haley & myself, and our guide. I'll be on a Honda CRF250L, and they have a smaller 135 cc motorcycle that will be perfect for Haley's size. (The same size bike she trained on with Tim) There will be many stops along the way, to visit the local people, see their villages and way of life, and interact with the children.
Our first night will be a home stay, sleeping in a local family's home, and eating dinner with them. Our guide is bilingual in case we need any translation. And, as the below itinerary shows, during the last 2 days, we spend the time at the Sayabouri Elephant Conservation Center. It should be another great experience for Haley as an Animal Science student. On our way back, we will have a brief 9 hour or so visit in Osaka, Japan before our flight home.
Here is a 3 minute video from MotoLao, to give you an idea of what we will be doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JThSG0_ daYI
I doubt there will be ongoing blog entries as I did in "Going Ape: Malaysia", as we will not have access to internet along the way. However, I will certainly be taking plenty of pictures and video, and intend to produce a video of the journey to share. So, in about 1 week, anticipate receiving a link to the video production if all goes well.
The last several days have been great, with no troubles, no injuries and I've been completely healthy. The most fun for me has been meeting people along the way, and virtually all from other countries as it seems there just aren't a whole lot of Americans travelling over here. Spent the day on Monday riding a motorbike up & down the weaving roads on the coast of Phuket, up to Surin Beach and down to Phromthep Cape at the very Southernmost tip of Thailand. Great sunset views, and you can look across the ocean and see Malaysia in the distance.
Hung out with some friends from Thailand & France, socializing & enjoying a good meal over the great view. Tuesday morning started with my early departure from Phuket over to the ferry terminal, making it just in time. It turns out they only had 7 passengers for this ferry transfer, so no big boat this time, but rather a speedboat. Having twin-250s was great, except for the rough seas and the smaller boat, which ultimately made for a "spirited adventure" for the 2 hour boat ride to Koh Lanta. I felt the need to party it up a little bit on the last night in Phuket, coupled with an early departure for the ferry terminal, leaving just 2 hours for sleep. Now, logic told me that I'll just sleep on the ferry boat -- not this time, as we were all tossed around & sprayed with seawater along the way. So, the rest of the day became the opportunity to catch up on sleep.
After the sleep deprivation was cured, I made it over to a Thai Cooking Class. I probably should start with "any" cooking class, as cooking isn't even close to a strong point for me, but it was a fun thing to do overseas. And yes, I know I look goofy with the provided cooking class hat. I thought we all looked a bit like Mario & Luigi. Joined in with 3 others for a small group class, and we each had our own station and cooked our own 4 courses, one at a time. After each course, we'd take our plates back to the table and enjoy our creations and socialize -- met others from Canada, and we all enjoyed each other's company. We made Som Tom Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, Tom Kha Gai, and Khang Kew Wan Gai.
Today, I made it back into the water for some scuba diving, and went to the same dive sites that Kevin & I hit in April: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, and Koh Haa. It was a great day, with pretty good conditions, but unfortunately, still no manta ray or whale shark sightings. However, had a great encounter with a big group of Cuttlefish, including a National Geographic uncensored mating session -- got it on gopro video. Had a good time throughout the day with dive buddies Erich from Switzerland & Guillaume from France. Tomorrow I'm planning to spend the day back on motorcycle, covering the island of Koh Lanta -- all the way over to Old Town and to the National Park.
Farewell for now, and onward to our first arrival in the country of Laos !
Robert & Haley
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU – NONG KHIAW – BAN NAGNAN
Your motorcycle journey begins in Luang Prabang before heading up north toward Nong Khiaw along some magnificent dirt and asphalt roads. You will cross the mighty Mekong River by ferry and visit the historic Pak Ou caves along the way. Thousands of Buddha sculptures have been added to the Pak Ou caves over the years, making it an important site for Buddhism. You will then continue your motorcycle ride toward Ban Nagnan, where you will observe the continued tradition of silk weaving and silk dying from natural materials. Your night consists of an authentic home stay with a local family in Ban Nagnan, where you will enjoy freshly cooked Lao food and have a deeper understanding of their unique way of life.
DAY 2 BAN NAGNAN – OUDOMXAY – LUANG NAMTHA
The next morning you will ride out through the breathtaking Lao countryside on tar roads to Oudomxay. This province is known its mountainous roads, providing a scenic adventure in Laos that cannot be beat. You can stop in any local village in Oudomxay, where you will enjoy a quick bite and meet friendly people willing to share stories with you. Once you arrive in Luang Namtha in the late afternoon, you will be accommodated for the night at a local guest house.
DAY 3 LUANG NAMTHA – PAKBENG
The third day of your motorcycle tour begins in Luang Namtha, where you will take your motorcycle off-road toward Pakbeng. This leg of the journey is more challenging, however it is well worth it because you will be able to access local villages and remote towns that experience very few tourists. You can interact with friendly people who come from various ethnic groups along the way. When you arrive in Pakbeng, you will be accommodated at a comfortable lodge that is within walking distance to the Mekong River.
DAY 4 PAKBENG – HONGSA – SAYABOURI
On your fourth day, you will leave early from Pakbeng and ride out on your motorcycle to Hongsa. Hongsa is a remarkable village that has two bustling markets packed full of freshly prepared Lao food. You will continue through Hongsa to Sayabouri along winding dirt roads in the countryside. Upon arrival in Sayabouri, you will enjoy a freshly prepared Lao meal, and be accommodated overnight at the Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC).
DAY 5 SAYABOURI – MUANG NAN – LUANG PRABANG
The following morning you will be able to ride, feed, bathe, and befriend these Lao elephants. A trip to Laos is not complete without getting up close and personal with an elephant! You can also visit their medical centre to learn more about how they help treat and rescue elephants. After Sayabouri you will traverse the Mekong River and drive through Muang Nan, a quaint village with hospitable people. On the final stretch back to Luang Prabang, your will ride out on dusty roads along the Mekong River with a few river crossings along the way. Your five-day motorcycle ride concludes once you arrive in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
- comments
Campbell, Sue Adorable.
Campbell, Sue Unbelievable scenery ... just beautiful.