LAOS - Paradise on the Earth

Heti rajan yli paastya nahtiin, etta laos on varma reissun suosikki. pikku kyla oli rauhallisin mita ikin oon nahny. tullimiehet pelaili jalkapalloa, vanha ukko poltteli piippua ja bussikuski torkkui tyhjassa bussissa odottamassa matkustajia.
Annettiin tullipomolle Vietnamin Lonely Planet josta ukko ilahtui kovasti. Bussi lahtikin sitten samana paivana mukanaan mina ja jukkis, eika ketaan muuta koko 175 kilometrin matkana. Luultavasti oltaisiin jouduttu yopymaan rajalla, jos oltaisiin toteutettu sunnitelma poltaa roviolla Lonely Planet Vietnam - matkaopaskirja, Joka mm. Puhui kahdesta eri rajan ylityspaikasta samana. Katsokaa aina moneen kertaan ennen kun meette mihinkaan LP:n neuvomaan paikkaan.
Seuraavana aamuna Xam Neuassa ostettiin "motskarit." Kiinalaiset 110-ccm mopot.

Kaytiin parina paivana alelemassa mopoja sisaan ja kokeilemassa kaikki viat, ja ennen matkaan lahtoa kaytiin viela korjauttaan kaikki puutteet ja kiristamassa loysat pultit.Kaytiin mm. Viang Xaissa katsomassa luolia

Matka kohti etelaa saattoi siis alkaa. Ensin kuljettiin lanteen yli vuorten ja laaksojen. Maisemat upeita ja uusia. Kylat ihmeteltavaa ja ihmettelijoita taynna.

Meista kehittyi toisena ajo paivana varsin hyvia renkaan vaihtajia, kun Jukkiksen ajoneuvosta puhkes kolme kertaa takarengas. Muilta vioilta valtyttiin. Surituspaineita kertyi, kun koko kylan lapset kokoontui ymparille ihmettelemaan

Eraassa kylassa saatiin kutsu paikallisiin haa juhliin. Koko kylan vaki oli kokoontunut juhlimaan ja jokaisesta poydasta tarjottiin Lao Laoa. Aamulla meille ei puhuttu kovin ystavalliseen savyyn, joten paatettiin otta hatkat. Mopot alle ja seuraavaan kylaan.

Matkan edistyessa joet leveni ja ilmat lampenivat. Ja myos vuoret madaltuivat, joten matkan teko vauhdittui. Joulu vietettiin kylassa nimelta Nong Khiaw. Seuraan loytyi kaksi erikseen matkaavaa Suomalais poikaa: Jukka Rovaniemelta ja Jaakko Hervannasta! Valkoista joulua ei ollut meillakaan. Ei ehka yhta kylma kun Suomessa, Mutta ei mekaan ilman takkia illalla parjatty. Talviturkki kaytiin tosin kastamassa. Joulumaa!!!

Nyt ollaan Luang Brabangissa Mekongin rannalla. Taalla ei pysty valokuvaamaan ku joka kuvaan osuu vahintaan yks turisti. Huomena jatketaan matkaa Vang Viengiin.

Thursday, 28 december, 2006

LAOS, paradise on earth

As soon as we got over the border, we knew right away that Laos will be the top favorite destination of the trip. The little village was thge most peaceful i’ve ever seen. Border control playing football, a single old-timer smoking his pipe and the bus driver snoozing off in his empty vehicle waiting for passengers.

We gave the customs chief the Lonely Planet Vietnam, which made the dude extra happy. So happened that the bus took off yet the same day carrying me and Jukkis and no one else for 175 kilometres. Probably would’we had to spend the night at the border, if we had carried out our plan to bonfire scorch our Lonely Planet Vietnam guide, which among other things mentioned two separate checkpoints as one. Always check and double-check before following LP anywhere.

Next morning in Xam Neua we purchased “motorcycles”. That is chinese 110 cc mopeds... Spent a couple of days running-in them and finding out what was wrong with them and before taking off had all the faults fixed and loose bolts screwed.

(caption: Were to Viang Xai to see the caves.)

The journey south could then begin. First we headed west cross the mountains and walleys. Landscapes were wonderful and all new, villages full of things for us to wonder and people to wonder us...

On second day of biking we developed certain skills in tire changing, when the back-tire of jukkis punctured three times. Other damages we managed to avoid.

(caption: All the villages children gathering to wonder us built up pressure to succeed.)

In one village we were invited to local wedding celebration. All the townsfolk were gathered to party and in each table they offered Lao Lao. In the morning they didn’t speak in a very friendly tone, so we decided to take off. On our bikes and off to the next village...

As the journey progressed the rivers got wider and the weather warmer. Also the mountains got flatter, so we were able to travel faster. We celebrated christmas in a village of Nong Khiaw. We got acquinted with two finnish guys travelling separately, Jukka from Rovaniemi and Jaakko from Hervanta! (Finland didn’t have) a white christmas had we neither. Probably not as cold as back home, but still needed a jacket at night. Went for a swim, though.

(caption: Land of christmas!)

Now we’re in Luang Brabang by Mekong. Cant take any photos here, because each shot would contain at least one tourist. Tomorrow we will head to Vang Vieng.