Lak Xao to Villabouri (Exploring southern Laos) - A good all day ride

[KTMphil]

A full days ride and lots to see


South from Lak Xao on the graded/ tarmac road and across the Nam Theun Lake.



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The junction to the south side of the Konglar Cave


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Nice Laos Wat on the way south



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The Nam Theun 2 Hydro Electric plant



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Russian made SAR missile 1/2 way south



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Wobbly bridge



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Schools out



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Then deep talcon powder on the Ho Chi Minh Trail sections



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Iron Buffalo territory


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Ho Chi Minh Trail



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Bomb bunkers



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Strange suspension bridges, its all here


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Bomb shell flower pots


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Big smiles



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Lake veggies



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The Ban Fai crossing, luckily no rain and quite low



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Graded?



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If you dont want to get your feet wet, this is an option



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Lets watch how deep it is




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No problemo



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A great spot



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More deep powder and busted bridges



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War era decking



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[KTMphil]

Further south some underprivileged villages


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We spent an hour in 40 C looking for a crashed plane with no luck



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More bomb remnants

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Shell casings



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Then the jackpot - a helicopter gunship canon



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Kept hidden away


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Inquisitive kids


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Word got out pretty quick that Bob had sweets


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Vultures


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Collecting veg from the river



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[KTMphil]

Safely into Villabouri and some huge shell casings


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Kicking back after a hard days selling



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Doesnt look like he's going to have a good day


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Boune Home GH for the night in Villabouri, 100,000 Kip and great food too



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[KTMphil]

Minor repairs in Villabouri, plenty of mechanic shops there



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[bsacbob]

Since it's too hot to do almost anything here are some more pictures from that day's ride.

After the disappointment of not being able to navigate the Konglor cave a good night in Lak Xao had us edger to go, leaving the Souriya hotel behind us.

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The route South has improved in the last year and lots of good picture opportunities.

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Lot's of new Wat's being constructed.

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Last year i rode straight past this old Russian missile, but made sure this time.

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We past many broken out bridges this trip, not sure if broken but bomb damage or structural failure.

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One of the many wooden bridges on this great trail, this one needing some TLC.

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Karst rock formations along this section of HCMT

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Great riding although dusty.

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Water bore hole much needed in this very dry area.

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More dust.

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Many bomb craters near the village of Phanop

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Phanop village is well worth a visit access only via this swing bridge or ford crossing.

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I loved this village and could have spent the night here, so much scrap around.

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Old Wat, gps indicated plane wreckage but now long gone.

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With all the war scrap around you can only imagine how heavily bombed this place must have been years ago.

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Kid's puzzled by our arrival.

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Locals making it look easy in the bull dust.

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Soon at Bangfai ford, Phil considering the options.

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Phil carefully picking a way through.

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Bystanders hoping for a show.

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Still no sign of the new bridge being constructed.

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Resting at the shop in the village this lady had seen it all before.

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Burapa police station this bikes not being used much.

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This would be an interesting shot in the rainy season.

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Another small village littered with bomb casings and debris.

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I had made several waypoints for the trip of things i wanted to explore, one being a downed plane near the village, sadly we found no clue but did find some nice calcified rock formations.

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The search found nothing so we returned back to the village shop for a much needed drink when i spotted this shell cartridge and asked if the new of any more similar bit's.

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To our amazement an old guy led us to his house and his son brought out this slow speed dispenser which presumably had been on the downed plane we had been looking for....

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Another village and sweet time for the masses.

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My favourite picture of the trip.

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Pockets full of sweets smiles all round.

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Reaching Villabouri, the motorbike sellers trusty steeds.

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While Phil was getting his bike sorted i was drinking Lao lao, i think this guy was way ahead of me !!

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Safely checked into the GH after a great day's riding time for food and of course some beer Laos.

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