Long Cheng Finding Songkran

bsacbob

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Well we had planned to only stop for a night, much to Saysamone's dismay, he must have talked with the rain god's as a huge storm passed over Long Cheng that night, feeling a little worse for wear, we decided to stay another night rather than risk the ride out to Phonsavan, Saysamone had already invited us to his BBQ so the scene was set.

Am opportunity to stretch our legs and a stroll around town was in order.

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The new roadway alongside the old strip is going to change things.

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Remarkably few pieces of war scrap to be seen now.

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Back at the GH for a coffee pit stop.

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The old wat shrugging off the morning mist after the rain.

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Most of the houses along the new road will have to be demolished due to the road levels, a few years back i watched the UXO guy's sweeping along here to clear it for the construction work.

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The old cinema.

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An old air freight container, back left.

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Morning de-bugging.

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Old Laos military office

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Pillbox on the north end of town.

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Not sure what this building was for, all the windows had bars, maybe an old jail.

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War scrap does have its uses.

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Old Russian truck parked up on the apron.

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This building has always been a mystery, it's obviously a workshop of some kind, tales it was full of LS20A war remnants, i have been told it is empty and owned by the Vietnamese, locked up tight no way of knowing.

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This guy landed at our feet on the strip.

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looks like a failed hotel project, been this way for a few years.

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Remains of the old hospital in the distance.

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The old wat, although occupied now for a few years, no sign of restoration other than a nice new house for the Abbott.

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The interior is little more than a store room.

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By the time we got back to the GH, the BBQ was kicking off nicely

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One of the Chinese GH residents working on the nearby Hydro project.

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BBQ Goat was on the menu along with a number of other dishes we could not identify.

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I have to say as the night progressed, i have never consumed so much beer, a couple of young girls would show up once in a while to replenish the stocks of Beer Laos.

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Saysamone with his ornaments.

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He may peak too soon.

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As we drank somebody would dutifully come around and pour some ice cold water down your neck.

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Well drunk.

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One of Saysamones brothers, like a Duracell Bunny, never stopped dancing.

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The party continued into the early hours, later i played a mix of Hip Hop, a surreal experience watching them all dance to 50 Cent and Eminem in the most secret place on earth.

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It's changing so quickly

Yes mate it is, the place is crying out for a museum of some kind, sadly nobody interested and the Chinese are closing in.
 
Agree totally Bob, it needs an Interpretation Centre, a Museum dedicated to the CIA Secret War. and maybe 1 or 2 old planes or wrecks or something. I was there about 7 weeks ago and was a bit disappointed, especially knowing the history.
 
Sad but true, apart from a runway, soon there will be little to associate to its history.
 
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