Saravan/ Salavan to Xekong/ Sekong

[KTMphil]

The next morning, out to look at one of the Vietnam War runways

P1010045_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Then try and find our way across the river


P1010046_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Luckily there was a bridge


P1010047_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Fish farms on the river
'

P1010048_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Water was pretty low, this one was pretty easy


P1010050_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1010051_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





P1010052_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





This turned into a beautiful trail



P1010055_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





P1010056_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr






P1010057_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Bob had done some research and had information from Auke about Karum, a town thats about to be flooded and will disappear, so this might be the last chance to see it



karum by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




The view of the coal mine at Karum as you approach the town



P1010058_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Vietnamese motorscooter vendors selling everything in Karum



P1010061_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1010060_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1010059_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Just as Bob had heard, everything was being dis-assembled and taken away ready for the flooding


P1010065_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Trying to get this re-started in the hot sin cant have been much fun



P1010066_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1010069_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





There's a surprising abundance of sleeping options in Xekong (Sekong), this one is on the river bank by the ferry


P1010074_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




We always try and find a new place as the bathrooms in the older guest houses tend to become science experiments. This one was spanking



P1010075_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




130,000 Kip with ice cold air


P1010076_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[Lone Rider]

Bob had done some research and had information from Auke about Karum, a town thats about to be flooded and will disappear, so this might be the last chance to see it

karum by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

The view of the coal mine at Karum as you approach the town

P1010058_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

Well, the original information was that Kaleum would be inundated once the 600 MW Sekong 4 dam and reservoir had been finished by Region Oil from Russia. However, the Lao authorities found out that the area was sitting on a large coal deposit and somehow the Russian company was replaced by a well connected Lao company who is now going to mine the coal deposit. There are quite a few stories about the "How and Why" of the switch but I won't get into that here. Anyway, in both cases - Reservoir or Coal Mine - the old Kaleum District site including all the people and their houses, government offices, hospital, etc. was in the wrong place and would have to be moved to a new location some 20 km east of the old site.

The site of old Kaleum down there at the bend in the Sekong river. This picture was taken more or less on the same spot as where Phil took his picture


This is a satellite picture of the new site where all the people and government facilities will be moved to.


A few pictures of the new Kaleum (photos copyright Khun Amthone)

 

[KTMphil]

Everyone got a free new house?

 

[Lone Rider]

Well, this is Laos and you never know but I guess, as the people are basically told to get out of the way and leave the place where they and their ancestors have lived for a long time, that a new place to live would be the least the Lao Government could ask from the company who has the rights to mine the coal.

 

[Lone Rider]

Then try and find our way across the river



Luckily there was a bridge

P1010047_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

Not sure when the new bridge will be ready but at the moment there is another option for bikes and cars to cross the Xe Don river in Saravane. The new bridge is being built at N15.71462 E106.42619 which is a bit to the north of the ford for cars and the suspension bridge for motorbikes

 

[Lone Rider]

Not sure when the new bridge will be ready but at the moment there is another option for bikes and cars to cross the Xe Don river in Saravane. The new bridge is being built at N15.71462 E106.42619 which is a bit to the north of the ford for cars and the suspension bridge for motorbikes

View attachment 45437

Well, you will have to wait a bit more as I just found an article in the Vientiane Times of 11 March 2016 that the original contractor abandoned the project. With some luck the bridge might now be ready some time in 2017 / 2018.

New contractor hired to build Xedon bridge in Saravan
Saravan province: Construction of a bridge spanning the Xedon River in Saravan province has been handed to a new contractor after the previous company failed to complete the project, which was scheduled from 2013 to 2015.

A few more pictures of the bridge construction site taken by the Big Fella

 

[Lone Rider]

Well, you will have to wait a bit more as I just found an article in the Vientiane Times of 11 March 2016 that the original contractor abandoned the project. With some luck the bridge might now be ready some time in 2017 / 2018.

New contractor hired to build Xedon bridge in Saravan
Saravan province: Construction of a bridge spanning the Xedon River in Saravan province has been handed to a new contractor after the previous company failed to complete the project, which was scheduled from 2013 to 2015.

A few more pictures of the bridge construction site taken by the Big Fella

View attachment 46732

Well probably some more delays as it looks like that the new contractor of the Xe Don bridge in Saravan/Salavan has also disappeared as no work was going on