Laos CNY ride day6

Day 6 25 jan 2012 Oudom Xai - Luang Prabang

Somehow the red BMW GSA refused to start in the cold morning after all effort checking the oil, petrol line and the battery. Tried to call a bmw mechanic from Malaysia but not answering the phone, maybe still in bed. At last resorted to tow the bike with another BMW GSA.

Not an easy task towing 300+kg fully loaded bike on twisting gravel road

Spectator

Around 11 am managed to call BMW mechanic in Malaysia he give a few points to check on the bike and may be the fuel pump relay fail..decided to bypass the relay with 'MacGyver style' on the road side and the bike was able to moved again.

We reach Luang Prabang safely around 4pm.

Laos CNY ride Day 4-5

Day 4 23 Jan 2012  CHIANG KHONG--HUE XAI--LUANG NAMTHA

Beautiful, cold and calm morning, it was the best breakfast ever ...  It's not the food, but the scenery 

Epic sunrise over  Mekong river on the east horizon.. All the fatigue and incident in past 3 day journey disappeared like dust in the wind.

After the oohs, Ahhh beautiful and gracious, we said sawatdee-Karp to Thailand and headed to Hue Xai, Laos. On the other side of Mekong river via ferry  and for today we planned to ride up to China Border and overnight in Qudom Xai.

 Tedious red tape and forms to complete the border just because we didn't use any agents to facilitate the process of immigration and custom on both sides   

Paparazzi 

Hue Xai

                                          

Crossing the Mekong River by ferry

Pétanque game played at Hue Xai

Clear afternoon sky, after 4-5hrs struggling at the border, we're back on the road and we had to tune  our riding in the opposite lane.... From right to left.

Somewhere  N 20 24.364 E 100 51.112

As we left from here, the group split into two.. A few of us are in front and just about 60-70 km from Luang Namtha, we stopped to regroup with the others.. Not long after that we had bad news that one of the riders riding Kawasaki Versys 1000 involved in an accident, head on collision with a Laos pickup truck.

The chance event happens about 40km before Vienphauka.. The whole scenario caused by loose gravel and unfamiliar riding lane position

When I got to the scene, the rider was taken to a nearby hospital. We're fortunate to have the Loa insurance  that all of us purchased earlier today at Hue Xai , even though it did not give full protection.

The bike on the pickup truck back to Hue Xai  Police Station

What options do we have now? There was no option according to the Laos Surgeon the patient need to be admitted and on closer observation.

Lao District Hospital with very friendly staff.... First, you have to pay your prescription, lab investigation, x-ray and etc. Separately at a different counter before anything being done for you here.

Nothing much we could do for today... As night fall and the temperature drop in Luang Namtha, we settled for a night here and a decision to make in the coming dawn.

Day 5 24 Jan 2012 Luang Namtha--Boten--Oudom Xai

Early in the morning I and another close pal went to visit the injured riders at the hospital and the rest of the group have begun riding to Boten.

At the hospital... We have been told that the patient was not allowed to travel and his condition was stable.

• He will remain in the hospital for one more day
• Prearranged transport to the border and paying all medical bills
• He will file a police report at the Hue Xai 
• To Chiang Mai unaccompanied and then get on the plane to Malaysia
• The group will continue the journey as planned
• We will settle the accident with Loa driver, police and insurance company later

Dokchampha Hotel   N 21 00.113 E 101 24.593

Lunch at Asha restaurant and then went to the hospital... Saying goodbye, giving him all the documents and instruction.

Asha Restaurant  N 21 00.231 E 101 24.573

Boten N 21 10.877 E 101 40.296 
satisfaction and excitement prevails

With Italian riders

Negotiating beautiful road from Boten to oudom Xai

Oudom Xai... Dominated by Chinese product, new hotel and infrastructure  being built.. Most probably from Chinese investor

Laos CNY Ride Day 3

Lost time is never found again

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Day 3 22Jan 2012 Chiang Mai--Mae Salong --Chiang Khong --342km
Today was a wonderful day. The weather was beautiful, almost perfect. The highlight of today was riding through Mae Salong highland.

Route 107 Mae Taeng to Chiang Dao

This is why iPod and motorbike, don't mixed plus distracted rider and poor dog.. Mishap before reaching Chai Prakan.. 

Never leave emergency medical kit at home.... Doing road side wound care.

Temporary foot rest from the vise grip locking pliers and cable tie

The quickest way to remove the GTR 1400 side mirror

Route 1089 before Mae Salong

Chinese Yunnan Mae Salong
N 20 09.783 E 99 37.333

Delicious beef curry and stew 

Mae Salong Flower Hill Resort
N 20 09.739 E 99 38.738

Tea Factory 101
N 20 09.624 E 99 39.674

The Origin of Milk Tea

Mae Salong hill view

Namkhong Riverside

N 20 16.025  E 100 24.384

We arrived at Chiang Khong around 9pm local time... After negotiating route 1129 in the dark, cold and twisty road.. From the hotel Parking lot we could see there some cars with Chinese registration plate. They're here during festive season... Chinese New Year.

Nothing much here as the town dead around 10pm.. Relaxing and chatting in the hotel room, balcony while enjoying the Mekong river view at night.