first 240km in Laos - 16th Feb

..my 40km journey to Boten, Kunming boarder was a nightmare and a mistake to proceed rather then staying a night at Luang Namtha as it was already getting dark by 7pm.. the road towards Boten was even worst.. winding, broken, pitch dark and cold.. had my 'lunch' here at about 6.30pm.. a quick half hour meal at a chinese rst and proceed. my nxt destination of about 40km to Boten..

the first major town seen after about 200km.. Luang namtha, once a major base camp of the communist party Pathet Lao.. It has a few guesthouse and Chinese Rst..

dirt road better then loose gravels..

most sections of the roads are breaking up..

a group of the villages sitting by the road.. with a toddler walking across as I approach.. the mother ( I guess..) just glance at me and look at him as though judging our speed knowing I would slow down and he could reach the other side in time.. hmm amazing

jus got to be extremely careful whn approaching the village.. anything and everything crosses the road anytime.. buffalo, bores, chicken dogs including children.. well, if toddlers can climb steps like this, whats the problem with crossing roads..

stopped at any village, and you won't be alone..

one of the bigger kampong

this kampong has a nice name..

.....after hours of travelling, you only see mountains and villages.. the area in northwest Laos, the zone of the infamous Golden triangle, where the traditional crop was once poppy plant.. awesome mountain view to offer..

one of the many villages along the way... wonder how these bamboo houses sheild the cold..

year if the ox.. so he must be king of the road... he won't barge an inch even you honk at him..

this is consider a better village.. but you still can't get food or drinks..

compliment with some good views..

more bad roads.. wow! a cyclist..

terrible roads condition slows me down..

bores can be domesticated..? seen mingling around in most villages..

speaking too early.. after 50km of my journey, the road starts to get rugged.. pot holes and loose gravel in many sections.. towns shown in the map are rural villages..

met Luke at a village after a 30km ride, he cross the same boarder on a Thai registered Phantom.. a Canadian who spans 3 mths every year travelling Indo China. been doing it for the pass 8 yrs and is still not sick of it..

journey starts at 2pm after a total of 6 hours getting all the paper work done.. having to clock 240km to Boten, I decided to skip lunch.. the road condition was not bad..