The road tracklog
From Vientiane to Vientiane
From 20/01 to 25/01/2009

At the entry Laos I paid 20 THB to disinfect my truck, actually I drove in a water puddle pool! Then I went to the counter of the customs to make stamped the Carnet de Passage en Douane where I was directed towards an office inside a building to meet the person in charge of the customs. Then I bought a thirty day VOA for 30 US dollars. The procedure was fast and without surprise. The exit of Thailand is reported by the travelog of Thailand.

Crossed the border I headed along Mekong towards the east to visit Buddha Park -Vat Xieng Khuang- which was built by the same Shaman that Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park in Nong Khai. It is less impressive after the visit of the latter but it has the same style. Two monuments held my attention, a 50-metre long reclining Buddha and a pumpkin of which the interior represents his philosophical vision of life, the ground floor is the hell, the first floors the earth and the last the heaven. I lunched on the spot before going to Vientiane where I went to the embassy of France to take a parcel of medicine sent by the back base, it was a great moment due to the embassy claimed not to have received it. I went to DHL to take the receipt of delivery and to go back to the embassy with the proof of the delivery. I have words not very pleasing with the gendarme. At the end of the day I met Francois, an expat, who holds the shop of the Trésors d’Asie. I bivouacked on the quay of Mekong.

Reclining Buddha 
Vat Xieng Khuang 
20/01/2009 

 
 
Pumpkin
Buddha Park 
20/01/2009 

The new Carnet de Passage en Douane of my truck arrived around the 26/01, I remained in the surroundings of Vientiane. The 21/01 I projected a trek in Phu Khao Khuay NPA, the project was not carried out. I had tried of entry the park at Ban Na. I was blocked in the village where the track ended, it took nearly ten minutes to manoeuvre my truck so much the track was narrow! Information taken there was no organized trek. I headed to Ban Hat Khai where I arrived about 1:00 p.m. I had the same answer. I lunched and bivouacked on the spot.

The next morning annoyed I decided to visit the lake Ang Nam Ngum by the road n°10. Only the village Na Nam is at the edge of the lake. The beauty of the landscape and the quietude of the spot encouraged me to remain two days. I met German who travelled by a local motorbike for one month. The 22 and the 23/01 I prepared the trip in the north of Laos.

En route 
22/01/2009

 
 

Na Nam 
23/01/2009 

Bivouac 
Na Nam 
23/01/2009 

 
 
Billiard table players 
Na Nam 
24/01/2009 

Bivouac 
Na Nam 
25/01/2009 

New rich man or member of the party?

 
 
Splendid house 
En route 
25/01/2009 

On Sunday January 25 I went back to Vientiane and in the afternoon I began the visit of the city, but it is another story.