Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Southern Laos Attapeu Bolovens & Beyond







Total distance today 261 km

The previous night we had a big storm go over the hotel so the mornings ride was going to be fun.







The first thing you notice as you leave Attapeu is how poor the people are in this region away from the drainage dykes everything is so dry and almost all rice fields unable to make a crop, turning north from the 18A it was still pretty green.








We had decided to try and poke our way through the farmers trails and clear to see the iron buffalo was carving nice rut's.
















Extensive irrigation channels around here.








The only rice nursery we would see today.











Making good progress up to this point, talking with the locals they indicated the water was waist deep, almost linking up with the main trail it was time to back track.












One of the moist bit's






Scrap dealers having a break.












Then a bunch of motorcycle sellers approaching.
















Dead straight.






Collecting for the local Wat.







Coffee is the only thing growing is these parts almost every house has bean's laid out drying, these next to the local snooker hall.











Approaching one of the few river crossings, this bridge was barely holding together so it was to be wet feet.











Pretty rocky, but not deep.















The next was even rockier.







Watching the iron buffalo for a line.






Nice camping spot.






One of the few houses showing any colour.






As you approach Pakxong the roads are being graded.













Reaching the 16A junction at Pakxong.











Time for some delicious stick food.







Saravane bridge.










The road onwards is all paved and uneventful, we checked into the Phoufa Hotel @ 80K kip a night.







The owner has a very interesting collection on display.



































It had been a great day's riding but hard to forget the poverty we saw in most of the villages along the way. 

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