Laos The Tham Phu Hospital Cave Nr Phonsavan

20.11.15

Tham Pua cave

Another area which is easy day loop ride from Phonsavan is the Tham Pha Hospital caves, the site is located N19.50103 E102.87241 only 50km or so from town. You will need a headlamp to explore although the staff on site will loan you one if you forget.

Once used by the Pathet Laos as a medical field hospital and was heavily bombed.

The site is divided in two cave complexes, the first housing a large Buddha.

If you crawl behind the Buddha you will many murals on the rocks.

Some pretty impressive rock formations inside the first cave.

As you descend into the cave an old hospital gurney on display.

If you look carefully you will see many medical vials around the edges of the floor.

Old army shoe.

Lot's of small Buddha's hidden away in crevices, most with heads removed.

To reach the other cave you have to double back and walk around the mountain to the opening, this cave must have been storage for medical equipment of some kind.

Once inside the floor is littered with hundreds of vaccination bottles, its hard to walk without standing on them.

Various food cans littered about, not sure if these are from the war period or just litter.

An enjoyable couple of hours poking around the caves, i was lucky i was the only person visiting.

Not far away on the way back is a lovely old Wat and stupa located at N19.51427 E102.90299 well worth a look at.

Dragon boat in storage.

I noticed this suspension bridge on the way back worth exploring next time.

War scrap parked inside an army camp on the edge of town.

Southern Laos Saravan To seno Jan 2017

Its been a couple of years since i did this route, little has changed regarding the new road and bridges as the work looks to have stopped. The biggest change is the road to the first bombed bridge is now graded the whole way to N15.79074° E106.29054° after that its still much the same although obvious signs of forest clearing can be seen as you head north.

We had planned to stop in Phan or Xepon but decided to try and get some of the paved road out of the way and stop just outside of Seno on route 9.

Total distance 277km.

The graded first section (the boring bit).

Reaching the first bridge in quick time.

It was clear watching the iron buffalo crossing we needed to take the canoe.

Once past it started to get more interesting, not too much bull dust yet, but still deep sand to keep you on your toe’s.

Iron buffalo passing by, you can see the tree’s have been cleared (in most cases).

Some toys for the kid’s.

Deep sandy water crossing was fun.

More kids toys to give out.

So many broken down bridges yet to be replaced.

Biggest smile ever.

Nice straight sandy section.

Some shade at last, i recall last time it was the heat that caused me a problem, plus i ran out of fluids.

Pounce grabbing some much needed shade ahead.

This dry riverbed surface was lots of fun but hot.

Made it to the next bridge, but could not get to the ferry so a short back track to work our way to it.

Nicest house we had seen.

Trail to the ferry.

Back at the bridge.

Girls doing laundry no washing machine is these parts.

The new bridge, no change from a couple of years ago.

Our transport.

Once past the bridge its nicely graded, so you can push on pretty quick, although i had picked up a slow puncture so had to limp on to Phin.

Reached Phin at some shots of the downed helicopter.

Found a guy who would patch my tube.

Not sure what they are comparing here.

Street sellers hawking food to the buses coming from Vietnam.

A good days riding done, time for beers.

Some more shots of the day from my mate Pounce.

The second half of this would have to be the shittiest trail I have done in Laos, Kudos to Bob for doing it before the 1st half was upgraded & in 40 degree heat... mad bastard

Sometimes short legs are not your friend.

The cause of the puncture.