Time to go Home: 2370 kilometres of bicycling in Thailand and Laos

Ruth: 2016 goes down as one of my very best years ever, but now I am looking forward to heading home. Our bikes are packed and our flight leaves from Bangkok tomorrow. Nothing left for us to do now except enjoy the food. A plate of any of these delicious curries...

Pak Mong to Nong Khiaw

Ruth: Nong Khiaw is only a 30km detour off our route to Luang Prabang, and well worth the additional distance. The Karst landscape provides a stunning backdrop to this lovely town squeezed between mountains and the river Ou.  We visited a nearby cave...

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Oudom Xay to Pak Mong

Gordon:  Ruth started writing today's blog, producing a single sentence before collapsing on the bed.  It is 6:30 pm and she is snoring beside me as I write this.  Ruth is justifiably tired after our most challenging ride.  On other days we have...

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Namor to Oudom Xay

Gordon:  Today's ride was a modest 61 kms in length, but it did involve a 500 metre climb to 1120 metres, the highest we have been on this trip.  Conditions were perfect, however, and we had a relaxed and rewarding ride.  Unlike some of our previous...

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Luang Namtha to Namor: Almost in China

Ruth / Gordon:  This is the second time we have cycled within spitting distance of China. The closest we have been was during our trip in Northern India, when we were only a few kilometres away. The Chinese influence is strong here, with the majority of the...

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Luang Namtha: Relaxing with the Tourists

Ruth: Luang Namtha is a trekking base and most tourists here head off for one or two nights into the jungle to stay with different minority groups. About five Akha women work the town's tourist area officially selling bracelets and purses, but they also showed us...

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Ban Don Chai to Vieng Phoukha

Ruth: The challenges and rewards of cycling in Laos are amazing. We have cycled two days in a row with a total climbing of at least 800 meters each day. This morning we spent three hours climbing up to 1043 meters averaging only 7 kms/hour. The reward, however, was...

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Cycling in Northern Laos: Wow

Gordon:  We spent a night in the Lao border town of Houay Xay to give ourselves time to purchase cellular data service, acquire some Lao money (Kip - about 6,000 to the Canadian dollar) and purchase a new bike seat (mine broke just after we crossed the border.)...

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Houay Xay, Laos: Monk Chat

Ruth: The sign at the temple at the top of town announced that Monk Chat was available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  In the finer print it explained that the monks want to practice their English skills and are happy to answer any questions...

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Chiang Rai: Coffee, Cake and Cats

Ruth: It is Sauturday in Chiang Rai and that means it is time to head down to "Walking Street."The whole community comes out for a stroll along a cordoned off street filled with food and shopping stalls stretching out for several blocks. Our first find was coffee, and...

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Eating in Thailand

Gordon:  Victoria is well supplied with Thai restaurants, so most of us are familiar with the aromatic, delicious dishes served in these restaurants.  While we do occasionally enjoy similar dishes in our travels in Thailand, the food that is offered in...

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