31st December 2017
Kasi – Vang Vieng (59km)
After Luang Prabang, for the 4 days ride, we past many small tribal villages and riverside settlements; interesting children with excitement yelling “sabaidi” and reached out small hands to give high five when they spotted cyclist approaching; some timid kids waved from afar. We also passed few market places, saw people who smile timidly to us. We passed beautiful mountains, but… we never pass by any banks; money changers or teller machines… Yesterday was our last dinner. This morning, at the last day of the year, we all have went bankrupt. For we had spent our last Kip (Laos currency) on yesterday’s dinner.
Woke up with empty stomach and empty Kip in our pockets, no one has money for breakfast. The USD note we have, couldn’t change us any food. We stopped by a petrol station just a kilometre down the road, gathered all we have, just enough to get each of us a small paper cup of 3 in 1 instant coffee as breakfast. Only Mindy had money to get herself an extra instant noodle.
We were told by the petrol station staffs, nearest town with teller machines to withdraw money was at Vang Vieng Town, which is 60km away. Without wasting a second, we jumped on to our bikes and sped off. We felt like we were riding on a flat road though it was still an ascend road. Despite the occasional muddy path, and rough road, we reached Vang Vieng Town in just 2 hours. Gosh!!! That was fast!
Now is the season for mandrin orange, Laos’ orange is nice, sweet and juicy. SK’s (One of our mate) most like. And the BBQ river crabs, smells so…so…nice. But…unfortunately, none of us have the money to…. Sigh!…
Along the way the sceneries are beautiful, though we were rushing yet still stopped for pictures. Saw the only entertainment of the villagers, Cock Fight.
We settled down at Vang Vieng today, will celebrate our 2018 new year with this town tonight. (The guesthouse we stayed)
Enjoying the leisure time in Vang Vieng.
Roast pork.
The night market of Vang Vieng.
Tourist lane at Vang Vieng
Crazy Old Horse 