2014/15 Biking Southeast Asia Daily Snippet

14 November, Namkene to Phou Khoun, 25km (and by bus to Phonsavan)
Jennida Guest House 80,000LAK

120km lie between the intersection town of Phou Khoun (also spelt Phu Khun and Phookhoune and pronounced Poo not Foo) and Phonsavan (pronounced Pon not Fon) to the east. It takes a local midi-bus three hours to cover this short distance as the narrow road climbs and drops, twists and turns through green hills and through villages strung haphazardly along the route. The bus driver flung us around 1,000 short sharp bends, at times almost unseating us – not a ride for the faint-hearted or for those who suffer from travel sickness. We arrived in Phonsavan after dark, found a guest house in our budget with ease, and went straight out for dinner, hungry after our long morning on the bikes. Of the six prohibitions* listed on our guest house wall, we are particularly intrigued by the second: Do not take your friends opposite sex to take photo or video cyber sex in the room... A big thank you to Charl who managed to gerrymander my gears, returning my lowest gear to working order for the first time in weeks. This made today’s gradient and 20km long climb possible and even ... dare I say it? ... enjoyable. We cycled through poor brown villages, a Mexican wave of greetings welcoming us at each, and brunched opposite the stunning Phu Phalamphan standing proud with its head in the clouds at 2086m tall.

* Prohibitions:

1. Illegal article weapon and take arms are not allowed in the Hotel and guest house.

2. Do not take your friends opposite sex to take photo or video cyber sex in the room to make lose Lao culture.

3. All forms of gambling are prohibited and to take opium: Drugs.

4. Do not use the place activity or gather politics in the guest house.

5. No smoke towel cleaning your shoes and do not drop anything in the head toilet.

6. Do not cook in the room because smell bad.