Thakhek restday

I managed to figure out the route quite quickly, but a bit more rest isn't all bad and a foot and calf massage even better.

Richard, a cyclist originally from Newcastle UK, ran into me as I was ordering a coffee drink. He has been touring for a few months and is really taking some hard rides with a full load. Hats off! He lives in Dubai now and has all sorts of interesting stories about the middle east and his artificial tree business. We ride to the Stupa and hang out over a cup of decadent coffee.

I'm reading a Dutch language version of the rough guide on Laos that I found in my hostel.

I saunter back to yesterday's restaurant, I'll have the red curry again, hoping the loud Chinese won't be there. Instead I'm greeted by a couple from New Zealand whose picture I propose to take with backlighted flash into the sunset. He has a good camera and it came out great. I'm invited to sit with them. They are riding their Honda 300 CFLs, same as my bike, all over SE Asia. We have a lot to share. A French young cyclist, whom they met three times along their trip, joins us as we go to the night market for dinner. She rode here from Turkey. They are all serious and serial travelers.Läs mer