Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
A meander from the North to the North-East of Thailand
Had some spare time and decided to take my time on my way to Vientiane where I would join Mac for another TLCB trip in Laos. So, instead of being in my normal hurry I rode from Chiangmai to Nan and then on to Chumphae along the border to Ban Bo Bia taking Rd 1243 and Rd 1123. Part of this road is unpaved and while the last time I took that road it was quite a bit rutted, this time it was a nicely graded track which even a road bike would have no problems with.
		
		
	
	
		 
	
From Bo Bia I rode along the 1268 to the Phu Suan Sai National Park (Na Haeo National Park) and from there along the 1328 back to the 1268 and the 2113 to to Dansai, Loei and south to Highway 12. Just some random pictures taken while "on the road".
		 
	
		 
	
View over the mountains into Laos
		 
	
Border Police Patrol (BPP) Unit 31 at Ban Huay Yang. If you would drive here through the gate and continue for about a kilometer, you will reach Ban Savang which is in Thailand according to both Thai and Lao maps but is a Lao village complete with a School and Health Center
		 
	
The Thai border post (BPP Unit 31) at Ban Lao
		 
	
		 
	
Still no news about when the international Phu Du border crossing will be open for foreigners
		 
	
		 
	
		 
	
Newish Buddha statue (N17.81400 E100.93512) at Ban Huay Mun
		 
	
		 
	
Tad Huang Waterfall (N17.56678 E100.99278) on the Thai-Laos border in the Phu Suan Sai National Park
		 
	
		 
	
Local Nam Huang border crossing at Ban Na Heao (Thailand - near the junction of road 1268/2195 and 2113) to Ban Natha (Laos - Rd 3615)
		 
	
		 
	
Wat Phochai with ancient wall murals (N17.40907 E101.04932) in Ban Na Phung on Rd. 2113
		 
	
		 
	
The murals on both the inner and outer walls depicting Lord Buddha’s life and featuring the beliefs of the people of Ban Na Phung in the late Ayutthaya and Early Rattanakosin periods.
		 
	
The 400-years-old ordination hall with the revered OngSaen Buddha or FonSaen Ha bronze image.
		 
	
The Buddhist scripture library built on tall poles at Wat Phochai
		 
	
The old wat is in need of repairs and at the moment the walls are being supported with a metal structure
		 
	
A picture of the wat in better days
		 
	
Don't count on this guy to help with the repairs of the temple as he is fast asleep under the Bo tree in the temple grounds after having had a bit of Lao-Kao to help him through the day
				
			Had some spare time and decided to take my time on my way to Vientiane where I would join Mac for another TLCB trip in Laos. So, instead of being in my normal hurry I rode from Chiangmai to Nan and then on to Chumphae along the border to Ban Bo Bia taking Rd 1243 and Rd 1123. Part of this road is unpaved and while the last time I took that road it was quite a bit rutted, this time it was a nicely graded track which even a road bike would have no problems with.
 
	From Bo Bia I rode along the 1268 to the Phu Suan Sai National Park (Na Haeo National Park) and from there along the 1328 back to the 1268 and the 2113 to to Dansai, Loei and south to Highway 12. Just some random pictures taken while "on the road".
 
	 
	View over the mountains into Laos
 
	Border Police Patrol (BPP) Unit 31 at Ban Huay Yang. If you would drive here through the gate and continue for about a kilometer, you will reach Ban Savang which is in Thailand according to both Thai and Lao maps but is a Lao village complete with a School and Health Center
 
	The Thai border post (BPP Unit 31) at Ban Lao
 
	 
	Still no news about when the international Phu Du border crossing will be open for foreigners
 
	 
	 
	Newish Buddha statue (N17.81400 E100.93512) at Ban Huay Mun
 
	 
	Tad Huang Waterfall (N17.56678 E100.99278) on the Thai-Laos border in the Phu Suan Sai National Park
 
	 
	Local Nam Huang border crossing at Ban Na Heao (Thailand - near the junction of road 1268/2195 and 2113) to Ban Natha (Laos - Rd 3615)
 
	 
	Wat Phochai with ancient wall murals (N17.40907 E101.04932) in Ban Na Phung on Rd. 2113
 
	 
	The murals on both the inner and outer walls depicting Lord Buddha’s life and featuring the beliefs of the people of Ban Na Phung in the late Ayutthaya and Early Rattanakosin periods.
 
	The 400-years-old ordination hall with the revered OngSaen Buddha or FonSaen Ha bronze image.
 
	The Buddhist scripture library built on tall poles at Wat Phochai
 
	The old wat is in need of repairs and at the moment the walls are being supported with a metal structure
 
	A picture of the wat in better days
 
	Don't count on this guy to help with the repairs of the temple as he is fast asleep under the Bo tree in the temple grounds after having had a bit of Lao-Kao to help him through the day
 
				 
						 
 
		 
 
		
 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		