SE ASIA - DAY 28 - MUANG XAI to BOTEN then to LUANG NAMTHA
This morning, I have planned to go to the Laos-China Boten(磨丁口岸） border and then to Luang Namtha town. The Boten border is as far as my motorcycle can travel without incurring what I deemed as unworthy charges.
In order for a Singapore Motorcycle to enter China, it would involve a lot of paper work at least one month before hand and engaging a licensed tour agency sending a car to escort you all the way inside China. Going for a trip of 7 days riding in China could incur about USD3K to USD4K in fees. It is not worth the experience. It would be better off buying/renting a 2nd hand bike and ride there all you want, of course with some risk involved.
Today's journey similarly brought me up to the foggy mountains, luckily without the muddy road.
Saw a Yamaha Super Tenere and he U-turned and followed me, waved for me to stop. Sounded like with an Italian accent, he asked about if I am planning to ride into China. So I explained about the hassle of that and I am there just to take a "Been-there-Done-That" picture at Boten Border. He was riding a Thai-plate bike and he reckon it would have the same restriction and decided it was not worth trying it at the border. He is a photographer and had wanted to cross over to China and take some pictures there.
So I finally reached the Boten Customs. I crossed this Customs and there were lots and lots of trucks queing to clear the customs. It was chaotic, the trucks were actually jamming up the road, like our typical JB jam x 10, and the trucks are blocking the other directions. Adding on to the problem the road were covered with wet mud. I had wanted to take picture of myself with the Golden Pagoda Laos checkpoint but given up totally on how much time and risk I would need to navigate among the big trucks.
The Chinese are in the midst of building a railway track between China and Laos, thus the current amount of traffic. That railway track should significantly increase the accessibility of whatever going between China and Laos, hopefully improve economy of Laos. Currently, anyway between Laos and China have to be done by trucks over the mountain road, it is very slow, thus the high cost of food in Laos as compared to other parts of Asia country.
Then on my way to Luang Namtha. Passed by some pretty scenery. There were much more pretty scenery I have encountered but I have missed out taking pictures due to ,
1) It was too dangerous to stop there as those big trucks might not see me and send me down to the bottom of the valley.
2) There were no proper flat ground to stop the bike for a picture
3) I am so tired to stop
A big flat plain of harvested rice field, it was quite a sight.
and finally to the Amandra Villa Hotel at Luang Namtha, SGD20/night. I plan to stay here two days and then make plans to cross over to China via a bus service here.
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