Sabbatical week 11 – Buyu Goes Places

Day 1

Another travel day. Got up right before 6am to catch my morning flight to Pakse ($45.22) at 8:20am.

The taxi the hotel quoted me for was 150k for departing before 7am. I managed to use a local taxi app Loca to pay only for 92k!

This is probably smallest capitol airport I’ve been (Perhaps Belize is even smaller)

The person with the bright red jacket threw up. First time I’ve heard you can get plane sick.. Granted, it’s not the most comfortable plane ride

Just a bit over an hour, we arrived at Pakse International (I think there’s only one flight to Cambodia that’s overseas)

The airport is only 3km from the hostel, but I paid (50k for the short tuk tuk ride – I think 30k is probably doable but the American that got to the tuk tuk first agreed to pay 50k already)

It’s still early during the day, just in time to catch the morning socializing time in which we decided to take the tuktuk ride (80k) to Vat Phou, a Unesco heritage site.

In just under an hour, we arrived at the temple

There’s a festival there, so it’s free entrance. Unfortunately, it’s also very crowded with trash everywhere

Very similar to Angkor Wat just smaller in scale

We waited for quite sometime to get a clear image, but it was just too crowded that day. (I looked fat -.-)

We chilled out at a restaurant a bit before heading back to town.

It’s someone’s birthday, we decided to go out to splurge ourselves with some Italian treat.

I had about 3 glasses of wines. Definitely really to call it a night, the heat also exhausted me.

The dinner was $20.40. Definitely the most expensive meal I’ve had for a while

Day 2

Motorbike day (160k + 100k for fuel). This is why I came to Pakse for

My bike, I was given a brand new bike to ride on for some reasons

First waterfall. I was there pretty all to myself. I think this waterfall wasn’t being actively managed, many backpacker hostels instructed guests not to go.

Passed by some flower tree near a temple

The bridge collapsed due to an accident it seems. There’s a temporary bamboo bridge which allowed motorbikes to pass through

Got myself a nice cup of coffee (20k) from the farm. Unfortunate, I missed the coffee plantation tour

My guesthouse for the night.

I was starving at this point, ordered a quick lunch.

We saw some elephant poops, thought they might be from wild ones. Turns out they are chained 🙁

Later on we got back to the guesthouse for family dinner (70k – guests can partake in cooking)

I think the owners tried too hard to please the western pallets where not a single drop of spice can be found

Day 3

Got myself a cup of coffee from the guest house (15k) and started my ride for the day.

Did a little extension turned out to be great.

At this point I was at the Plateau so the weather was quite comfortable

I decided to stop by a local resort for a cup of coffee

With a bit more riding, I arrived at the last waterfall of the day (though I planned on visiting more, but time went by too quickly and I was too exhausted)

View from the restaurant at the waterfall

Ordered some chicken stew for lunch. I felt like it’s the first time I actually tasted restaurant quality Laotian food (130k). The owner stopped by to give us some Lau Lau which he made for free.

Wrapped up rather quickly to check out the last stop for the day before dark

Coconut before climbing the temple stairs (20k)

I went to bed sharp at 9pm

Day 4

Early day for the 8:20am bus to Don Det, aka 4 thousand island – Last stop before leaving Lao

Arrived at pier for the boat transfer to the island

We landed in about 15mins

After quickly checking to my hotel, it’s time for lunch. It’s extremely warm at this point

Amazing cheap food! Definitely one of the highlights. Though it was slow. I mean you don’t come to the Island to be fast anyways

Took a short nap back at my hotel and woke up just in time for sunset and dinner

hmm I don’t think that’s appetizing in such hot weather (37C)

Strolled around the town a bit before settling down at a restaurant which advertises for duck dishes.

The deep fried duck with garlics was 80k, meh. not my favorite. Perhaps I was not very hungry at this point. It’s definitely on the pricier side comparing to my lunch

Day 5

Cycling day! I wanted to have an early start to avoid the heat, still didn’t quite get to leave until after 8am.

20k. I know you can get 10k in other places easily.

First stop was the Li Phi Somphamit Waterfalls (30k)

Got myself an Ice coffee to wake up (30k)

Unfortunately, the area was still a bit run-down probably due to COVID. Ziplines aren’t operating, however the stations were thus enabled me to take some great photos

Up next was the French port

The island belongs to Cambodia actually.

Lunch time!

noodles was 35k. The most highly rated restaurant. It’s delicious. I do wish there’s more spice options

Biked home to for a nap, and woke up just in time for some sunset

Waited for more than an hour for my dinner, I think the owner must have forgotten me… Guests came late, finished and left before my food was served.

105k including a Beer. Great portion size though.

Met up with some Germans – mostly just to help them finding magic mushrooms and weeds. I just had a 4thousand island ice tea.. quite strong though (50k)

Day 6

Finally a chill day to plan my next travels.

Found a nice coffee shop which serves freshly brewed local coffee (20k)

Breakfast – lao pancake (with stir fried veggie and pork mix) 45k I think.

Some local celebration. Glad to see there’s more just backpackers

After breakfast then it’s lunch (just some drinks) haha

Took a brief break to avoid the afternoon sun.

That’s it, simple day.

Day 7

Travel day back to Pakse. Went to the same the guesthouse to get my Americano. I got two this time (40k)

It’s cooler than the weather shows (close to 90F even in the early morning0

Ferry back to the mainland (130k including bus transfer)

Toilet stop for the mini van – random puppies

Part why I didn’t go to Thailand directly is to taste some non westernized Lao food. Also, I quite dislike riding buses for than a few hours

Expenses

Week 11
Day	Food&Drink	Lodging	Transportation	Other (tickets/tours etc)
1	$24.21	$7.00	$58.55	$0.00
2	$10.63	$7.50	$16.25	$0.00
3	$12.50	$6.56	$10.00	$3.44
4	$13.88	$17.06	$8.13	$0.00
5	$17.25	$15.63	$1.25	$1.88
6	$11.88	$15.63	$0.00	$0.00
7	$7.44	$6.56	$8.13	$0.00
	$97.78	$75.94	$102.30	$5.31
	Total		Grand Total:	$281.32

The flight I took threw the expenses slightly off balance. Not too bad though.