> > > THE FINAL: Phitsanulok to Bangkok

More than 19.000 km, 68 days, 10 countries, 2 continents - today we will arrive Bangkok!

After having experienced and seen more things on one trip than most other people can even imagine a final riding day in perfect weather as well as a last beautiful stop at the ancient city and ruins of Ayutthaya is ahead of us. We have learned about different cultures and religions and completed a dream ride from central Europe to Bangkok in Far East.

While Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam, is a kind of silent place, Bangkok in the afternoon will welcome us with masses of traffic. But having the final destionation in mind and having passed so many cities of millions we look forward to entering the town in a quite relaxed mood.

Heiri with last preparations for the riding day in the hotel garden in Phitsanulok

Following the signs ...

Thailand´s getting flat here

Some pics of historic Ayutthaya

... which today still is a scenic and relaxed place

Entering Bangkok

the traffic becomes more intensive towards our hotel

Arrived ...

... and happy!

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Vientiane (Lao) - Dan Sai (Thailand) - Phitsanulok

The last border crossing ahead we start in Vientiane to reach the Lao border after a short ride. Papers perfectly prepared we just have to pass the different stations for the crossing and are then allowed to enter into Thailand via one of the so called frienship bridges over the Mekong. The Mekong itself runs for almost 5000km from the Tibetan Plateau through China´s Yunnan Province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and is the world´s 10th-longest river.

One important thing today also changes - we turn to the left roadside.

Mekong River in the Morning ...

Having passed the border to Thailand the switch to left road side is organized quite easy and effective ...

... before we cross the freedom bridge over Mekong River!

Evening scene in Thailand!

Breakfast in an beautiful area in Northern Thailand - Dan Sai hosted us with silence and peace

Even the huts look being relaxed and a little sleepy!

Throughout all Thailand you can find Temples along your ways

What a beautiful country, too!

Even a short passage of road construction does not matter to us anymore.

Only the support van needs to be cleaned from time to time. And the Thai people did a great job!

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Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane

200 km of the best roads in Laos ahead of us we highly motivated start our enginges in Luang Prabang to ride  towards the Laotian South on fantastic mountain passes with a perfect mixture of scenery and curves.

The overnight stop leads us to Vang Vieng which in the Vietnam War hosted a well developed US Air Force Base and in recent times has grown substantially due to the influence of backpackers, attracted by the opportunities for adventure in the picturesque limestone karst landscape.

From Vang Vieng the next day we head to the laotian capital Vientiane not without having a stop at the Nam Ngum Reservoir. A huge lake that feeds a big power plant generating up to 150 MW, of which 70 to 80 percent can be sold to Thailand as it´s capacity is by far more the whole Laos requires.

In Vientiane which is capital since 1563 and located also at Mekong River we come to Lao´s economic center. Beside this importance Vientianealso contains many temples and Buddhist monuments including one the most famous one called Pha That Luang. This Buddhist stupa is 45 meters tall and the most important national cultural monument in Laos.

Preparing to leave Luang Prabang

Mekong River at Luang Prabang

Roads and scenery towards Vang Vieng

Nam Ngum Reservoir

Temple in Vientiane

Buddhist stupa Pha That Luang

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If you are interested to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the riding segment leading to Luang Prabang then have a look at:

AROUND THE WORLD 2014 (Part 4): Guangyuan > Luang Prabang