Showing posts with label north laos 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label north laos 2009. Show all posts

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Luang Prabang province - transport information

- errors, suggestions & contributions - kindly email: laomeow at gmail dot com
- last modified on 27 September 2012
- old version (23 November 2009) here




LUANG PRABANG TOWN

Luang Prabang northern bus station
Located at IU224 on this map.

Luang Prabang Northern Bus station - view

Luang Prabang Northern Bus station
May 2011 - photos by snowinjanuary

Timetable (June 2011 - no change as of August 2012) (hobomaps):

To Bokeo
- 5:30PM, 7:00PM (VIP)
- 120,000kip / 145,000kip (VIP)

To Luang Namtha
- 9:00AM
- 95,000kip

To Oudomxay
- 9:00AM, 12:00PM, 4:00PM
- 55,000kip

To Sam Neua
- 8:30AM
- 130,000kip

To Nambak
- 9:00AM, 11:00AM, 1:00PM, 3:00PM, 5:00PM
- 35,000kip

To Nong Khiaw
- 9:00AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM
- 40,000kip

To Vieng Kham
- 9:00AM, 2:00PM
- 90,000kip

To Paksaeng (Pakxeng)
- 9:30AM, 2:00PM
- 35,000kip

To Phonthong
- 10:00AM
- 79,000kip

To ເມືອງໂພນທອງ Muang Phon Thong 'including' ປາກອືມ Pak Oum & ນາຊອນ Na Son (70,000kip) - 1000, daily. This new service was announced in a notice at Luang Prabang northern bus station (08 December 2009). There was also a sign indicating the berth for 'ວັງຊຽງ Vang Xieng & ປາກອືມ Pak Oum'. No idea where this particular Phon Thong & Pak Oum are, but there is a Vang Xieng town along a minor road that branches off from HWY 1C at Phou Thid Pheung (between Nong Khiaw & Vieng Kham) & leads to a Na Son, a locals-only Laos-Vietnam border crossing (top part of this map). Anyone with more info on this route, please update the cat.

To Phonexay
- 9:00AM, 12:00PM, 3:00PM
- 30,000kip


Old info for reference:

Photo taken at Luang Prabang Tourist Info Centre (17 December 2009)
Bus fares (May 2011) (snowinjanuary)


Photos of Luang Prabang-Bokeo VIP bus (17 December 2009):

PC170369
PC170369b
PC170369a





Luang Prabang southern bus station (Ban Naluang) (photos)
Located at KE197 on this map.

Timetable (fare info June 2011, timing info August 2012) (hobomaps):
Ordinary bus = black font
Express bus = red font
VIP bus = blue font
sleeper bus = green font (photos of Luang Prabang - Vientiane sleeper bus)

To Vientiane
- 6:30AM, 7:30AM, 8:00AM, 8:30AM, 9:00AM, 11:00AM, 2:00PM, 4:30PM6:30PM, 7:30PM, 8:00PM
- 110,000kip / 130,000kip / 150,000 kip

To Vang Vieng
- 9:30AM, 12:30PM
- 90,000kip / 105,000kip

To Phonsavan
- 8:30AM
- 95,000kip

To Sayabouly
- 9:00AM, 2:00PM
- 60,000kip

**********

Luang Prabang to Chiangmai International Bus
- 5:00PM
- 310,000kip
- AC bus
- via Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Huay Xai, Chiang Khong & Chiangrai
- arrives at Chiangmai Arcade bus station

Old info for reference:

Timetable (February 2011) (hobomaps)
Fares (February 2011) (hobomaps)
17 Dec 2009 info




Ban Naluang tourist bus station
Located at KE197 on this map.
Tel.: 071-212979, 071-260298 Fax: 071-260296 Email: souknasing@hotmail.com

Timetable (August 2012) (hobomaps):

To Tat Kuang Si (Kuang Si waterfall)*
- 11:30AM, 1:30PM
- 40,000 kip

To Luang Namtha*
- 8:30AM
- 110,000 kip

To Nong Khiaw*
- 9:30AM
- 55,000 kip

To Vang Vieng*
- 9:00AM, 10:00AM, 2:00PM
- 105,000 kip

To Phonsavan*
- 9:00AM
- 105,000 kip

To Kunming (China) sleeper bus
- 7:00AM
- 420,000kip
- daily


To Vinh (Vietnam)
- 6:30PM
- 200,000kip (seat) / 250,000kip (bunk on sleeper bus)
- daily except Tuesdays


To Hanoi (Vietnam) sleeper bus
- 6:00PM
- 350,000kip
- daily except Thursdays

Notes:
* these are served by minivans, not buses
- more on Luang Prabang - Vietnam bus services here (jp_geckozy, October 2011)
- Luang Prabang - Kunming bus service: see replies #6 & #8 here (jp_geckozy, April 2010).
- more on bus stations in Kunming here (jp_geckozy, April 2010).




Luang Prabang speedboat & slowboat landings
Photo taken at Luang Prabang Tourist Info Centre (17 December 2009):

PC170376a
Click here for full size version

August 2012 updates (hobomaps):
- express boat to Pak Beng = 110,000 kip
- speed boat to Huay Xai = 400,000 kip

June 2011 updates (hobomaps):
- express boat to Nong Khiaw = 110,000kip
- tour boat & speedboat to Buddha cave = 65,000kip

Note:
For Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw & Nong Khiaw to Muang Khua - boats run only on demand (when there are enough passengers, or when chartered), not necessarily daily as stated.

Luang Prabang slowboat landing to Ban Xieng Maen - cross-river ferry (07 December 2009):
Passenger boat - 2000kip/person (local fare)
Vehicle ferry - 5000kip/person (excl. vehicle)




NONG KHIAW

Nong Khiaw town is also known as Muang Ngoi (capital of Ngoi district), Muang Ngoi Mai (new Muang Ngoi) & Muang Ngoi Tai (south Muang Ngoi). Not to be confused with the village of Muang Ngoi Neua (north Muang Ngoi) aka. Muang Ngoi Gao (old Muang Ngoi), which is ~1 hour upriver by boat.

Nong Khiaw songthaew/van station
Located at JF217 on this map.

Photo from 17 December 2009:

PC170362

Nong Khiaw bus station
Located at JB205 on this map.

NongKhiaw bus station
May 2011 - photo by snowinjanuary

Timetable and fares (February 2011) (hobomaps):

NongKiewBusStaFeb2011

To Sam Neua - bus from Luang Prabang should pass through Nong Khiaw ~1130++, & bus from Vientiane passes through ~2100-2200++.




PHOU KHOUN

(info from 17 October 2008)
Ask at any shop/restaurant/guesthouse at the 3-way junction, locals will point out the man who will sell you tickets & flag down the correct bus for you.
To Vientiane - any bus passing through, 80,000kip
First Xieng Khouang-Vientiane bus passes through at ~1030.
First Luang Prabang-Vientiane bus passes through at ~1130.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Sayabouly province - transport information

- errors, suggestions & contributions, kindly email: laomeow at gmail dot com
- last modified on 08 September 2011




HONGSA

Hongsa songthaew station
In front of the market. Photo & info - 22 & 23 December 2009:

PC220255
PC220256
Click here for full size version.

Second photo is the only instance of 'double pricing' for songthaew/truck transport ever encountered in Laos so far, not sure if actually implemented. From top to bottom - destination / fare in Lao / fare in English:

ທ່າຊ່ວາງ Tha Souang / 20,000kip / 30,000kip
ປາກທາງນ້ຳຕັບ Pak Thang Nam Tap / 10,000kip / 15,000kip
ກີ່ວສາລາ Kiew Sa La / 13,000kip / 20,000kip
ນ້ຳຍາງ Nam Nyang / 13,000kip / 20,000kip
ເມືອງເງີນ Muang Ngeun / 25,000kip / 35,000kip
ໄຊຍະບູລີ Sayabouly / 80,000kip / 100,000kip
ພູແລ້ງ Phou Laeng / not clear / 45,000kip
ນາມອນ Na Mone / 70,000kip / 80,000kip
Nam Thiau? / not clear / 70,000kip
ລອງໂກນ Long Kon / 70,000kip / not clear

Notes:
  • To Tha Souang - 0830
  • To Muang Ngeun (25,000kip) - 0900 (HiLux)



MUANG NGEUN

Muang Ngeun songthaew station
Next to the market in Ban Nam Ngeun. Photo & info - 23 & 24 December 2009:

PC240371

Notes:
  • Saturdays = border market at Huay Kon (Thai side).
  • Songthaews & trucks (HiLux) start to arrive here between 0800-0900+ on non-Saturdays.
  • No timetable displayed, only a roster for drivers - not sure if transport leaves only on demand?
  • Destinations in drivers' roster - ຫົງສາ Hongsa, ຊຽງຮອ່ນ Xienghone, ປາກແຄນ Pak (Kh?)aen (not sure if copied the 'ຄ' alphabet wrongly), ໄຊຍະບູລີ Sayabouly, ດ່ານນ້ຳເງີນ Dan Nam Ngeun.

October 2010 update:
Muang Ngeun-Oudomxay bus - 55,000kip (no info on departure time & whether this bus operates daily)

ເມືອງເງີນ Muang Ngeun to ห้วยโก๋น Huay Kon border crossing
Info from 24 December 2009 (Thursday - non-'market day').
  • Muang Ngeun songthaew station to ດ່ານນ້ຳເງີນ Dan Nam Ngeun (Lao border checkpoint): 5000kip (shared songthaew) or 10,000kip (charter), ~4km.
  • Lao border checkpoint to Thai border checkpoint at Huay Kon: ~1km walk, mostly uphill.
  • Processing at both Lao & Thai checkpoints may be slow, everything has to be handwritten in logbooks i.e. one person at a time.
  • Huay Kon to ทุ่งช้าง Thung Chang: one daily songthaew departs ~1000+++ (can arrive & depart late on slow days), B100, 1h journey; more trips if there is demand (usually Saturdays, when Huay Kon border market is open).
  • Thung Chang: hourly daytime bus to เชียงกลาง Chiang Klang, ปัว Pua (B29), ท่าวังผา Tha Wang Pha & เมืองน่าน Nan city (B85); also daily buses to Bangkok (Transport Co. & Sombat Tour) & Chiangmai (Green Bus Thailand Co.).
September 2011 update:
Dan Nam Ngeun (Lao border checkpoint) customs office contact no.: +856-74-213074 (source)



PAK LAY

Pak Lai bus station (1km south of town)
* March 2007 info
To Vientiane - 9:00AM 70,000kip
To Sayabouly - 7:30AM, 8:30AM, 10:30AM 45,000kip
To Kaen Thao - 10:00AM, 12:00PM, 2:00PM 25,000kip

Pak Lai boat landing
* March 2007 info
To Vientiane - slowboat on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, & speedboat (on demand)



SAYABOULY TOWN

Sayabouly northern bus station (photo, 8 September 2009) (Ian Taylor)

Located a few KMs north of town. Timetable - 20 December 2009, info - 20 & 21 December 2009:

PC200057
Click here for full size image.

Notes:
  • Timing of first PM bus to Vientiane varies, on 21 December 2009 it was 1500.
  • Trucks (HiLux) may depart earlier than scheduled if full.
  • To Hongsa (80,000kip) - 2.5h journey (HiLux).
  • To Luang Prabang (50,000kip) - 3.5h journey, passport/ID check at Tha Deua.


Old info for reference:
Timetable (8 September 2009) (Ian Taylor)
To Luang Prabang - 9:00AM (ordinary bus), 2:00PM (songthaew)
To Hongsa & Muang Ngeun - 11:00AM (Toyota Hilux D4D Tiger)
To Muang Xienghone - 1:00PM (Toyota Hilux D4D Tiger)
To Vientiane - 10:00AM, 1:30PM (ordinary bus), 4:00PM (AC bus)


Sayabouly southern bus station
* March 2007 info
To Pak Lay - 7:30AM, 10:00AM, 12:00PM 45,000kip

Sunday, August 21, 2011

280707 + 021209 Wat Nongbone - 05 misc

The place where cremations were held, as mentioned here:

IMG_1527
Photo by K-san

The coconuts must be good, for 'rungs' to be nailed on the trunk for easy access?

A peaceful respite in central Vientiane - this section has the feel of a 'wat pa' (forest temple):

P8010231

Remains of a stupa?

PC020515

Perimeter wall:

P7280034
P7280033
P7280036
P7280037
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P7280035

280707 + 021209 Wat Nongbone - 04 Pha Lak Pha Lam

Paintings on two of the buildings at the back of the temple compound:

PC020531

Green monkey flanked by two mermaids:

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PC020528a

In front of the other stairs:

PC020529

With discus & trident in hand, against a backdrop of what looks like the top half of the Singapore flag, albeit missing one star:

PC020529a

Lao meow in Lao wat:

P7280031
P7280030

021209 Wat Nongbone - 03 new sim

Not sure if this is a new building or the complete makeover of an old one. For some reason it faces the perimeter wall (towards Pha That Luang) - away from all other buildings in the temple - & with just a few metres between its front entrance & the wall. In July 2007 it was all bare concrete, in December 2009 some progress had been made:

PC020517
PC020527

Emaciated Buddha on the rear gable:

PC020518

At one point during his search for Enlightenment, he ate only one grain of rice (in some accounts, a leaf or a nut) a day, thinking that he could put an end to desire by fasting...only to realise that desire cannot be ended by extreme asceticism.

PC020518a

Main door - before (280707):

P7280038

Main door - after (021209):

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The dashes of white paint on the left pillar haven't changed one bit :P

An aura of whitewash:

PC020523a

Windows so new, the panels still clad in shrinkwrap:

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PC020520
PC020520d

Detail of window/door frames - face in the center might be a kala (kirtimukha), a demon that has no lower jaw & body because it was told by Lord Shiva to eat itself up:

PC020520a

What might be the head of a ramad with horn that looks more like an elephant's trunk?

PC020520b PC020520c

280707 Wat Nongbone - 02 pavilion + drum tower

Pavilion:

P7280045
P7280028
IMG_1532

Monks' quarters:

P7280039
P7280041

Temples in Vientiane & Huay Xai have huge multi-storey drum towers, unlike the small little single-storey ones in the temples of Luang Prabang:

IMG_1535
Photo by K-san

It was 4:00PM:

IMG_1534
Photo by K-san

While hunting for the sim (main chapel) we found these bits & pieces lying around & signs of construction work in progress:

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PC020519
PC020522