1st. week on the road: Flat land, A sore ass and 1000 plastic bags.

Here we are, Nakhon Phanom, enjoying a restday in this beautiful place by the Mekong. We arrived yesterday around 13.00 after a super flat 60 km. The plan was to only stay for the night, but after a walk around town and a snack at the nightmarket, we decided to stay an x-tra day. Really, we don't have to be somewhere at a certain time, so why not enjoy the good places we pass..
The road from Khon Chiam has by most parts been really really pretty, with lots of different nature surrounding us. Traffic has been light and generally the roads have been in a good condition, though it seems like thai government put new asphalt very randomly. You go from driving the most nice road, almost like flying, til the shittiest of the shittiest, where you have to keep all your focus on the road to avoid the big holes.

Temple by the river, Mukdahan

It's been a super nice week and i really enjoyed the ride so far. A bit of everything and a smooth start when it comes to hills -from tomorrow on will start the hilly parts, but i'm actually looking forward, since the straight, flat road gets just a bit too monotone after a while..
Being back on the road is amazing and after travelling 2 years in a row in thailand with the backpack, it's nice to do it by bike again. You meet so many people and have a lot of none-sense chats with random people - it's great! It prevents you from feeling isolated as a "Farang" down here. We've been practising our thai  a lot and are able to say a few more politeness things and by the end of the day, it  really makes a difference in how people experience you.
Though quit a few people do this road by bike, it still seems like us passing by is the highlight of the year! So many hellos during a day, it leaves your mouth all dry! But also a lot of nice conversations about daily life and of cause the head subjects: Italian football (which we love as you all very well know) and the -17 degrees it is at home right now (do i even need to ask myself what i'm doing down here??)

Lunchtime!!

Doo doo the river, again again..

Love these old thai wooden houses, Khemmerat

On the  way to That Phenom

I must admit, i was a bit nervous about how this first week back on the bike would be for me. It's been a while since i did my last biketrip and my shape is not near as good as it was a year ago. Despite of that, it's actually been alright for me and besides from a preeeety sore ass from time to time, i'm generally feeling good. Yesterday was the first day my legs felt tired and even after the 96 km we did from Khemmeret-Mukdahan a few days ago, i wasn't too smashed. It's a great feeling and everyday when we're on the road i'm so exited about what the day will bring! You can never tell in this country..
After a few long biketrips together with mikele, we're soo sorted..We have all the gear we need, super nice bikes and comfy things such as computers, trangia and travel pillows (really, BEST investment. Those rock look-alike pillows they use down here, leave your neck all crooket).

Sunrise over the Mekong in Mukdahan. Even on our rest-days i wake up real early. that's the way it goes when your daily routine is getting up at 6.30 to hit the road early and passing out before 10 in the evening!

Mukdahan

Alot of people don't understand why we choose to go with a kitchen, but really, once you're on the road, it's nice to be your own boss and decide for yourself when to eat and most of all, what. As a vegan down here, there's a certain limit for how much Khao pad pak, mai sai kai (fried rice and vegetables without egg) you can consume in a day. With the kitchen we buy  veggies in the morning at the local market, cook up a fast noodle soup for lunch, get some sticky rice at the chicken-stall in the nightmarket and make a quick stir fry -how easy is that?!! Often we find small local vegetarian eating places as well and we always fill up, but you can never be sure to hit one at the rigth time.
All in all, it's been a really awesome first week on the road. In a few days we will start entering the mountains, so maybe i wont be loving it as much the next time you hear from me;)

Mukdahan-That Phanom

Wat That Phanom

shiny new place we stayed in That Phanom. Was the cheapest we could find. For 300 baht we got a big room with a massive fridge, hot water and wifi -how luxurious is that?!

Miki's favourite hangout spot at the night market: The Patongko-stall, aka chinese doughnots

Those thai people sure know how to get best out of everything, here it's an old petrol station turned into a restaurant!