New Year's Resolution

[Bozo]

Digger
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been active in Laos to various degrees since 1959. Whilst they give some grants they also lend money for income generating projects like mining projects, international airports and hydro power. Over 4,000 trainees have participated in the JICA project. Most of the funding is in grants. Japan sees Laos as being in a strategic location having borders with China, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Xi Jinping visited Laos in 2017, being the first Chinese president to make a visit in 11 years and signed bi-lateral cooperation documents. It will be interesting to see if JICA grant money slows dramatically or shifts to sectors like health.
Bozo

[Digger]

Digger
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been active in Laos to various degrees since 1959. Whilst they give some grants they also lend money for income generating projects like mining projects, international airports and hydro power. Over 4,000 trainees have participated in the JICA project. Most of the funding is in grants. Japan sees Laos as being in a strategic location having borders with China, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Xi Jinping visited Laos in 2017, being the first Chinese president to make a visit in 11 years and signed bi-lateral cooperation documents. It will be interesting to see if JICA grant money slows dramatically or shifts to sectors like health.
Bozo

Yeah, I get that. But it’s a bit like me inviting a Hobo over to my place for dinner. What’s in it for me. That’s the bit I don’t understand. Maybe I’m a little naive.
It is a good road though...I should be thankful. The rest of their roads are shite.

[Bozo]

Digger
Laos has land. It is roughly the same size as Victoria and has a similar population but only one twentieth of the GDP. It’s economy is growing year on year by 7 per cent with industry now making up one third of its economy. Being land locked is a big disadvantage.
Bozo

[Digger]

Bozo,
This ones for you.

A mans gotta eat.

[Goldie1]

Another great ride & travelling report Digger its good to see how the real people in other country’s live. Did you try the muffins that were on sale there the picture of them looked ok. Enjoy the ride

[Bozo]

Digger

I like the way you have sandwiched the bakery sign between two motorcycles.

Bozo

[Digger]

. Did you try the muffins that were on sale there the picture of them looked ok.

It was the muffins that caught my attention but I had to settle for a choc covered donut instead.

[Digger]

“I left my heart to the Sappers round Khe Sanh, and my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the black market man”. Cold Chisel - 1978.
Sobering day on Thursday. Visited the former Combat Base at Khe Sanh and although no Australians served there, it is still a sombre place to visit. The Base was occupied by US Marines and Infantry and saw a lot of action resulting in the loss of many lives on both sides.


The Combat Base photographed from a medevac chopper in 1968


Photo from google maps. The C130 is on display along with other captured or abandoned vehicles and aircraft

[Digger]

On the ground...


The Base was under constant Artillery fire. The NVA has Artillery that had a greater range then the US. The soldiers had to seek shelter in bunkers below ground level

[Digger]

Inside the small museum....no caption required



Interesting day in the saddle today (Friday) starting with a thrilling steep descent down the mountain from Khe Sanh. From there the scenery improved following the Thach Han River and included some interesting hillsides. Once on the flat I was able to pick up some local backroads to the ocean and my destination.


The morning started with a steep descent...a bit of fun

[Digger]

Road 9 cost a lot of lives on both sides



After the descent, the terrain became varied and interesting


Every death is a loss to someone


The Resort was not the first hotel I looked at. The first one seemed a little ‘rundown’. This one is near deserted. It must be their off season. The Villa cost me $30 AUD.


This ones for you Trev. I promised you palm trees and beaches. I’m taking one for the team

From here I’ll follow the coastline where I can for a while now.

Distance ridden to date - 716km.

SPOT Link is here;
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[jls]

great updates steve pretty sobering some of those places in the memory of the modern psych still remember asking my father back in the mid sixties why are we fighting gorillas i was summarily dismissed keep the updates flowing

[Digger]

great updates steve pretty sobering some of those places in the memory of the modern psych still remember asking my father back in the mid sixties why are we fighting gorillas i was summarily dismissed keep the updates flowing

As a teenager, my biggest fear (then) was that my older brother was gunna be conscripted and have to go and fight that war. Bugger me dead, years later I voluntarily enlist and make a career out of it. Go figure.

[Digger]

Back to cycle touring today as I know it. Lots of great backroads, a variety of scenery and very high humidity. A great day in the saddle but tiring. Preparations for TET, the Vietnamese New Year, are well underway everywhere. It coincides with the Chinese New Year this year (not always) and so I expect the whole country will shut down on Tuesday 5 Feb and everybody will be hung over on Wednesday


The view from my office window on Saturday. Heavily overcast and high humidity



No paupers graves in this lot. They will be paying these off for generations to come. This scenario went for many, many km. The whole region seemed to be one big cemetary.

[Digger]

Some hilly country in this part of VN. Tomorrow (Monday) I must go thru Hai Van Pass. More on that some other day.



For every new resort being built, there is one either side closed or abandoned. I don’t understand. Why bother?