Day 10 – Border Crossing from Mohan (China) to Boten (Laos) and Onwards to HuayXai

Day 10 in China, which was basicly a short ride to the border and process exit and re-entry into Laos. We tried to cross the Mengla-Boten border early in the morning and after much goodbyes to Bing and much photo taking it was time.

Last Group Photo before Leaving China

By our good fortune, somehow the immigration system in China was down. Or rather the system that is needed for vehicle to clear is down but the foot traffic was ok.

The three girls riding pillion crossing by foot did not know this and cleared nicely into Laos while all the boys with the bikes was stuck in quarantine zone waiting for the system to be back online. 

The long wait not knowing when the Customs system will be back online

At this point, Some wonder if we would get a free Day 11 in China 

A good 8 hours we waited and slept. Even negotiated with the officer to leave the bike in quarantine while we left the compound to get lunch and tapao for the girls where Bing did a shuttle passing food from the border fence.

The hold up was unfortunate but instead of staying a night at Boten, the crazy captain decided with the rest of the gang to push on riding through the night in Laos all the way to Huay Xai for the night. 

That was one crazy ride without clear light to see the f*cking potholed roads with slopes and ditch barely visible. I was last this time for real. No amount of speeding could I do to catch up. Visibility for me was poor with double glasses fogged up. Rain killed more visibility and cold drench gear made me even more tired and shivering.

Double Rainbow near Luang Namtha just before Sunset

My roomate Sea Pirate and Beno really helped me out once the sun set. They hung back and escorted me lighting up the way with their powerful PIAA lights. I could follow to a point and then Beno went too fast and I had to slow down terribely but Khairul stuck through ...

By the grace of god as the group like to say, we all made it in one peice ... I f*cking cursing under my skin for this was not a forced event but a choice forced upon us. Still a good shower and I let the momment pass just being grateful for the support from Sea Pirate and Beno and that we all arived well and good.

The next days was crossing back into Thailand and I part ways with the rest of the gang riding solo to Chaing Rai to rest up before the journey back to Singapore. I made a beeline down stright from Chaing Rai, but with significant stops to rest each day for I know my body fatigue was already too much built up from 10 days riding in China. The gang somehow ride like they were on steroids all reaching Malaysia way earlier than me.

Traveled on : Jun 2023