We left for Kasi from Vang Vieng. We had found a motorcycle instructor and touring company online; ‘Uncle Tom’s Trails’. This company has an entire set of 5* reviews so we had really high hopes and were very excited. We had booked two half days with Tom for two people. Accommodation and breakfast was included, at the price of £170 (1900000 KIP!).
We got to the bus station ready for the 9.30am bus (30,000 KIP) and sat waiting for our pick up to leave. The driver came over and handed us his phone. We looked at him, confused. He gestured a big kick start of a motorbike and a “VROOOOM!”. It was Uncle Tom on the phone! Obviously there are not many westerners venturing to Kasi, so he had called Tom to tell him we were on our way.
The tuk-tuk was filled with the usual people, rice, monks, chickens and ducks. We arrived, windswept, about an hour and a half later and Tom was ready to pick us up. He came in a motorcycle and sidecar, along with his friend Sai, also driving a motorcycle and sidecar; enough room for one of us and our backpacks in each one!
Tom is a tea-loving Welsh guy who moved to Laos seven years ago. He also looks strikingly like Tom Jones. We were soon sat on his porch drinking a lovely cup of tea.
First step was to talk us through the bikes and practice on a roller in his garage. Once we could get the clutch control right we went off to a field near to Tom’s house to practice steering and general control. Wobbly at first we soon had the hang of it, dodging the local hazards; other bikes and the water buffalo!
This being the first time I had ever ridden a motorbike or even a scooter I was understandably nervous, but Tom was in contact the entire time via headpieces. He is a fantastic teacher, very calm and patient.
After a quick ice cream stop we picked up another bike for Tom and I was trusted to drive in convoy back to the field. I was getting better! To end the day, we did a road trip to the edge of the town. I seemed to have mastered it…. if I didn’t go above 30 miles an hour!
At this point, it was beer o clock so we headed to a bar to reflect on the day. Day one bought good progress… we are both riding motorbikes already, and I LOVE the orange jacket that Tom has lent me to ride in!
That evening we eat with Tom, Sai and his wife at a restaurant owned by Tom’s friends. We tried very local foods, including lots of dishes that Sai’s wife cooked for us. Bamboo, spicy sausages, omelettes cooked within the eggshells (we’ll be making those at home!). We shared a lot of beers and heard all about life in this very local town.
The next day we were up early ready for breakfast with Tom. We had delicious (spicy!) pastries and lovely cakes along with a cup of tea, obviously. Tom was very pleased with my Tetley offering! He was surviving on Lipton because that’s all he can get. Poor thing. If you are planning to visit from home, take this man some tea!
On day two, we spent the day on trails around the countryside. It was one of the best days we have had on our entire trip! Not only was riding the bikes so exhilarating, but we saw tiny countryside villages and we got a great insight in to Laos outside of the touristy towns. We drove for four hours and when we finished could still feel the vibrations of the road going through our hands.
Tom dropped us at the bus station later that day and we left with a lot of addrenaline, having had an absolutely fantastic couple of days. We left Tom feeling as though we were leaving visiting a friend; he is a very kind and hospitable man and if there’s any way we can incoporate a trip back here before we return to the UK we will do and you should too!
COST | £170 / 1 million KIP (2x half days for 2x people)
EN ROUTE FROM | Vang Vieng; 30,000 KIP each on bus
EN ROUTE TO | Vientiane; 50,000 KIP each on bus
CONTACT | https://www.facebook.com/uncletomstrails/
