Near Vang Vien - in the special zone / bad storie

[mat.ward]

Hi Rhodie,

I have had them for a while and could not remember where I found them, but after a bit searching I figured out I found them on a site dedicated to the A-1 Skyraider: http://skyraider.org/

The first shot looking down the runway to the vertical speed brake is credited to the Pararescue Association, the second from above was taken from an A-1 by Byron Hukee.

Cheers,
Mat

 

[thebamboorat]

Last batch

Vang Pao's House

Remains of American Compound

The King's House on the hill. Despite being lucky enough to be allowed on the airfield we were told that this place was definitely still off-limits.

The aerial shot is not oe of mine. it was taken by mate who flew passed on his way up to Phonsavan

 

[mat.ward]

Thanks again Bamboorat, really interesting, especially when you compare the aerial photo taken by your mate with the one taken back in the day by Byron Hukee. Its not quite the bustling town of 30,000 people it once was is it? Or is the current dam project changing that...

Mat

 

[scot harper]

Ratsy, your a champ!! mate you went where others tried and failed, were you on a tour or something? or do you have some glosies on some one and a goat![}]
Dave FL, give him a star, who were the other dudes in the pics, an the guy with the rocket launcher, mate!!
Thanks again...Scott

 

[Rhodie]

Thanks Bamboorat - you've done good.
Mat -really appreciate the link.
I bet the hidden interest lurking in cyberspace was a
surprise. But your pix are the only truly good post-war pix that I have seen.
Do check out with your other mates who visited with you to see if there are any further px.
To those living in laos at present with an interest; would it be possible to arrange a group visit thru a travel agent?
I have dealt with Diethelm in Vtne but have found you need to be there in person when asking for something out of the norm.
I certainly will approach them when I get there sometime in the future.
Just a thought.
Thanks again guys.
Cheers
Rhodie

 

[thebamboorat]

Scot and Rhodie,

I was working on site at the gold mine at Phu Kham from 2003 on (The T-junction at Houay Kham where you turn left). One of my bosses was dealing with the Special Zone authorities on a regular basis. Much to his amazement we got an invite to go up there. Needless to say we didn't waste any time and piled into a couple of hiluxes before they could change their minds. We had to take a security escort (the bloke with the RPG and a few of his mates)

I don't know how you will go trying to organise a tour up there though. I think we were very lucky to be in the right place, right time. I think they let one more group from the mine come up and then about a year later the US ambassador flew in there. First American to visit for 30 years I think. But no harm in trying and hopefully somebody will succeed in getting there on a bike.

 

[Larry Baraniuk]

I'm starting to get the itch to head back up to Long Chieng sometime between late January (2008) to the end of April.I heard that they are working on a big hydro dam construction project up there (got that info from www.ciafilm.com) and with that happening I was thinking that there would be less hassle getting into the special zone.I really don't care about getting into the air base,I just really enjoy the bike ride getting there.
I like the idea of organizing a tour to go up there but I think that it would probably require a security escort which would then involve having a support vehicle ( unless you found an escort that likes riding bikes).
I'd really like to try to make this happen and it sounds like you have some good contacts.
I hope you can help me out.
Here's a picture of the bike that I took the last time I went to Long Chieng.

Here's a picture of the russian jeep ( a UAZ 465)that I rented in Vang Vieng that I used on my 3rd attempt to Long Chieng.The picture was taken on a barge ride that bypassed a broken down bridge along the way.I would definitely use this jeep as a support vehicle.

 

[Rhodie]

Many would like to go to as well.
I am in Vang Vieng with my son at present - we asked yesterday in Phonsovan for permission.
But for farangsit is a definite "NO".
Locals who are using the road built by the mining comapany, say that access and the road, for them, is easy but security is high.
See press reports on the Vang Pao trial.
Indeed the security all around the special zone is noticeable, more so than in the past.
I understand that a french group riding with greendiscovery bought some permits to transit the special zone.
They got through the first security cordon around LC, but were turned back at the second.
Maybe you will have better luck next year.

 

[Auke]

Andrew Burke from the Lonely Planet tried to enter also sometime ago but he also had no luck. Check out http://www.lonelyplanet.com/journeys/fe ... .cfm#Burke for his brief write-up.

 

[mat.ward]

Here a few shots from December 2007 of Long Tieng. I guy who took them is ex-IVS and USAID and worked in Laos between '66 and '75. He is now part of a charity that is helping rebuild the school and has been back to LT three or four times in the past couple of years.

Approaching LT from the south:

Vang Pao's place:

Main road of LT:

The American built school, partly ruined.

David: Any chance of changing Bamboorat's html settings so his photos show up after the change of forum system?

 

[jimoi]

GT Rider is a good forum, look how the original posting was about a Bad Storie and the community turned it into riding. I've been out in the area a few times and up to the gates at Long Chieng as well to be turned around. I wonder if the writer has any photos of violence in his own country for another post of a bad storie.

 

[ShawnVang]

May I use these pictures for a report and archive purposes?