BIKERS CLUB JULY 2019 ISSUE | Page 46

- not even I could bring myself to eat pig skin and pig stomach. We both felt it was best to stick to liquids for the day. The weather was hot but the roads were smooth and good. we managed to cover 600 kms till we got to 'Muang Khong'. We halted at the first guesthouse in sight, right in front of the lake. We parked our bikes, dragged ourselves to the room, took a quick shower and crashed ! Partner was unwell through the night and it was evident that we needed to get to a doctor to get some treatment. Here, none of the local people spoke a word of English, only those who rented rooms could manage to talk a bit. I checked with the owner of the guesthouse and he mentioned that there was a hospital a short walk away. I joked with partner, "Make sure that the doctors understand English, else don't accept any medicine from them ! " We reached the hospital, all the doctors seated in a single room and were chatting. It looked more like a classroom than a hospital. one of them stepped forward and we explained Pankaj's symptoms to him. He told us that it was a food poisoning and with an injection and some medication Pankaj would be fine. Partner rested all day, and by the end of the next day he was much better and we were ready to resume our ride. We are now just 20 kms away from the Laos - Cambodia border. we have read and heard that many riders have faced problems while trying to enter Cambodia. We have been suggested to get an exit stamp from Laos before entering Cambodia, to ensure we get entry for our bikes and ourselves into the country. We followed the advice and after the border control personnel checked our carnet and passports, they told us we would have no problems to exit Laos and enter Cambodia. And I shall keep my lesson from Cambodia for life : It's all about expectations and perceptions. 10:00 am. Laos - Cambodia Border, 2nd May 2017.