Laos (breaking-up in Vientiane)

"hey didn't you buy that motorbike from two German girls in Luang Prabang?"


That question steered the course of my trip in many ways but particularly in one major way. In the end it all worked out beautifully and I would eventually be able to look back and reflect on an exciting adventure that started with taking a chance, and ended with a chance meeting. The girl who asked me that simple question was an hour or so away from purchasing the same motorbike (Backfire Betty) I spontaneously bought a few weeks ago.


Lucky for me I beat her to it. I would like to think it's dumb coincidence that she spotted me in a town 400+ km away from where she first saw me but travelers a lot of times follow similar routes.


We began to talk and I could see she was envious of my grand plan which was to, for better or for worse, rumble with Betty all the way through southern Laos, cross into Cambodia and then part with her by overcharging a rich westerner or by bequeathing to a humble villager.


After chit-chatting for a few more minutes with Martina and her boyfriend Eugen, I blurted: "I'm kinda thinking of selling the bike." I couldn't believe what I had just said! Her eyes awoke with hope and right then and there, in a matter of a nanosecond, I mentally broke up with Betty.


I figured I had a pretty good run exploring the most beautiful part of Laos (north/central Laos), it would be more challenging to sell her in Cambodia, and I was glad she would be going to someone who really wanted her at a fair price. In that split moment I also decided to sell her the next day (as opposed to riding a few more days) which would give me enough time to rush to the US embassy for more passport pages,


breeze through some of the sites around Laos' capital of Vientiane, and search for a jockstrap (amongst other things) as I planned to book a flight to the enchanting islands of southern Thailand that day where I'd be training Muay Thai kickboxing.


I made most of this happen (including heading to Thailand the day after selling Betty) in a matter of seconds. Spontaneity is an addictive feeling. Just like that my time in adventurous Laos came to an end. So here' s to you Backfire Betty (someone queue the melancholy music please) and to the almost 1,000km you took me through,


the high speed blowout that almost bucked me off the saddle, the memorable occasions dissecting your mechanical guts,


the breathtaking scenery we saw, the people you allowed me to meet, the village kids laughing with us as I tried to revive you time and time again, and the dozens and dozens of stubborn

pigs we dodged on a daily basis. Writing and living my own motorcycle diary has never been more fun...