Lovely Luang Prabang

transport to the border of Thailand
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The next day saw Cal and I with Kim and Glenn and Eilidh and Dean heading to catch the 2 day slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang.  Taking the tip from our landlady of arriving early we were able to collect our tickets and get decent seats before all the other unsuspecting backpackers and tour groups arrived... it was the hard as hell wooden bench seats in the back beside the engine for them... praise be to the landlady!   Nearly 2 hours later after packing on the people it was show time.. we pulled anchor and were outa there... Pak Beng for an overnight stop here we come.  What a relaxing way to see the countryside.  We passed little riverside villages which were in flood due to it being the rainy season.. every so often a whole tree would float past and without hesitation our driver would move to miss it.  It was truely an experience and a half.

a day on the slow boat
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Our overnight stop was in a little place called Pak Bang on the river.  There are a few guest houses and restaurants that keep the place busy.  On arrival we were hounded by well meaning touts wanting to take us to 'best place in pak beng'... hmm, surely they couldn't all be the best place?  We found one eventually, dumped our bags and went out for a wander and some dinner.  It felt like we were staying with a family in their home... the restaurant was beside their tv and sofas.. there were kids all over the place, naked babies, kittens, puppies and a dodgy geezer called Marco (Polo)!?  trying to sell us pot at every turn...  random yes - loving the atmosphere, absolutely.

our boat
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Day 2 on the boat wasn't quite as plush as day 1.  Our lovely boat has disappeared and all the people who were on two boats yesterday were on one today.  Hard seats were the order of the day, as well as picking up numerous locals...dogs, chickens, motorbikes, kids, grannies.. need i go on - an experience which this trip is all about after all.

Numb bums and 7 hours later were were in Luang Prabang.  Unesco listed and a world heritage site... this city is gorgeous.  Old colonial French architecture with Laos charm, great people and a wonderful location next to two rivers you could stay here for a long time.  We did, or at least it felt like it, we were on Laos time remember.  Lazy days pottering around the street and market stalls, food beside the river and cool beers in the evenings.  We donated a set of books with a charity called Big Brother Mouse.  They take books to villages and towns with no schools and promote learning, fab place and so worthwhile. Having had such great company with our traveling crew, we loved it here and can easily see why it is such a gem in Laos.

the beautiful Mekong
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Sadly though it was time to push on an go our separate ways, after attempting to spend our whole budget at the night market Cal was determined that it was time to head south to Vang Vieng for adventures with tractor tubes and rope swings....