Sometimes the journey is just as good as the destination, which is probably just as well in this case as our journey from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Laos will haven taken two and a half days by the time we’re done. Today began with our crossing the border from Thailand into Laos via a short boat ride across the river. We then learned why it was necessary to have two hours allocated to the debaucle that was Laos Immigration Control!
Finally we were ready to board the slow boat to Luang Prabang (we took some advice from the guidebook and passed on the fast boat; it goes twice as fast but is ten times as dangerous – we waved off the helmet and life jacket wearing passengers not in the least bit envious!) The boat was actually a houseboat belonging to a Laos family who seemed to make their living from ferrying people up the river on board their home. It maybe wasn’t the most salubriuos of accomodations for the journey but we had a seat each and space to spread out. Any shortcomings were more than made up by the glorious scenery as we meandered our way down the Mekong river through rural Laos. We passed and stopped at several villages, characterised by wooden huts with thatched roofs, smiling locals, and the sound of laughter as happy children jumped and splashed around (naked) in the river. We arrived in Pak Beng, our home for tonight, feeling glad that we had ignored the advice of the man who tried to tell us that the boat was full and that we’d be more ‘comfortable’ on a mini bus for ten hours.
Pak Beng is a small town with one street of guesthouses and restaurants which surely must have popped up as a result of boat loads of tourists arriving every night and leaving again the next morning.
We thought we’d better try some traditional Laos food tonight – think a plate of minced up meat with lemongrass flavour… We’re looking forward to croissants for breakfast from the French bakery.