Slowboat to Laos

We travelled from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong by bus and the next day we took a ferry across the river to Huoay Xai in Laos. After the usual immigration kerfuffel we set off for Day One of our Slowboat Journey!

The boat was VERY crowded and not a little uncomfortable, but we made the best of the space we had:

 

 Throughout this trip, despite the guitarists and beer louts and being distracted by the spectacular scenery, Jen finally finished her White Whale!

 

  

 

After eight hours on the slow boat, a night stop in Pak Beng was very welcome! In Laos there is a curfew at 12.00 midnight. This means that the bars stop serving and everything closes. In Pak Beng (and other rural areas) the electricity stops at ten, unless you have a generator. Our guesthouse didn't...it was poker for bottletops for us!

Boats in the harbour at Pak Beng - people lived on these boats. This picture comprises the majority of Pak Beng!

After a subsequent 8 hour trip the following day, this scene marked the end of  Day Two of our boat trip with Luang Prabang just around the corner!