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To make sure we we got a good place in the queue for immigration, we breakfasted, packed and were at the small Chiang Khong port by 8 o'clock, with just one other group beating us to it.
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Boat on Mekong River
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After a few, but not oppressive, formalities we boarded two narrow boats for the crossing of the Mekong River to the Lao side
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Ben on tuk tuk
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The small boats were only able to transport us to the small quay on the otherside of the river to get to the main quay at which the larger boats were moored we add a short journey by tuk-tuk
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Tuk Tuk at Houy Xai, Loas
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Boat
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Sopophan Hotel
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New Sopophan Hotel
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Fast Boat
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The cruise down the Mekong would take us two days, but for anyone wanting a faster journey, there were the speed boats. Small narrow boats with an ear piecing outboard motor consisting of a car engine and a egg wisk propeller. They would get you to Luang Prabang in 5 hours.
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Shelter
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The cruise down the Mekong would take us two days, but for anyone wanting a faster journey, there were the speed boats. Small narrow boats with an ear piecing outboard motor consisting of a car engine and a egg wisk propeller. They would get you to Luang Prabang in 5 hours.
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Farm Workers
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Fisherman
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Working in field
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Shore
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Another boat like ours
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Shore
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On board river boat
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Jim and Ben trying local food
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Water Buffalo
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Young girls
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After lunch we pulled in to the village of Ban Pakkhop. For a quick tour round and to give the locals the chance to sell some scarves.
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Rooster
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Temple
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Julie with children
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Mother and child
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Raining
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Continued down the river in intermittent rain to the town of Pakbeng whose claim to fame was that it was half way between Houy Xai and Luang Prabang!
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Julie & Di shopping
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Bonsi on a boat
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We again set off to continue our gentle cruise to Luang Prabang.
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First stop was for our lao guide to buy a fish. The loacls also gathered around attempting to sell more scarves.
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Our guide buys a cat fish
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Local traders trying to sell
cloth to Callum and Di
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Fast Boats outboard
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Goats
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We then settled back to continue the hectic task to watching the bang drift by
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River
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Shore
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Children swimming
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Boat
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Waterfall
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Shore
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Fishtraps
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Tam Ting Caves
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Mid afternoon we pulled in at the Tam Ting Caves to stretch our legs and visit the Buddist Temple that they contained.
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Julie and Guide making offering to the Buddha
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Looking out at En Cliff
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Upper cave
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Continued on down the Mekong for another hour to reach Luang Prabang in the late afternoon
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