Slow slow slow your boat

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To get into Laos and to our first destination there, Luang Prabang, we had decided to take a boat rather than the bumpy roads. We booked up a package with our hostel which pulls together all the parts of the trip.

We set off on day 1 in a very posh air conditioned mini-van. This took us the 6 hours drive to Chiang Kong on the river and the border with Laos. Here we completed all the necessary paperwork to get visas. The actual border is a simple 3 or 4 minute ferry crossing of the river to the Laos town of Huay Xia. The Mekong river runs from China, through Burma, Laos, Cambodia and finally ends in Vietnam. Its a huge river and even in this dry season is amazingly wide and strong.

On arrival in Laos it wasn't long before we were totally paranoid about getting ripped off. The customs staff demanded extra money as it was after 4pm! Our 'guide' spent 15 minutes freaking everyone out about how they may need kip (the local currency) if they get stopped by police, but not to worry she had a mate who could exchange our currency (for appalling rates). We also had many people trying to worry us that the town of our overnight stop the next day was really busy and we needed to book (super overpriced) accomodation now. To top this off they all operate in US dollars, Thai baht and and Laos kip so you really don't know what's going on! We had been told by fellow travellers that Laos people were very honest but it clearly wasn't time to let our guard down yet.

We spent one night in Huay Xia. There was a lot of other people on the tour and it was good to get to know them all over some Beer Laos, the appropriately named national beer.

The next day was the first day of boat travel (about 6 hours). We were lucky to bag some 'comfy' seats whch were old coach seats removed and nailed to the boat floor! We set off, and yes, she was a slow boat alright. We chugged along and admired the view, read books and chatted to fellow passengers. Unfortuantely, at this time of year the view is not the best as the Laos' operate slash and burn agriculture meaning pretty much the whole country is on fire so there is much smoke and ash in the sky.

We stopped at Pak Beng for one night and with military precision the girls shot off the boat and secured very nice and very cheap accomodation, while the boys wrestled the bags off little kids desperate for tips. That night we went out to eat and socialise early before the lights out curfew at 10.30pm.

Our final day of travel was the most gruelling ... 9 hours on wooden benches on the boat. Our butts were very glad to see Luang Prabang as the boat pulled up for the final time. Once off loaded we decided to stay together with some great people we'd met and headed off to find a guesthouse.

The trip was that kind of experience that seems so much better after you've done it. It is by no means luxury travel but it's all part of the adventure!

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Photos

Our packed boat
Note the 'comfy' seats

Comments

[John]

Ah well! All part of life's 'rich' tapestry - the human memory (short and long term) can be very selective to give fond remembrances :)

[Uncle A]

Holla!
In my professional opinion "Slow slow slow your boat" would have been a better title. That notwithstanding I'm very impressed you've managed to keep up the wacky, sometimes double entendre...esqe headings. Do you sit there brainstorming each week?

[Rat Race Escapees]

Damn it! Damn it! That is a much better title - off to change it now! And yes of course we brainstorm ... we have a portable flipchart specifically for that purpose!