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Published: August 9th 2007
After a five hour minibus journey with our driver driving like a maniac, we arrived at the border of Thailand and Laos, Chiang Khong. The next day after no sleep due to some lovely plastic pillows and a poor fan, we started our 2 day slow boat journey down the Mekong to Luang Prabang. But before we departed we couldn't leave without being conned AGAIN on the exchange rate by a crafty man on the Laos side of the border, you think we'd have them sussed by now, but it appears they are just too good for us and plenty of others with us!
The guide book described this journey as an "amazing once in a life time trip which should not be missed!" however... it was just about the most uncomfortable journey ever! 100 people crammed into a boat for fifty with some not so suitable seating! On the plus side we did meet some really awesome people and the views from the boat down the Mekong were incredible. The first night we stayed in a particularly remote outpost in the jungle called Pakbeng, which was more than basic. (no sleep again unfortunately!) We did discover Beer Laos though
which is most delicious.
The next day we were up early again to cram back on the boat and play lots more of our favourite new card game "Yaniv" which we were taught by 4 cool Israeli guys. (Maria, we'll have to teach you it, you'll love it) All the card playing made the time pass relatively quickly and we arrived at Luang Prabang at dusk.
Luang Prabang is awesome!!! Definately our favourite place so far, as soon as we arrived we understood why its a World Heritage site. Most of the views are stunning and its slow pace is unique. However, the size of the town does make you understand the lack of development in Laos and just how poor the country is. Luang Prabang is Laos' second biggest city (if you can call it that) yet you can walk the length of it in half an hour... making it smaller than Hernia Bay! In our 2 full days there we made it to the top of "Phou Si" which means "sacred hill" and is at the centre of the town, on the top of the hill is a temple and supposedly a footprint left by the
Bhudda himself! That night we met up with two really nice english girls from our boat, Emily and Jess, and went to the Lao Lao Bar where we had our own individual bbq which popped out of the middle of the table! We tried buffalo which is also most delicious!
The next day we went to a another temple, Wat Xiang Thong, different in architecture and wall inscription to ones we have previously seen. (We should be experts on temples by the time we leave Asia!) We then went to the National Palace Museum at what used to be the Royal Palace before the removal of the monarchy after the communist revolution. Finally, before our flight this afternoon, we got up early at 5.30am (complete with Paul's grumpy head!) to see the monk procession by which the monks collect food from the town's people, as they don't believe in possesions. We in fact found out that the concept of possession is completely foreign to the Laos people. To illustrate this point, the word for "mine" and "yours" is the same in Lao, and there isn't even a word for an individual. Laos is probably best described as "communalist".
Slowboat Day Two
Even the monks look bored!We have now just arrived in Hanoi which couldn't be more different, it's so busy, and there are more motorbikes and mopeds than we've ever seen!
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Rosie
non-member comment
Lucky tihings
Hi guys looks like you are having the most amazing time. Hanoi is great, go to the lake in the evenings and drink good coffe while watching the locals do there exercises! Also Hanoi is a treasure for French food, Baguettes and crossiants are a must, there are some good patiseries too. There's also a ghetto waterpark, but a definate if you want to cool down. Carefull of the taxi's, don't use the white ones, and they will all try to rip you off! There's a great restaurant which has been going for like 10 generations, should be in the guide book and they serve one dish a night but its very tasty! Anyway good luck and enjoy Vietnam! Bg love to you both xx