Lazing in Laos

When you last left us, we were on our way to Chiang Khong and the Laos border. The unusual and impressive white temple of Wat Rong Khun made for a good lunch stop before we continued on to our hotel on the banks of the Mekong.

Chiang Khong provided the group with river views, a photogenic street market and a beautiful sunset to enjoy with a beer. Everyone agreed life was pretty good!

Kent, John, Jen, Anil & Rob the Younger chatting over a Chiang beer

And it was only to get better the next day when, after the formalities of the border crossing into Laos, we climbed aboard our Mekong slow boat for a lazy few days downriver to Luang Prabang.

The Bag Pile of Doom joined in the fun!

Front to back, on left: Maree, Rob the Younger, Kelly, Eugene & Anil.  On right: Martha, Kent, John, Ed, Jo, Will & Peter.  Our very skilled boat captain had 4 kids who provided hours of entertainment!

Clockwise from left: Eamonn, Kat, John, our boat guide Nang, Rob the Elder & Jen

The verdant banks gave us glimpses of rural life, as well as the odd elephant. We spent most of the first day watching the countryside slide by, only stirring for meals and to catch up on journal writing. Nang arranged a stop at a village where the pace and activities continue much as they have for generations.

Rob the Younger, Will, Jo, Eugene, John, Jen, Ed, Kent, Kelly & Martha getting shown around

The night was spent in the sleepy town of Pak Beng where, due to a rainstorm, we all bunkered down to watch a documentary on the wildlife of Laos.

Will & Peter cart the bags back down to the boat

Day two brought more beautiful green scenery, delicious food and an attempt by me to establish how well travelled the group is.

Rob the Elder & Maree enjoying lunch

After some serious studying of a world map by John and Anil, we ticked off 142 countries. Not a bad effort!

Torrential rain set in in the afternoon, with the scheduled stop to view the Buddhist caves at Pak Ou made even more interesting by the dash through the sheets of water pouring off the overhang. We were warned not to go up to the top cave because it was too wet, but of course Action Anil did anyway because that’s how he rolls.

Kelly decided shoes were overrated

The Bag Pile took a final trip in a tuk tuk to the hotel in Luang Prabang, where everyone was glad to dry off and hit the night market.

The night market

Martha gets stuck into some Beer Lao, a contender for the best beer in Asia

The group were then free to explore for a full day. Luang Prabang and its surrounds offer a host of options, from city walks, temples and markets, to hill tribe village tours and waterfall hikes.

Kent looking very pleased with his Beer Lao t-shirt

Anil (living up to his name by doing all the activities and being in all the photos!), Ed, Rob the Elder, Rob the Younger, Kat, Jen & Eamonn ready to take a dip

Ed & Kat dorking it up in their matching father/daughter t-shirts

Rob the Younger was concerned about the nibbling fish 

Eugene having a Crocodile Dundee moment

Ed & Anil tasting some snake spirits

Martha, Peter, Izzie, Kat, Kent, Eugene and the birthday boy: celebrating John's birthday on the last night in Luang Prabang

The following morning it was - at last - time to meet Penelope for our drive north towards China!

Jo helps get the bags loaded

Getting settled on the truck

Final look at the Mekong

Penelope

The rain and the roads made for challenging driving

Will & Izzie having a silly moment

First bush toilet stop of the trip

Tonight, we are staying not far from the Chinese border so we have the whole day tomorrow to do the China Immigration Dance and make it to Jinghong in time for bed. I’ll leave you with this sneak preview of something that we are going to experience a lot of while we’re there: attention!