'Slow Boat' To Luang Prabang

Laos, April 22, 2005
After staying the night in Pakbeng, our 'Slow Boat' trip down the Mekong River, continues.

I had coffee with some of my friends from the boat here in front of my Guest House. I think I paid three dollars for my room by way.

This very sweet Lao girl made me my lunch. One difference between Laos and Thailand is the bread. Laos learned to make bread from the French, who used to Occupy Laos before the War in Vietnam. Also, the Lao coffee is very unusual. Coffee is very very strong and they pour ten mm of evaporated milk in the bottom of the glass (they usually use glass not mugs) for sweetness and cream.

We had a great view of the Mekong River from where we stayed up on the cliffs.

One of the highlights for me was to see some elephants loading a barge. See Melissa, I knew it was only a matter of times before I would show you elephants. And yes Alex, this is still elephants. Alex and Jude are my friends from England who are teaching in China right now. You can see them in my Posts from Kanchanaburi. China has severe restrictions on the Internet so I have to send these Blog posts in an unusual format so my friends can even read them. Cheers you two!

A Laos man behind me became very animated and insisted I get my camera ready, and sure enough, as we rounded a bend in the river, we saw this amazing Temple inside this ancient cave.

Here we are arriving in the Luang Prabang port. I hope I have as much energy at 60 as my new friend, Hine, has now. He and Heather are on the go, travelling constantly.

This was the end of our boat trip.

I read 300 pages of my Tom Wolfe Novel: A Man In Full, and enjoyed some beautiful scenery and good company along the way.