LongBoat - Day 2

Last night we were told that there was a possibility to see elephants early in the morning at the river bank. And we were not disappointed. Making it even better was that our hotel was located directly across the river from where the elephants appeared. Our room had a great balcony with a great view.

Our room with a view

Everyone was on board the boat by 8 AM for the second leg of our cruise. It was a cold morning on the water due in part to the high mountain ranges that hid the sun in this section of the river. Everyone was dressed as warm as possible and wrapped up in blankets provided by the cruise while sipping on hot coffee and tea.

We made our first of two stops at a more commercialized village, selling everything from local whiskey to scarfs, table cloth, quilts, carvings, and jewelry.

We got to see the rice whiskey-making process, from rice washing, cooking, to the whiskey being piped into jars.

After spending about a million kip ($100 US), we again boarded the boat and sailed to our second stop. This time, we visited 2 caves filled with Budha status of all kinds, shapes, and sizes. The caves were originally used to store the Buddhas for safekeeping from wars. But over the decades, Buddhas are brought as offerings of prayers for a good life. The Buddhas now numbers in the thousands.

2nd Cave

1st Cave

Cave entrance

We hated to see the cruise over but all good things must come to an end. Before we go, we want to give a shout out to our guide Houy on the cruise, other crew members, the Captain's wife, and his two sisters.

L-R. Captain's wife, Prov, Captain's sister

Houy

LongBoat - Day 1

Longboats ready to be boarded

The long slow boats are a great way to travel back and forth between Thailand and Laos. After making our way through both Thai and Laotian immigration, with aid of the "Shampoo Cruise" personnel, we boarded a minivan for the drive to the river bank where our boat was waiting.

All Aboard

We set out down the river on a 2-day cruise from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, with an overnight stay Pak Beng. Lunch was served on the boat, prepared by a wonderful staff. 

After lunch, we stopped for a visit to one of the many hillside villages along the Mekong River. This village was chosen by the cruise to showcase life in the mountains of Laos along the Mekong. The village is relatively new. About 10 years ago 20 families separated from a bigger village on the other side of the mountain. Houses are constructed of bamboo, wood, and galvanize or grass and are rebuilt every 3 years or so. Villagers make brooms during spare time, grow hops as a cash crop, rice for family consumption, and corn for animal feed. Fishing is done via fish traps early morning and late afternoon.  Part of the proceeds of our tour goes to the education of the youth in the village. Villages are governed by elected officials, from one to 3 chiefs, depending on the population size.

It's a steep and dusty climb up. Can't imagine doing it in the rainy season.

Hiking down the treacherous steps to the river.

Broom making from a local grass

We departed the village and continued on our cruise to the small town of Pak Beng, the halfway point. There we checked into our various hotels to bed down for the night. 

Coming to dock at Pek Beng

Our room at the Mekong Riverside Hotel, overlooking the Mekong River.

Before dinner, we visited the "Happy Bar" where we enjoyed drinks with names we won't repeat while listening to Bob Marley and Toots and Maytals blasting over the speakers.  We were met with a free shot of local whiskey and an endless bowl of warm sugared peanuts.

Status at the Happy Bar overlooking the Mekong

We planned to go back to the Happy Bar after dinner but was too tired after a wonderful Indian meal at our hotel restaurant.

Bus to Chiang Khong

We enjoyed a lovely bus ride from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong, Thailand, our first public bus ride on our trip. Unlike stories we've heard, the bus was not overbooked but rather partially filled, so we got to move around to different seats to enjoy the many different views. We took the local bus vs the faster VIP bus, no AC but more charm.  Stopped part way and got some fresh edamame, still warm from the pot.

Rice Paddies

After 2 and a half hours and a number of stops along the way, we arrived in Chiang Khong on the Mekong River for an overnight stay before heading across the river to Laos.

Chiang Khong

Our hotel for the night

The quaint town does not offer a lot for tourists in the way of adventures, but for those who want to take a load off and relax, this is one place to do it. Restaurants and bars lined a portion of the main street. The big attraction is that you can have drinks at a bar and order food from any number of restaurants and have it delivered at the bar.

Got to hit the sack for a good night's rest as we need to hit the road early to cross the border and get onboard the Long Boat.

Baandam Museum

As described the Baandam or Black House ("baan" means home of house and "dam" means black) Museum is a collection of around 40 wooden buildings featuring works by Thawan Duchanee and other contemporary Thai artists. Dotted around a peaceful garden, the buildings are cool and display animals skeletons, carvings, skins, shells, as well as a few humans carvings. The entire place was interesting, to say the least, and is worth going to.

Duchanee has played an important role in making Thai art popular worldwide with his international exhibits.

The Blue Temple

We met up with a friend from our Elephant Project family in Cambodia at the White Temple and had a wonderful day with her as we visited the other venues on the list. We hopped a blue passenger van from the White temple over to the Blue Temple. Like the White Temple, this too had a theme park feel to it, except there was no entrance fee. Also known as the Sua Ten Temple, the Blue Temple is distinguished by its intricate and vivid carvings and blue color.  Also the most amazing and refreshing ice cream.

.

We got to try a delicious coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell with real coconut gelly.

Coconut Ice Cream

With Layla