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.