Day 25 - 19/2/18 Travelling across the Border - Chiang Khong to Laos

Got up really early and did some yoga, watched the sun rise and then went and a got a cup of herbal tea and some local delicacies to try for breakfast.

Left the hotel (Day Waterside Hotel) around 8 after picking up our lunch from the restaurant opposite (Mrs Jam), we were advised by the hotel to buy some food as the sandwich given on board wasn’t all that big (it was as it turned out). Anyway, lots of fannying about on and over the Friendship Bridge, the bridge that spans between Thailand 🇹🇭 and Laos 🇱🇦, we had to buy a visa for Laos for $35 each, filled in several forms but basically transported around via bus, coach and tuktuk! Eventually got onto the boat which doesn’t leave until 11.30! Lots more fannying about. I can still see the hotel that we stayed at in Thailand!! We have 7 hours on this, nothing like as nice as the boat we caught in Myanmar.

The ‘fun’ boat, one toilet... all these people, seven hours, lots of beers.... nice!!! I suddenly feel ancient as we’re with a bunch of 18-30’s!! :)

Overnighting in Pakbeng, staying at Mekong Riverside Lodge...(£29 for 2) but we’ve got to do our time on the boat first...the boat got in just before 6, and it was crazy getting off, bags everywhere but the good news was the hotel was only 100m walk away.... now enjoying the views from our balcony overlooking the Mekong.

Popped out for a wander about Pak Beng, only one street filled with shops, guest houses and restaurants... didn’t go for food as we’d eaten at lunchtime and not v hungry. Went for a drink at the Happy Bar and left when it started to fill up with the 18-30 boat-crowd.


Day 26 - 20/2/18 - Day 2 of endurance on the Mekong...


Woke up at 6.30 and did a 40 min yoga session, very misty to start off but sun soon rose and burnt it off...

Fortunately we were able to get on a slightly different, smaller boat than yesterday... the boat left around 9.30 just as the elephants were coming to the shore opposite for a quick dip...

Need to research Luang Prabang, where we’re due to stay for a couple of nights...having read about it we may stay longer... we’ll see, be nice to get some laundry done and walk / cycle around.

Made it to Luang Prabang around 4.30pm...