5:00AM in the morning of March 29th, Lek and I step out of the overnight minivan from Pai. This is Chiang Khong, 600+km Northeast of Pai.
We watch the sky slowly getting brighter. Across the great flow of the Meckong is Laos, as said in Southeast Asian history, “Vietnamese plant rice, Cambodian look at rice, and Lao listen to rice.”
After Thai officials stamp my passport, I step onto a small crossing boat. We’re now leaving Thailand, my home for the last two months.
This is the first time I enter a country by a boat. Houey Xai, a town of the entry point silently awaits for us.
Rule 5, take rivers and the waterway as primary means of transportation. In Laos we can go to so many places by a boat. Let’s try to stay afloat for this month. we get our entry stamp and one month visa (30USD) change the boat and start cruising down the Meckong. To Luang Prabang, a paradise some 280 km down south.
The boat makes many stops to pick up passengers and merchandises.
We arrive in Pakbeng for the first night. We’ll continue the travel on the water tomorrow.
Next morning before our boat time, at morning market of Pakbeng, Lek is excited about the delicious Pho, Vietnamese rice noodle soup.
And this is her photo of Pho. This small kitchen turns out to be our best Pho joint for a long time.
Fog has lifted and our boarding time nears.
Second day of boat trip is more relaxed, and we are starting to make friends.
Some are drinking early Beer Lao, some are focusing on their own meditative craft.
While Lek teaches a local kid a guitar, this French boy wouldn’t leave us alone.
We arrive Luang Prabang. All the memories from when I was here two years ago begin to come back to me.
5:00AM in the morning of March 29th, Lek and I step out of the overnight minivan from Pai. This is Chiang Khong, 600+km Northeast of Pai.
We watch the sky slowly getting brighter. Across the great flow of the Meckong is Laos, as said in Southeast Asian history, “Vietnamese plant rice, Cambodian look at rice, and Lao listen to rice.”
After Thai officials stamp my passport, I step onto a small crossing boat. We’re now leaving Thailand, my home for the last two months.
This is the first time I enter a country by a boat. Houey Xai, a town of the entry point silently awaits for us.
Rule 5, take rivers and the waterway as primary means of transportation. In Laos we can go to so many places by a boat. Let’s try to stay afloat for this month. we get our entry stamp and one month visa (30USD) change the boat and start cruising down the Meckong. To Luang Prabang, a paradise some 280 km down south.
The boat makes many stops to pick up passengers and merchandises.
We arrive in Pakbeng for the first night. We’ll continue the travel on the water tomorrow.
Next morning before our boat time, at morning market of Pakbeng, Lek is excited about the delicious Pho, Vietnamese rice noodle soup.
And this is her photo of Pho. This small kitchen turns out to be our best Pho joint for a long time.
Fog has lifted and our boarding time nears.
Second day of boat trip is more relaxed, and we are starting to make friends.
Some are drinking early Beer Lao, some are focusing on their own meditative craft.
While Lek teaches a local kid a guitar, this French boy wouldn’t leave us alone.
We arrive Luang Prabang. All the memories from when I was here two years ago begin to come back to me.
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