Cruising the mighty Mekong.

Even on the river it’s hot, so shade and a breeze are priority.

Finding shade and a breeze on board was a priority

Our new Laotian Guide Saak, is delightful, but recover from too much whiskey and karaoke the previous evening.

The gang and our new Laotian Guide Saak

The 40m boat has a garden like lounge area at the front then 5 rows of seating with tables accommodating around 20 comfortably, in the middle was space for dining, with catering provided by the boat driver’s lovely wife.

Home cooking from the boat driver’s wife

Along the river banks many women were panning for gold while the men headed out in their long boats to fish both with nets and lines.

Casting and repairing the nets.

The fish most often caught are carp and catfish.

Long boats ferry passengers tourists snd cargo on the river. USD $35/dsy to hire.

Panning for gold.

Lots of buffalo’s too were cooling off, many albino carieties which must be feeling the heat, and the occasional herd of cows and goats .

Lots of buffalo soaking in the shallows cooling off.

Every now and then we’d hear screams of delight and spot the village kids cooling off.

It’s 2, 8 hour days to ply the river in a long boat like ours and a similar time by road.

If you are in a hurry though you can hire a fast stick boat that die the trip in two 2 1/2 hour bursts. Accidents regularly happen in these boats as they can easily hit a submerged log or similar flinging the passengers out.

Crazy speed boat drivers.

Our guide had been in one such accident and swore never to use them again. Some of the jet boats only had the driver in a helmet, others more sensibly had everyone wearing one.

Rustic but interesting Pak Beng

Gazing from our room out over the river.

Looking at the river through the ornamental temple roof on a hill in Pak Beng.

We stopped overnight, as it is apparently dangerous to cruise through the night, at Pak Beng. Here we explored the very tiny village , its markets and mandatory Wat.

Parlez vous francaise?

Black rice noodles.

An interesting collection of goodies for sale including buffalo skin, dried cat fish heads, spice wood, fresh bamboo shoots and even live frogs.

Dried catfish heads and strips of buffalo skin used to flavour curry pastes.

Spices collected from the jungle.

Pepper wood.

Fresh bamboo shoots.

Live frogs.

Kids playing in and with the rubbish dumped near the market.

Then back onto our hotel where pool and beer pong were on offer, with free shots of the local whiskey….not recommended.

The boat crew offered us more local snacks freshly caught on the way. More crickets and disgusting bee larvae (which we had thought was honey comb until we bit into it)…and deep fried river weed.