Two days on a slow boat down the Mekong

After a visa run to Chiang Mai, I headed off back to Luang Prabang via a slow boat down the Mekong.  It was great fun.
Sooooo relaxing.  Had a huge thick book and just sat there reading and looking at the scenery for two days.  Spent a night in Pakbeng along the way.

Local bus from Chaing Rai to the Thai side of the border

Thai border - Laos here we come

One of these will be our transport for the next 2 days

Good way to see the world

Pakbeng.  Spent the night at DP guesthouse

This is about 7am at Pakbeng, before we start off for the 2nd day

Photo shy???

Lots of villages along the way

It's the dry season so the Mekong is low and there are huge sandy beaches

The teak trees have lost their leaves

People have been harvesting grasses to make brooms.

The grasses were lying out to dry.  This lady is getting rid of the seeds.

Getting close to Luang Prabang

This is Pak Ou caves, where all the Buddhas are

End of the journey -Luang Prabang.  Just a 20,000 kip tuk tuk ride away from town

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai street scenes

A FEW DAYS IN NORTHERN THAILAND

Many of the Lao people I know have never been outside the country.  Due to tourism and living in Luang Prabang, they have a fair amount of contact with tourists from other countries and 

are interested in other countries.  

Thailand is their neighbour.  The Mekong forms part of the border  

Many products come from Thailand to Laos.

People who speak Lao can also understand Thai.  

Thailand is seen as a more prosperous neighbour.

In big cities such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, there is much development and many things that you wouldn't see in Laos.   I wanted to take photos to show some of the people  here what that part of Thailand is like.

Look at these gorgeous young things..  

They were from a tertiary institution and doing some street theatre in Chiang Mai

It took a few helpers to get her into the dress.

Chiang Rai - not so big.  More my kind of size.

Pretty hard work if you ask me.

And yes, the lottery also exists in Thailand.

Beautiful sticky rice baskets

And the morning market outside the temple

It is the season for picking grasses and making brooms

All kinds of amulets and amazing things

Flags of all the ASEAN countries.

Start em young

Some very elaborate shrines in the street - near a bank

It was about a week after Chinese New Year

Advertising like this doesn't exist in Laos