Australia day started with a gorgeous breakfast, banana pancakes again, baguette and some fruit. It was a misty morning and by the time we got to our boat on the Mekong it was quite chilly! Today we head from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang, should take about 6hours. The vegetation is still green and lush with small villages found in the mountains and the Lao people working on the banks of the mekong. Some of the rocks in the river are quite large say between 5-10m hig...

We've arrived in Luang Prabang! We arrive around 5pm and get into a tuk tuk to our guesthouse. I'm happy to be here as this is one of the places I have been most looking forward to visiting. Our guesthouse is about a 5-10min drive from town. It's totally worth it though, we are at the Thong Bay guesthouse which has gorgeous rooms in traditional style, big comfy beds, lovely gardens and super friendly staff. It's so awesome I have a tear in my eye as most of the...

We arrive in Pakbeng and walk up to our guesthouse. A piping hot shower later and I was one happy camper! We headed out for a walk around the town and saw the market which was closing as the sub went down. The town seems pretty small, has one main street and I think other dirt roads which lead to the villages where people live. Pakbeng has a population around 2000 and is a thoroughfare for tourists along the mekong or truck drivers from china heading to thailan...

Got woken up a few times during the night by fighting dogs and crowing roosters but all in all not a bad nights sleep. After a cold shower and delicious breakfast of pancake and banana we walked from our hotel to embark on our slow boat journey along the Mekong river from Huay Xai to Pakbeng. The scenery is made up of lush green mountains and rocky outcrops. Quite brilliant. Is very relaxing floating down the Mekong, the boat is very clean and comfortable with ...

We have now arrived in Laos and met our local guide Savat. We are in the town of Huay Xai. When there we went via immigration and paid our visa fee, apparently $1 more for us as we arrived 2mins after 4pm (!), and headed off to our guesthouse. Paap and I had a simple room with single beds, blue flooring, shower with no curtain or glass (so water goes on everything in bathroom) old mismatched towels not big enough to cover me and many posters from the 90's onward...