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I have lots of catching up to do as the internet and and time are very limited. After our 36 hour journey from Philippines we arrived in Chang Rai Thailand. Taking a day to just catch up on some rest we sat by the pool and took a bike ride around town.I have been with Joy 15 years and have only seen her on a bike maybe twice.So after our bike tour we slumped over some lounge chairs by the pool and Joy got herself a massage and I a foot masage.
Bright and early the next morning we were off again heading towards the Laos border.Heading into town we started passing many trucks waiting to cross the Mekong into Laos via the small ferries.We got our passport stamped as we left Thailand and boarded a large canoe with a Honda Civic engine wired into the hull.Heavily loaded down with six passengers and baggage we crossed into Laos somehow not getting wet and our luggage arrive a short time later on another boat.Now for the fun getting our Visa's for our stay,luckly we had prearanged a tour guide and he helped us and several "Backpackers" that had gotten lost in the hussle and bussle of the caotic passport control center.
We were then herded onto a small pickup truck for our short trip to the pier where our boat awaited us.Man was this place busy! Truck after truck were being loaded onto very small ferries that were inches away from being swamped but it all seemed to be flowing easy as three tractors trailers would be loaded at one time to keep the ferry from capsizing.We pushed off and our journey began passing Thailand on the right and Laos on the left southbound we passed a dozen trucks mostly carrying what looked to be gasoline across the Mekong.
Very shortly we were clear of this busy crossing and cruising at a good clip down the Mekong passing fewer and fewer houses.The houses changed to boats along the river and the boats changed to just trees.We had lunch on the river while watching Thailand end and Laos begin on both sides of us.Arriving at a Hill Tribe Village we were welcomed by the local children who looked at us getting off of our big boat cameras in hand.We climed the silky sand dunes into town where the Khuna Hill Tribe have lived for years,nothing more then bamboo huts on stilts nothing visble inside to sit or lay on except the floor however they were very tidy.
We poked around the village for 45 minutes as the local kids tried their best english on us and we snapped pictures of some of the youngest mothers we have ever encountered.Wrapping up our visit we flew back down the dunes passing drying palm frawns that they were making into brooms to sell.Back onboard we were welcomed with cool towels and a ice cold water.
Cruising the rest of the day 142 km later we arrived at our overnight lodge deep into the Mekong hearing only frogs and a geico and nothing else it was so quiet and the Milky Way was bright as ever.Early morning departure it was a chilly couple of hours but soon made warm by the tea served onboard and the rising sun over the hilltops.
We made another stop at a Hill Tribe this time they were alittle more aware that we had pockets full of many as this tribe wove scarves and blankets and were at the ready to selll them to us.Back onboard again we traveled most of the day passing the hill tribes on both sides small dozen or two villages.The Mekong was their lives they fished it they bathed in it they played in it.The Mekong is such a diverse river we started out with heavy trucks crossing carrying things to make Laos work and we passed people who make the Amish look like Bill Gates, so simple their lives panning for gold,fishing,growing peanuts,raising Water Buffalo just everything you could imagine happening just yards from our boat.The people of Laos are so gentle so simple yet the Hill Tribe people have a life span of only 58 years on average.
Arriving at the cave of the thousnad Buddas we had a look and then just 45 minutes to Luangprabang.Disembarking we said good bye to our fellow cruisers climbed the steps to our new home for the next two nights Luangprabang Laos.
I have left our so many details of this ride along the Mekong.I took many photographs and have many fond memories of one of the most moving time of our vacation so far.I look forward to telling anybody who asks me how was my trip down the Mekong and I thank the people of Laos who waved back at us as we cruised through their lives.On a second note my blogs are written from memory I type them in as I think of them.Joy pointed out that my blogs sometimes run on and my "grammar" is sometimes lacking.If I were to take the time to reread these I would never post them as my computer or funding for the internet time would end.Bear with me. Also we have had to get a new email address please write us we love hearing from you. [email protected]
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