Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
Asian Adventure: Cruising on the Mekong
- Ruby-Anne Birin
- Dec 17, 2014
- 3 min read
Day 5 & 6 cruising along the Mekong
Accommodation: Phet Sok Xey Guesthouse
Contiki Guide: Emmo
Local Guide: Mr. Mei
Highlights: Cruising along the Mekong River, the Buddha cave
Crossing a border is always stressful. The sorting of the passport, filing out of forms the anxiety of waiting in a long queue; the list seems endless but the opportunity to experience a new country and culture is worth it. Laos is country that very little is known about or even know exist. In truth prior to researching this trip I had never heard of the little, rural and isolated country called Laos. Despite this it is a country that will blow you away. Our new local tour guide Mr. Mei (who will be joining us for the next five days) is the standing strongpoint of what Laos is all about. Mr. Mei is short with a kind heart and great sense of humour. He welcomes us to this new land with a high pitched “sa-ba-dee”. After a quick introduction to Laos we soon find our way to the boat which will be our main mode of transport for the next two days.
Being given the chance just to cruise along a country's main river and absorb new scenery and landscape is invaluable. On the way you learn more about the people you travel with as well as yourself. You learn new card games and ideas. You develop friendships. You experience things incredibly foreign, new and wonderful. The chilly day is spent this way while looking at the sensory and small hamlets that we pass.
Eventually we arrive at Pakbeng our one-street town that will be our home for the next 18 hours. Pakbeng only received electricity 2 years earlier but they already have wifi and not one but two ATM’s. Small children meet us at the boat and offer to carry our hand luggage to our hotel. The hotel is small with a spectacular view and gives you a good opportunity to view village life on the street below. With supper done we hit the 2km road that makes up the town. After seeing the sights (the bakery, the ATM and the end of the road) we head to a bar to bond over whiskey shots and learn a little more about some people on our tour...
After a spooky night in our hotel room (which had suspicious reddish-brown stains on the bathroom floor and wall) we head back onto our boat. Our second day on the boat is warmer than the previous day. With the sun warming us up we brave stripping off our jackets and some even consider trying to sun bathe. The scenery once again is fantastic as we wonder through this green wonderland.
After lunch we arrive at our first stop of the day the Buddha cave. The cave is in a cliff face along the Mekong and comprises of two main chambers. The interior is filled with thousands of depictions and statues of Buddha. Locals come to the cave to pray and it is cleaned, restored and the number of Buddha’s expanded every New Year. This stop also gives a beautiful elevated view of the Mekong. The rest of the afternoon is then spent on the boat enjoying the last bit of the cruise until our arrival in Luang Prabang.
コメント