Cruise from Ban Houayxay to Pakbeng
The first day of a two-day trip around the Mekong awaits you about 150 km to the town of Pakbeng. Even today, you will see the original life on the banks of the Mekong, thanks to the fact that most of these villages can still be reached only by water. Don't forget to take warmer clothes on the boat, because when it pulls and blows, it will be nice for you even in 20 degrees.
Beginning of the Mekong voyage
Tiring waiting for the ship to fill up and the voyage to begin
The meeting in front of the hotel is around 9, but departure from the port is announced until 10:30. The ship is gradually filling up to almost 80 tourists, which is beginning to smell of a really mass event. It's still waiting and no one knows why. After an hour of waiting, it is clear. Another trip arrived with an incredible 50 people! We're already here like sardines and a skilled captain pulls a pile of folding squirrels into the alley. I'm beginning to understand why it's so cheap. At half past two we finally bounce off the shore.
The banks of the Mekong
Around the river is very picturesque. According to the smoothed rocks, it looks like there are even a few meters more water when the rainy season.
Rocks sticking out of the river
The views from the boat are great. Lots of black rocks look out of the surface. Around us are green hills covered with jungle.
The wild bank of the Mekong River
In some places, the river bank is completely impenetrable
Felled original forest
However, when there is a hut somewhere on the slope, the forest around it is cleared at least to a football stadium. These are sometimes quite sad prospects
Mekong beaches
There are often beautiful sandy beaches on the shore, where the only holidaymakers are relaxing black water buffaloes and brown cows standing around. They're probably not bad at all.
Romance in the Mekong
Some solitudes seem like a seat for Robinson
Villages along the Mekong
The villages are after half an hour of sailing.
Life in the Mekong
In some villages it stops for locals. We are such a water taxi.
Supplying a larger town
Transhipment of goods imported by water
Loading and unloading of goods
Virtually the entire Mekong Valley in this area is cut off from road traffic, with only a few places you can reach the river on a dirt road.
Fishing nets
There are a lot of nets and bamboo rods in the cliffs. Sometimes we maneuver through smaller rapids, when the boat starts off on a slide.
Life by the river
Children are paddling in the water, fishermen cross the river in canoes. Life flows at a free pace here
Constant views
There is still something to look at, but the winter is killing us a lot. With the number of beers drunk by the participants of the tour, the queue for a single toilet on the ship is extended in direct proportion. So the wait stretches for more than twenty minutes. Especially people who went to the toilet at the last minute look quite unhappy and their nervous stamping is not only caused by the cold.
Pakbeng
After 6.5 hours we arrive in Pakbeng, where the inhabitants compete to find out who will accommodate you