Downstream the prestige Mekong river - Thailand to Laos

After our (extended) stay in Thailand with an unforgettable ending experience in the temple we decided to head to Laos. The way was a long and rough one. Starting from Pai to Chiang Kong with a small stop in Chiang Rai, the old opium empire. A quite disturbing temple that place has, but frankly beautiful. See the white temple pictures below. After a 12 hour ride we arrived in a the small village Chiang Kong only to leave the other day. Getting our last Thai curry, I will miss this dearly! 

 

 

 

The next day we got to the border, paid the fees, got our next stamp and headed to the boat on the calking  Mekong river. A small long boat filled with old car chairs and lots of tourists. The trip was 2 days with around 18 hours on the boat. The views were stunning and the river is crazy strong. The Rhine is childsplay when you compare the two. In the late afternoon we arrived in Pak Beng a small transit town. The next morning, we decided to go to the boat early and found some nice seats. We noticed that the boat was quite smaller then the day before, we knew we were lucky right away. And we were! A lot of people had no seat and had to stand for like 8 hours. They started a small riot wanting a new boat. these people seem to forget we are in Asia, but they got friendly reminded by a Lao guy who yelled: "Welcome to Lao!!". The faces ohh man, I wish I could show them. My day was Already made. In the afternoon we arrived in the old capital of Laos and former colonial city of the French, Luang Prabang.