Laos
Luang Prabang - Le Grand Hotel, Sunrise Riverside Hostel - 22/11 > 28/11

Arrived at the Thailand/Laos border, got the visa sorted and hopped on a longboat for a two-day journey down the Mekong River.

- It’s a 3-hour drive from Chiang Rai to Huay Xai, a town at the Thailand/Laos border, followed by a 6-hour boat journey before staying overnight in Pak Beng. Decided on the Le Grand hotel to fit a bit of much needed Luxury.
- The morning after I jumped back in the boat to set sail for Luang Prabang, the first major town for me in Laos.
- I caught up with some monks at 5.30am for the Alms Giving Ceremony, where locals gift home cooking and snacks. I also witnessed monks giving back to poorer children queued at the end of the line, a nice touch.
- I climbed up Phousi temple at sunset to get some epic snaps of the landscape, but the universe had different ideas and sent the clouds in. Still managed to get a few clicks with the snapper.
- Originally, I was only staying in this town for 4 nights, but I was late in booking the train out and there’s no service on a Sunday, so extended my stay by a couple of days.
- There is a high-speed train which runs from Bangkok in Thailand up through Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos, but it was fully booked! I opted for the slow train which was only takes 40minutes longer. Next stop Vang Vieng!