Travel Diary - A slow slow-boat

We woke up before 6 o'clock and blurry-eyed we went out for some breakfast. We met up with the Americans at around seven and started to walk towards the harbour. About halfway there a minivan stops and asks us if we want a lift. Turns out it was going to the harbour and we got the ride for free. When arriving we bought tickets for the regular slowboat after comparing the prices with the more expensive alternatives. We thought it would be a little bit heavy to pay 2.6 million kip when we only needed to pay 220k kip for the normal ride.

We got numbered seats at the back of the boat and had to listen to the engine's constant rumbling. Wayu deemed it so loud that she spent the following seven hours with earplugs. The scenery however was wonderful and the rolling landscape gave one stunning view after the next. One thing we thought was a really nice touch was the lone fishing poles that were set out along the mekong. Squeezed tight in place with a boulder they lured at the fishes and the few times we saw a fisherman coming to collect, it almost always bore a fish on the hook.

We had bought some fruits together with the Americans before we departed Huai Xai but they had some problems as to how we should physically devide the lot. It prooved a splendid opportunity to show off the spork! Numbering a total of one time used, we still think it was a most valuable buy as it cut through the fruit with ease and could also be used to scoop up the tiny bits that were too juicy to grasp. Feeling content with our purchase and with sweet fruit in our bellies, we leaned back in the makeshift carseat seats that the boat offered and waited for our arrival at the small harbourvillage where we would spend the night halfway to Luang Prabang.

Beautiful vista from the boat.

We got to the small town at about six and once we found a hotel we set out to eat. Turns out mostly everything was closed and so we settled for a small diner with ok prices. The company was nice and the food tasted ok but either of us could easily have downed atleast four of those small portions. Syrena was really tired after the long day and headed for bed while Robert took a stroll around the village with the Americans. 

Upon arrival at the hotel room Robert found Wayu with a flip flop held high, smacking away at the 100 or so moths that were crowding her pillow and our bed. In her sleep deprived haze she didn't realise that the fresh air fan she'd put on was sucking in, not only fresh air but also all the moths from outside. After a quick fix we could both go to bed and we slept like babies.

//Wayu & Robert