Day 229 - Same Same...

...But different. That's what all the vendors say when you try to compare their goods with the stall next door. The same could be applied to our second day on the river.

The morning seemd to indicate another day of cold and rain, but a few hours in, the clouds broke, and blue rain-washed skys shone down. The weather was perfect - like October on the East coast - warm sun, cool breeze, and clear air all around.

According to Cz, this was perfect napping weather.

Since the paving of many roads in Laos, river travel has in many places been relegated to tourist traffic. Read: Too expensive for us. Hence, we have had to scrap the idea of going by water from Cambodia through Laos, and have had to rely primarily on the far less romantic, but much cheaper buses. However, there is no direct road from Luang Prabang to the border. Or rather, the road exists, but it is unpaved and tortuously windy, so many people, locals included, still use the river routes. Our boat was probably half locals, and half foreigners. As we motored, we passed other boats laden with cargo, people, even one with a herd of patient buffalo on board.

All along the banks, life continued as I imagine it has for centuries. Little boys splashed and fished. Men hauled fishing nets and set traps, and ladies washed children and clothes in equal measure. Above the water line, whole families worked together to knock the seeds out of grasses and lay them out to dry for the new year's thatch.

As we neared Huay Xai, the border town where we would be spending the night, the sun graced us with a final glorious setting on the Mekong. It was a fine farewell to Laos.