The slow boat to Luang Prabang

We take a tuk tuk to the boat pier at 9.30as as we’ve asked to do.  There are already people here so we get on and take a seat.  Time passes, our boat fills, more people arrive, another boat fills and finally we are on our way at about 12.15pm!  We had heard this might happen so were kind of prepared and don’t mind too much.  The boat is pretty small with seats facing each other at the front where we are and then facing forwards further back.  Its about the same width as a coach and is full.  Its mainly tourists but with a few locals hopping on and off.  We did ask the two ladies in this photo if they wanted a seat but they refused.  As we head off we realise why … they stretch out on the floor and go to sleep … best seats in the house!

There are speed boats that do the journey to Luang Prabang but you have to be prepared to have your body rattled for 6 hours as well as waterproofing yourself and all your belongings.  Your safety depends on your driver as some of them are lunatics apparently ... there are deaths every year.  We see one or two of these go by throughout the day and they look pretty hairy!

The boat journey takes about 6 hours and we chat to a few people en route.  There are one or two people we recognise from Chiang Rai and Huay Xai too.  On arrival at Pakbeng, where we will spend the night, its pretty chaotic.  There isn’t really a proper jetty and luggage is being loaded onto the rocks by the makeshift steps.  There are also lots of hotel owners touting for business.  We chat to a lady and decide to go with her - she’s offering a good price and a couple of the others we’ve been talking to are also going with her - plus she has a truck to take our luggage up the hill.  We check in, give our breakfast orders, have a lovely hot shower then go out for dinner.

We have a nice Indian meal and talk turns to the conversation last night.  Fred thought she’d asked Andy to marry her but he wasn’t entirely sure.  After clearing up a bit of confusion we decide that we would love to get married … so that’s it … we’ll tell the families as soon as we can then let other people know … exciting!!!!