At the halfway point of our trip we arose to the rolling fog moving through the hills towering above the Mekong river. This peaceful picture was deeply contrasted by the our “unique” accomodation- for many of us it certainly was an eye opening experience. We soon made our way past the Main street of Pak Beng and let the simplicity of small town life wash over us. As we boarded the long boats once again, an air of excitement captured us all. We said our last farewell as we sailed away and heard a definite response from the town goats.
After around three hours of scenic cruising along the Mekong we arrived at a small Laotian village where we learned about and had a glimpse of daily life for the local people. It was a visit of mixed emotion as the people showed us warmth and kindness but unfortunately suffered from poverty. Some of us had the opportunity to enter a home of a local villager. We were reminded of how fortunate we are to have our quality of life. This experience reminded us of our work in Maejon village- helping us think about more than just the individual and showcasing, once again, that happiness is not based in our material possessions.
We continued onwards down the Mekong towards the Pak Oui caves. Our guide, Joy, explained to us that the caves are a deeply religious place for Buddhists in the region and discussed the practice of placing Buddha’s within its mist coated walls. We disembarked our boat on a makeshift walkway barely centimetres from the river lapping below. Once inside we explored the caves and Joy told some of us our fortunes.
After this intriguing venture we re-embarked the boat and enjoyed a meal of predominantly fried food and the gorgeous green mountains surrounding us as we sailed by. For the next hour we relaxed and wrote post cards to our loved ones. However, it’s best not to get your hopes up – as it’s not likely that they will reach you before we do!
Finally it came time to part with our vessel and join the hustle and bustle of Luang Prabang. After a much needed stop to the laundromat, we enjoyed dinner on the banks of the Mekong. We then sojourned to splash some cash or kip at the night market and looked at all the fresh produce for sale, such as mangoes. Surrounded by the clatter of business and nightlife, we ended our day on a happy note.
Ashley P. Josh B.
