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Trip 01-06: Day 6-7 (Travel along the Mekong)

Day 6 -7 (11-12 May)

As we were heading to the end of the trip, there was not much interesting place to visit for the remaining days.

We took a slow boat to Huay Xai with overnight stay in Pak Beng. Both days required up to 8 hours journey. So we had two days of river cruise with scenery of green lush forest and mountains. As it was a low season, there was a lot of vacant seats on the boat. Some gwailo took speed boat which was faster - reach Huoy Xai in a day. However, the disadvantage of speed boat is you have to bear the loud engine noise for 6 hours.

Pak Beng is a one-street town. The town serves as pit stop for travellers to and fro Luang Prabang or Huoy Xai. It offers the cheapest accomodation in the country. We had a room for two for just 100 Bath (equivalent to RM10 or USD2.50). The weather in Pak Beng was cooling. No wonder no fan was installed in our room.

The journey on the second was more pleasant. Nicer scenery. We reached Huoy Xai at 6pm. Not possible to cross to Thailand as the immigration office was closed at 5.30pm. Well, I think they purposely arrange such way so that travellers will have no choice but stay one more night in Laos. As we gazed across the river, Thailand has a much better infrastructure. Better buildings indeed.

Throughout the 2-day river cruise, I set my personal record by completing a whole novel reading. I was reading a novel by John Grisham (The Last Juror).

End of day 7....

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