Day 28 - Slow Boat to Pakbeng

This morning, we sadly had to say goodbye to Thailand. Overall, we loved the food, the amazing temples and the warm, friendly and helpful people. Also, all of the hotels we stayed in were very authentic and lovely, so we were well taken care of by the Thai people.

Today, our day started early with a 6:30am pick-up so we could cross the border to Laos at 8am. We were grateful to have our new guide, Si, to help us get through immigration as the Laos agents repeatedly requested additional money even though we had pre-purchased visas. Luckily Si sorted it all out with minimum additional cost.

After successfully making it through the border, we were whisked by taxi to a waiting long boat to begin our day on the Mekong River. We were shocked to see how big the boat was just for the two of us. We could lounge outside at the front of the boat or inside in sitting booths or a bed and there was seating for about 24 people! Anyway, the first photo below shows the dock with boats ready to depart. The second picture is actually our boat. And the third picture is taken from inside (can you see the indoor bed?).

Here is a short video of what the surroundings looked like...

Below are a few shots of various things we saw on the riverbank including rustic villages, lots of water buffalo and generally beautiful scenery. There were also lots of people panning for gold (not pictured).

We made a stop at a very small Hmong village. It looked like we were just pulling up to a beach when a hoard of small children (about 20 of them) started running down the steep hill that sits just below their little community. They immediately came to the boat and were eager for us to let them guide us to their village. TBH they were all trying to sell us crafted bracelets, but they also seemed curious about us and were VERY cute! The kids jostled for position to hold our hands and would not let go. They also giggled at petting Steve's arm hair and loved touching Lauren's head hair.

Like the previous village we visited, this one was also rustic. We were fortunate again to spend some time in one of the homes. It was one room with a dirt floor and had a small open-air fireplace in the middle of the room for cooking. There was no running water, bathroom, and pretty sure there was no electricity. Eight people lived in that house. Below are some photos of the village:

When it was time to say goodbye, the kids escorted us back to the beach. They enthusiastically waved goodbye, and our hearts were filled with conflicting feelings of adoration and a risk of white savior syndrome. Was it appropriate to partake in such a visit? Other than purchasing the bracelets, should we have tried to help them in any other way? They live a simple life, and their families work hard to provide for their needs. That is what they know, and we respect that they seem content with what they have. We will continue to wrestle with these feelings.

Next, we were treated to an onboard lunch of rice, vegetables, fried chicken drumsticks and mango for dessert. It was quite yummy! Then we moseyed down the river for the rest of the afternoon. We finally reached our hotel after an 8-hour cruise. We were more than thrilled to take a dip in the pool. And, seeing the view from our balcony was awesome!

Another view of the river....

It was exciting that Day 28 started an adventure into a new country - Laos!

Fun Travel Facts:

• Today we hit our half-way mark! We can't believe it! New Zealand already feels like it was years ago as we continue to pack more memories into each and every day!

• We are not yet homesick (although we miss all of you).

• We are doing really well with the food (maybe too much- eh-hem)

• Covering ourselves with sunscreen and bug spray are definitely a chore as it is impossible to feel clean but thankfully, we have avoided sunburns and bug bites so far.