The Mekong at dusk, Laos

This morning we take the local bus to Chiang Khong on the border to cross over to Laos.  We are dropped about 5km away and take a tuk tuk to the border.  Its a really grand looking building compared to where we crossed over from Myanmar!  We go through Thai immigration and then have to take a coach over the actual border bridge … they make you pay for it of course but not much and it is quite far so we don’t mind too much.  There aren’t many people here so we fill out of visa on arrival forms and wait about 15 mins before our visas are ready.  It costs as 1 dollar extra each as its a Saturday so we have to pay overtime apparently.

Another easy border crossing … straight into another tuk tuk which takes us to Huay Xai in Laos.  Its pretty much a one street town and we view a few hotel rooms before deciding on one.  Its way cheaper here than in Myanmar - the costs 80,000 Kip which is about £6 for the two of us.  After lunch we book our boat for Luang Prabang tomorrow.  Its a slow boat which takes two days, stopping overnight in a place called Pakbeng.

In the afternoon Andy does some violin composing and playing. Fred does Blip then heads off for a walk.  This picture is the mighty Mekong River just before dusk.

After dinner we have a drink then head back to the hotel.  Maybe its because it Valentines Day talk turns to weddings, ours in particular!