| Long Weekend Aug 2008 |
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| Weekend getaway from Chiang Mai to the Laos border and back via Phayao and Lampang. I like to come up here a few times a year to keep contact with businesses and see what's changed. |
| In Chiang Kong (Thailand) from the balcony restaurant at the Namkong guesthouse you can see Huay Xai in Laos on the other side of the river. |
| Getting around Chiang Kong by tuk tuk is the norm - they call this kind "Skylab" because it was the epitome of high-tech when they started building them in the 70s . |
| Stamping out of Thailand |
| A quick boat ride across the Mekong now costs 40 baht plus 10 for a big bag/suitcase It was 20 baht for years but now every price is up. Locals pay less. |
| Near Chiang Kong, this sign says "The End of Siam" or words to that effect. |
| The "Gateway" to Indo-China. This is usually way above the watermark, but the river was high in Aug 08. Many parts of the Mekong were flooding. |
| Another sign on the southern edge of Chiang Kong says this is the site of the planned bridge to Laos, commencing construction March 2009 taking 30 months to complete. I'll believe it when I see it. |
| Arrival on the Laos side of the river with many people lined up waiting for visa on arrival and transfer to the "slow boat". |
| An couple hours later and no one around, but look at that water level! |
| Stamp your passport and get past these guys and you're in Laos. |
| A Laos tour guide is explaining to the group the do's and don'ts of the slow boat (basically just give me your money). |
| Busy morning - folks just keep arriving. |
| Here's what it looks like the rest of the day - dead quiet. If you arrive any other time than morning, it just takes a few breezy minutes. Descriptive text mine courtesy of Photoshop. |
| Young novices coming down from Wat Manilat. Nice diversion while we wait for the others. |
| Arrival at the speed boat pier about 10 km south of town. |
| Packing them in six per boat plus luggage plus driver. |
| 9000 Baht (about $270) per boatload to Luang Prabang (1500 baht / $45 per person) |
| Arrival at the slow boat ramp 1 km north of town. It's fairly ad-hoc trying to get bums on seats in time to leave 11am |
| These German backpackers are puzzled by the mostly empty boat. A couple hours downstream though, the boats usually stop and equalise the load. |
| Two guys put their motorbikes on board this slow boat for 185,000 kip ($22). It's fairly easy bringing a bike in from Thailand with ownership and insurance papers |
| An advert for the elusive "Naka" (aka Nagi) boat which can be booked privately for about $900 or about 3500 baht per person if the owner agrees. |
| The Naka boat can be booked at the BAP guesthouse in Huay Xai. You usually have to book a few days in advance as it's an irregualar service. |
| An historic moment - Huay Xai gets its first ATM! |
| One overnight in Phayao - view from the top of the Gateway Hotel. |
| Cloudy sunset at "Kuan Phayao" - big lake by the city. |
| Next morning we spent a few hours by the lake. |
| Allegedly a "temple" has been discovered on the lake bottom recently and after some restoration there are quick boat trips out to see it. Just a money-making scheme? |
| For 20 baht why not? You get a nice view of the lake and good photo ops. |
| Driving south from Phayao to Lampang on the "Asia-1" highway was actually very quiet. Some nice limestone cliffs along the way. |
| Sign pointing the way to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). |
| We came back this way to visit the Elephant Conservation Center. Haven't been back here for a few years so wanted to see what's up. |
| For 70 baht you get shuttle service and a "show" demonstrating how elephants previously worked in the timber industry. |
| And you can ride one for half an hour for 400 baht. Proceeds go to the foundation and nearby hospital. Money well spent. |
| Bye guys - we're going home to Chiang Mai. Nice encounter. |
| Many over-heated travellers waiting for their "visa-on-arrival" |