Laos - Luang Nam Tha

Well,

After the last post we have traveled from Thailand - Chiang Rai to Laos, spent one day on the border crossing - Huai Xai, and continued to Luang nam tha.

The pictures from the boat are border crossing at the Mekhong river. Behind Misha and Olya is Thailand, and behind Sergei is already Laos.

Although all we did in Laos for now is mostly waiting and riding a truck, we enjoy this country very much. The people are very nice. little children wave hands to tourists all around (we feel like presidents waving back all the time). The prices are much as they are in Thailand, but you have much more a relaxed atmosphere - almoust noone tries to agressively sell you sometghing just because you are a tourist. Oh, possibly because Laos was a french colony, we enjoy the food here much more : fresh baggets, river fish, spagetti, coockies with meat - all is much more "european" , clean and tasty.

We had a great massage in Lao Red Cross - our mopney gone to a good purpose :) The only beer here is BeerLao, it's not good, but it will do it.



The way to Luang Nam Tha took some 9 hours in a truck ( there was no bus this day) - 9 people in a back of toyota minitruck (no, there was no place for the legs). I'm glad we didnt take a Jeep tour in Thailand - we had much more of a "jeep" experience today.. The "mainroad" is the worst road I've ever seen. But it was quite fun actually. the views are amazing, and we enjoyed the jeep much more than we would in a bus.

To imagine the way we where sitting, here is an example (in the bottom of the picture there are Misha's smile)

Tomorrow we will do a two day trek in the vilages. Our first fully guided treck - 40$ each. with jeep and food and everything. [Yes that means we won't be available for some 3 days].

love and miss you all,
:)