January 22, 2004

Where's Col. Kurtz?

Mekong River, Laos

I crossed from Thailand into Laos via the northern border of Chiang Khong / Huay Xai. Roads are few and far between in this part of Laos so about the only way of getting to my destination of Luang Prabang was two days by boat down the Mekong.

Apart from the occassional logged hill-sides the country is pretty untouched up here. In fact, the Mekong is one of the last untamed rivers. Until the building of the bridge between Thailand and Laos near Vientienne in 1993 there was not a single span along it's entire South-East Asian length.

The scenery for the most is pleasant rather than spectacular. There's lots of activity on the river-side: villagers fishing, washing clothes and themselves, or taking delivery of large polished teak dinner tables. Lots of water buffalo are to be seen and even a few elephants. Still working in this very tough terrain.

For all it's isolation the latest mod-cons are never too far away though. The cargo boat that chugs upstream might look like it's about to sink but they still have a satellite dish on the roof for the latest in Thai soap operas.

Posted by David at January 22, 2004 10:08 PM