Left Houayxai today on a slow boat, travelling down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang. The trip takes two days, with an overnight stop in Pakbeng.
Sailed for 6 hours before reaching Pakbeng. For the first time on my travels I have arrived earlier than expected...speechless!

The journey down the Mekong River so far - peaceful, looking at the weathered rocks and scenery, however there is a lot of burnt out forests. It is such a shame they burn down so many trees at this time of year!

Pakbeng is yet another quite town, there is one street (made for tourists) with loads of guesthouses, restaurants and snack shops!
Staying in a guesthouse called Phonethip Guesthouse. We were shown pictures of "this" guesthouse when we got off the boat, but surprise to surprise it didn't look like any of the pictures! Susan accurately describes our room as looking something out of a horror movie set! There are three beds packed into a room, we have to get onto the beds to pass each other if one of us wanted to go to bathroom, and the bed sheets, curtains and walls were stained with I don't want to know what! This place is up there with the worst I've stayed so far - but it's a room for one night!!