Another 5.45 get up for breakfast at 6.00 and on the boat at 7.00. Really cold with. The hills covered in mist blocking the sunshine. Spent the first three hours huddled under blankets as we made progress down river towards Luang Prabang where we will spend the next three nights. We are being served traditional Lao food by the boat owners and visiting some caves on the way. We should arrive at Luang Prabang before dark. Now 1230 and just had lunch. Back to shirt sleeves again, must be getting towards the high 20's. Have just opened the first beer of the day. The currency is confusing, the beer was 20000 Li - too many zeros. Good price though, about £1.50 for an extra large bottle. The Mekong is known as the Yellow River and the photos will show the sand everywhere. There are signs of cultivation and buffalo black and pink but surprisingly few people. The rocks in the river show just how high the river gets in the rainy season and in parts it must become two or three times as wide. When we get to Cambodia we spend more time in the Mekong Delta. Visited the Tham Ting caves where locals have lived for hundreds of years when attacked. About 50m up there are two marks on the wall recording where the Mekong rose to in 1966 and 2006. This makes my estimate of the river swelling to 2-3 times it's size pale into insignificance as the flooding must have gone on for miles. Going for a meal with the group in Luang Prabang in half an hour so will upload some photos and be off. Ruth thanks everyone for their birthday wishes.