After having a lovely fresh breakfast at our guesthouse we returned to the slow boat, made an offering to the gods for a safe journey and continued our leisurely cruise down the Mekong River. Started off in the mist but as the sun rose we were once again all delighted by the scenery and having the opportunity to gain insights into the local rural life of the Lao people.

We were rapt when we got to visit a local village and meet the local people. Peregrine Tours has a policy that we stop at a local village and are encouraged to purchase the handicrafts as all money stays in the village and allows the people to build a better life. Once a village becomes self-sustaining they move onto another village along the river.

We stopped at Ban Houay Hong Sing Village – such a big name for a tiny place. We got off the boat to be surrounded by villagers anxious to sell us their wares but also to invite us to see their homes. Proud mothers showed us their babies, young children practiced their limited English and rewarded us with a warm smile when we could understand them and the older family members showed us their homes and way of life. Such a simple life but everyone seemed to be happy and content……goes to show us that material possessions really don't count for much.

Another highlight today was stopping at Pak Ou to visit the Tam Ting Caves. The caves consist of two levels, the lower level and the upper level. There are thousands of mostly wooden Buddha figures inside the caves with different shapes and sizes which are being added to constantly. In the lower level there are about 2,500 Buddha images and in the upper level there are about 1,500 Buddha images. Debated whether to go to the upper level cave given you get there by climbing very steep stairs in hot, humid weather……glad I made the effort as although the cave is smaller and you need a torch see all the Buddha figures clearly (luckily I could borrow one!) it does have a different atmosphere. Probably due to the fact that not many people make the effort to get there so it is much quieter than the lower cave.

Finally as the sun was setting we arrived in Luang Prabang. We sadly said goodbye to our lovely boat couple and headed to our hotel ready to settle in and start exploring the town. Archaeological evidence suggests that Luang Prabang has been inhabited since at least 8,000 BC. It was the former royal capital, prior to the revolution in 1975, and has been beautifully preserved by the country’s lack of development. Set on a peninsula at the confluence of three rivers, it is a marvel of ancient and colonial architecture, with contiguous temples up to 700 years old running down its spine and colonial mansions looming proudly in the side streets. It has changed little since the 1920s and was recently declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Having UNESCO status means no buses or trucks in the old centre of town so we could absorb the alluring, intangible charm that is Luang Prabang.

Am really looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful town tomorrow.