After resting up in Nong Khiew we took a boat to Luang Prabang. It had rained most of the previous day so lots of backpackers headed out in an overloaded pick-up truck. We decided to take the boat and there were only 4 of us and 10 seats.
We started on the Nam Ou River and then joined the Mekong River near Luang Prabang. There was lots to see. The families came down to the river's edge to bathe (the women in their sarongs and the men in their undies). We saw black and albino-looking water buffalo cooling off on the river's edge. There were all kinds of bamboo fishing traps along the river as well as nets with bamboo, and plastic bottle floats.
We passed a few groups of divers with goggles, compressors and air lines who were diving for gems and others panning for gold with wooden pans.
The young boys accompanied older men to check and set nets. The boys were very competent in their dug out canoes crossing the river and weaving amongst the water reed islands.
There was a huge thunder and lightning storm near the end of the trip and we had to shelter awhile as it passed overhead. The trip took 6 hours but was very relaxing through the limestone cliffs and jungle valleys.
