Photographer's Note
‘By boat from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang’
I actually wasn’t going to show this picture. But after Malgo's photo about her boat trip on the Mekong I wanted to show that travelling by boat in Laos has now become ‘a bit more comfortable’.
Today the boats are much wider, a bit higher and perhaps a bit longer too.
Now the long distance boats have two seats side by side on the left and also on the right. There’s a wide aisle in the middle so you don’t have to stay in your seat all the time.
The luggage is loaded into the hold.
On board there’s a little counter where you can buy instant noodles and some snacks. Also coffee, tea and even beer.
In most places in the country there’s only one brand of beer available: Beerlao.
Beerlao, however can be found just about everywhere in Laos. So also on the riverboats.
You better don’t drink too much because there’s only one primitive toilet on board.
A rather dark little room where it’s best not to step into on slippers and you’re advised to roll up your trouser legs a bit higher.
But I had seen worse toilets during the short stops of the buses in smaller villages in the north of Laos.
There were about 50 to 60 passengers on board.
The vast majority were foreign tourists and most of them made the two day trip starting at the Thai border. Just like Malgo did.
Between Pak Beng and Luang Prabang the boat stopped a few more times at very small villages that weren’t marked on the map. There one or two local residents boarded and they also went to Luang Prabang. Sometimes in such a village half the population came to the jetty while only one person took the boat.
I have to say that the interior of the boat in my photo here looks a little more beautiful than it actually was.
Appearances can be deceiving. But the trip wasn’t uncomfortable.
On both banks we saw heavily vegetated slopes, while the waterfront itself often consisted of large boulders and sometimes remarkably large white or grey strips of sand in between.
It was strange for me to see such sandy beaches on a river.
My only other memory of natural sandy beaches on a river is at the rias in Galicia, Spain.
The trip from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang would take 7 hours, but eventually it turned out to be 8.
Despite the fact that it was a beautiful trip, I remember being glad I didn't have to travel a second day on the boat.
I don’t think any part of the route was more beautiful than other parts. The whole trip I had the feeling of sailing through a fairly untouched landscape.
Laos was truly the most pristine country of my entire trip.
Travelling across the country (by boat or by bus) has clearly become a bit more comfortable.
Still, I think those who travelled to Laos two decades ago enjoyed it a lot.
When such a person goes back now, he or she will notice changes that may make life more comfortable now but still give nostalgia for the old days.
Whoever goes now for the first time doesn’t have a point of comparison with the past and will most certainly love the country and its people.
It was my first visit to Laos.
I remember that I certainly would have loved to visit the country in the 1990s.
When you work, you naturally have to choose. You can't possibly go everywhere.
There are other countries which I ‘m convinced that I was there on time.
I visited Myanmar in 1997, the first year that a visa for 28 days was granted. Due to a mistake, I was even there for 31 days. (Before 1997, a Myanmar visa was valid first only for 7 days, later for 14 days.)
And my greatest adventure was my journey in 1988 to the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen).
I believe most of the other regular members of this site who have visited North Yemen got there later. On my return from Yemen, I strongly suspected that I had visited my most adventurous country ever. That was indeed the case afterwards. Never have I experienced such an adventurous journey anymore.
Today three pictures in the WS.
In WS 1 you find a photo of something that has remained unchanged in Laos during all these years.
ikeharel, Fis2, papagolf21, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, jhm, jean113, COSTANTINO, burmaman, worldcitizen έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
emka
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12869 W: 136 N: 33281]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(152274) 2020-11-23 23:58
hello Paul, Wow! What a difference! It looks "a bit" more comfortable. The ceiling and the curtains look the same. I am shocked :). It would be nice to travel like this, but I liked my journey. It seems quite safe now.
Thanks for this picture, interesting to compare.
I will read the long note later, after hour zero.
Best regards Malgo
ikeharel
(105933) 2020-11-24 0:28
Why you had a doubt, Paul? this is a beautiful picture of such an advanture, combination of different colors and well lit outcome made this a fine and pleasant sight.
Have a nice new day,
Ike
Fis2
(155673) 2020-11-24 0:36
Witaj Paul!
Interesting view from boat.
Good framing, perspective and colors.
I like this scene from daily life.
Well done my friend.
Good morning.
Krzysztof
Silvio1953
(205793) 2020-11-24 0:41
Ciao Paul, great perspective on interior of boat, excellent clarity, fine details, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
lousat
(130007) 2020-11-24 1:32
Hi Paul,your trip seems more and more comfortable comparing with the Malgo's boat interiors...ehhee....excellent chairs and great windows to have a full view of show,and in fact the 2 pics in the WS are perfect and very nice,useful other WS with the flags. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
papagolf21
(152599) 2020-11-24 1:36
Bonjour, cher Paul,
Voyager au bout du monde, c’est voyager en des lieux dont le confort n'est pas la qualitι premiθre, l’accθs difficile fait partie du charme.
J'ai bien aimι la note trθs descriptive !
Amitiιs.
Philippe
holmertz
(92890) 2020-11-24 2:32
Hello Paul,
This looks too comfortable for a real adventure. ;-) But I would still have preferred this boat to the one Malgo showed us the other day. It's interesting to see the improvements that have taken place in Laos, which reminds me of the drastic changes in the economy and the impact of mass tourism practically all over the world. Until the pandemic put a temporary (?) end to traveling.
In a way, the note is actually more interesting than the photos this time. It's partly as informative as any travel guide. I also see that you visited North Yemen 10 years before me, but waiting a few years I was fortunate enough to also be able to see former South Yemen. It could have been my most adventurous journey, if I had been kidnapped, like several tourists before me, but I wasn't, so Afghanistan in the early 70's remains my best adventure.
Kind regards,
Gert
PS Seeing WS #1 makes me wonder if the "communist money" that helped Biden steal the election from Trump may have come from Laos.;-)
Royaldevon
(75468) 2020-11-24 4:02
Hello Paul,
How good that you thought to take a photograph of your boat! We can now appreciate just how much the vessel had improved from the one shared by Malgo! The seats look like those from an aeroplane, which could recline if needed!
I think what makes it look most appealing is the wide aisle, with the sunlight making it look very cheerful!
It would have been difficult to see a farm, amongst the thick vegetation, along the side the river, but it does seem a sensible place to farm, with easy access to water. The cows were enjoying bathing!
You give us some very interesting notes to accompany your informative photographs, which I very much appreciate.
My warm regards,
Bev :-)
pierrefonds
(103591) 2020-11-24 4:37
Bonjour Paul,
La prιsences des passagers anime la scθne. La prise de vue permet de voir les dιtails de l'intιrieur du bateau. La lumiθre rehausse les couleurs de l'image. Bonne journιe.
Pierre
jhm
(203057) 2020-11-24 6:10
Dag Paul,
Ik ben verwonderd van blijkbaar behoorlijke comfortable zetels op de boot.
Moet wel plezant zijn om op deze rivier te varen.
En de natuur te kunnen bewonderen langs de overs.
Uw interieur fot is zeker mooi genomen, van en niet overbevolkte passagier massa.
Mooi foto werk Paul, bedankt.
Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John.
dta
(98556) 2020-11-24 6:18
Bonjour PAul ,
Cette photo est trθs intιressante pour nous montrer le contraste qui existe entre l'aspect assez rustique du bateau (de ceux que l'on a vu auparavant) et son intιrieur trθs moderne et confortable . Et beaucoup plus spacieux que sur l'image de Malgo!
Amicalement
jean113
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1754 W: 0 N: 5742]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(22069) 2020-11-24 8:31
Hello Paul, what a very interesting and informative note.
I like this point of view, I feel as if I am actually on the boat myself.
I like the way that the sunlight is coming through the sides of the boat and creating shadows on the wooden floor.
Excellent presentation with the w/s pictures.
Kind regards, Jean.
mkamionka
(61280) 2020-11-24 10:25
Hi Paul,
it is great to read about your adventures, well illustrated with photos. This looks almost luxurious. Seats like in a bus, while behind a wild scenery to watch.
It is nice to learn about the world through photography.
Very well done,
M
Tue
(82280) 2020-11-24 11:56
Hallo Paul,
Een uitstekende foto van de binnenkant van deze boot, die er behoorlijk comfortabel uitziet. Aangename stoelen en heel wat beenruimte. Het licht was goed hier en ook de rivier en de oevers zijn duidelijk te zien.
Lars
COSTANTINO
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9431 W: 23 N: 16609]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(104209) 2020-11-24 22:53
Hello dear friend and have a nice day
I would like to be into this boat
travelling by boat from Pak Beng
to Luang Prabang....
may be soon....after lockdown
because of covid 19
regards
costantino
ChrisJ
(160070) 2020-11-28 3:33
Hi Paul,
If the boat to Huay Xai was as comfortable as this one, I might have considered a 2 day boat trip instead of flying. The boat I got to Pak Ou Caves just had bare wooden seats. And being cramped in a speedboat for 8 hours didn't sound like a viable alternative. Good sharpness and perspective with nice warm cold colour contrasts. Tfs!
burmaman
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 47 W: 0 N: 236]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(902) 2020-11-29 12:10
Hello Paul!
I was lazy with writing the last week but I saw your photo and the very informative note.
I joined the trip inverse than you and Malgo, from Pak Beng to Ban Houayxay, so it was not very busy because most travellers go south. But I remember the old woodden benches well.At some passages the Mekong was very narrow between the rocky shores and I think quite dangerous and bumpy.
This looks much more comfortable with more space for passengers than in a Boing 373.
Great shot with perfect sharpness overall and good natural colors.
Arriving in Ban Houayxay, I had a wonderfull evening in a guesthouse overlooking this river.The next morning I left Lao, crossing the river with a little boat to Thailand.
There I wnanted to exchange my left Kip, about Half a million, 50 Eureo, but the Thai banks accept no Kip .So I crossed the river again, for about 50 cent and spent another day in the sleepy village to Ban Houayxay ,like you in Pak Beng where nearly nobody spend more than one night
Your Photo brings back good memories,thank you and best regards,Ronny
Stay healthy!
worldcitizen
(14290) 2020-12-07 14:07
Hello Paul,
From this POV the boat doesn't look too bad, and it's certainly colorful. I like the play of light and shadow on the floor, too. Nice framing to make it feel like we're on the boat with you. :-)
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Paul VDV (PaulVDV)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5680 W: 17 N: 13739]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(54875) - Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 2019-12-24
- Έκθεση: f/0.1, 1/21 δευτερόλεπτα
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2020-11-23 23:51
Discussions
- To holmertz: Happy ending (1)
by PaulVDV, last updated 2020-11-24 04:04 - To Royaldevon: The seats (1)
by PaulVDV, last updated 2020-11-24 04:08
