The magic and placid atmosphere surrounding the Mekong Delta area in Laos

Arrived in the far north of Thailand, we are ready to cross the Mekong to enter Laos. On the other side we expect the Laotian military, $ 35 for a visa in the passport, we stick and make us smile. We are in Huay Xai, in the far north of the country.

 

On the Mekong to Luang Prabang

It is a small town, if there is a break (but then I would have changed his mind, it gets worse), where together with another fifty backpackers tourists, expect to embark on a boat in a couple of days should take us to Luang Prabang. Two beautiful day although long, lived about the backgrounds of this boat seats, from which we can admire the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. Seminacoste between palms and lush vegetation, the banks of the Mekong hide entire villages of huts, give us the sight of dozens of fishermen, show us the water buffalo, which we do not deign to look and continue to do what most likes: being caressed by the waves and doze.
The hypnotic monotony of the journey is interrupted only by the evening stop at the village of Pak Beng. Huay Xai is a metropolis by comparison. There are twenty houses in all, and four or five guest house, they are there ready to host tourists who are obliged to stop. There's even a dock and you must climb to get into town, weakened by backpacks, up a wall of rock that no discounts. But fortunately not damaged.
There is an Indian restaurant in Pak Beng, where we ate pretty well, and where the only two other guests were two young Italians, as we've come here a while 'by accident. There is also very quiet, in Pak Beng, because there is nobody around. And even if there were not we would see, because there is no public lighting, and to move from the restaurant to guest house must trudge in the dark.

Luang Prabang, a real jewel

The next morning, misty, we share in the direction of Luang Prabang. Eight hours of nav-gation on a Mekong ever more beautiful and bright, finally kissed by the sun, and arrive in what can surely be considered the most beautiful city of Laos, and certainly one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Luang Prabang, with its Wat, with its stupa, with its many young Buddhist monks, the night market, elephants, waterfalls, caves, blacks Asian bears, it's really a show place. Where, however terrifying battle is raging water. The trip from the pier to the hotel is a trickle: At every stop the tuk tuk (a kind of banana truck with box that serves as Economic taxi) is flooded with water and when we reach our destination, and backpacks, we are drenched. We will stay wet for all three days we choose to spend in town. Indeed, the next afternoon, after the ritual visits to the most beautiful sites in the afternoon we enjoy the spectacle of the parade capodan-no and then bought a gun for water and wear the costumes, we dived into the fray for a couple of 'buckets and hours of harmless shot.
Before leaving Luang Prabang we spend half a day to have fun with an elephant, who, after having led a walk for an hour, let us pamper and nourish our (and his) will.

Vientiane, dust and glitter

The next stop is Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which we reach after a grueling bus trip of more than 10 hours. The really are not many kilometers (less than 400), but the bus limps with difficulty on the hills of central Laos, and the journey seems endless.
The first impression is disheartening Vietniane The city is ugly, dirty and falling apart in several places. The situation does not change even at the second impact, but after it turned very good, we still found some reason to appreciate it. Especially the Pha That Luang, a symbol of Laos, is really beautiful. And then in a restaurant outside the normal tourist circuits of noodles we ate the fish in hot sauce really great, especially if accompanied by the inevitable Beerlao, the only beer available in Laos. Vientiane, after all, does not have much to offer, but it gives an image of himself, and Laos all, that you take home: a city, town, quiet but not too shabby, but still does not live that survives, who is satisfied but it will not forever. For Asia, a story already seen.
The available time is running out, and leave from Laos (not without some regret that we would need 4-5 days to be able to see also the southern part, that the border with Cambodia) we take a plane that takes us back in Bangkok.