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Mekong river boat journey: Houixai, Pakbeng to Luang Prabang: 09 - 14 Feb 2007
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Painting works
At 5:30 p.m. while we were nearing Pakbeng the sun was also going down
in the hills behind us - in the Myanmar's Shan state and China's Yunan state.
Sun sets and sun rises are always special times creating unique feeling and
emotion whether we are at sea, in the mountains or on river, and
in the middle of a desert. Sunset and sunrise can even make normally
un-attractive crowded city view into a poster-quality scenery.
Sands or the boat landing place at Pakbeng. A tourist is taking picture of
her boat against the setting sun.
Being transformed quite abruptly
into a tourist transit point between Houixai - Udomxai - Luang Prabang triangle,
local people unprepared to face the cultural (and economic) shock of seeing
foreign tourists are drawing visitors' complaints.
Some of the village people who flock to arriving tourist boats in hope of being
offered porter works for a fee and to receive some gifts, are also taking left-over
food and drinks on the boats without asking.
Monesavanh Guesthouse in Pakbeng. The 7-room guesthouse prepares breakfasts for
the guests infront of its two storey building. All rooms are fitted with
private bath. Warm water for shower is available for a set hours
in the cool season.
Still there are many ordinary village folks who can not afford to become
victims of meeting between two enormously different civilizations. Rather, they
might be making some good out of it. People from villages
send their local produces such as food stuff to be sold at Pakbeng or other
places.
For many it is working hard in all
weather situation in the farms, eating the very basic food, and living the bottom
line of the survival. From the tourism and opening of the country,
they also realize that there is a world of great opportunity and wonders
out there somewhere. Having that knowledge in their minds, and having to continue
to live their hard life instill a lot of young Lao people a strong ir-resistable
desire to go abroad (mainly to Thailand) to look for a better life and pay.
But not all is a success story.
To arrange your travel in Laos, Thailand, etc. check this site:
www.trekthailand.net