| Half Way Around the word without a plane |
Up the Mekong River
In Phom Pen (Cambodia), we meet with our travel campanion, who is going to lead our way to China; the Mekong River
This long river (can somebody help me with vocabulary, what's the world for a water course bigger than a river?) has its source in Tibet and is the "spine" of this zone of the world from China to Vietnam, where it meets with the sea. We thought it would be a bustling commercial way, with a lot of economic exchanges between the countries...but in fact, the very low degree of development makes it just a big river, not even navigable over all its length, especially in the dry season. Moreover, the roads along its sides have been quite good for the last few years, so all the traffic goes by land, leaving the sleepy dragon flowing as he wishes, hardly troubled by the numerous fishermen in their small crafts... From Phnom Pen, we slowly travel up the river, by bus; the small town of Kratie rekowned for its Irrawady Dophins, an endangered specie, then Stung Treng, at the border of Cambodia and Laos. The never ending flats of Cambodia must be stunning when the paddies are green. But in this end of the dry season, they are dry, exhausted under the beating sun...So are the locals, who hide in their hamacas under their stilt houses all day, only to out when the heat recesses at night. Even the mighty river, with its exposed sand banks and ripless surface look like it's impatiently waiting for the rainy season.  Romain, furry animal from the southern alps is having a hard time with the heat, accumulated throughout this dry season which doesn't seem to end... So we push on a bit faster than we expected, reaching Laos 10days earlier, hoping to meet the monsoon on our way...  Border between Cambodia and Laos...not so many people cross here!!!
Since leaving Phnom Pen, we've been threading our way around that of the Mekong; left side, right side, the islands, the ferries, the small fishingboats, the floating houses...the life on the river is a never ending source of amazement and admiration...
 Kratie, Cambodia...a different and stunning sunset every night! 
"I'm a poor lonesome biker, a long long way from home"
Sambor, Cambodia, floating houses  Stung Treng, Cambodia; sampan style boat-houses  Waiting for the ferry. Please note the red and white clothe which most peasants in Laos are wearing; around the neck for men and on the head for women.  A little feel of Polynesia, Don Khong Island 4000 island, South Laos
In 4000 islands, the Mekong reaches is biggest width of all its course; 14km.
At this location, it becomes like a big sea, dotted with numerous islands and sand banks As the Lonely Planet puts it; "the laos people is really relaxed, and the more to the south the more relaxed...Just as you thought your blood pressure couldn't go any lower, you arrive in 4000 islands" Here the people take it even slower than anywhere else we've been...but their are also friendly, welcoming and party orientated...during our 3 days stay, we've been invited in not less than 2 parties!!!  Definitely some polynesian influence... althought the scottish might have passed by...and when you listen to the music, you'd swear it's Africa!!!  "Would you like some more beef?"
Raw in a chilly sauce, with Beer Laos, at 9am!...Our bicycle ride got somehow "legless".
Party at the surveyors office of Don Khong Island  Buffalos, Don Khong, 4000islands, South Laos 
Ventiane bus on the ferry , Don Khong, 4000islands, South Laos
 At the end of the day, the river is squattered with fishing crafts. The noise of their nets touching the water gives a special sound to the sunset...  The old bus for Champasak, right side of the Mekong  Ferry for Champasak. Our good old bus is going to crack and shriek under the strain when it will drive onto the ferry platform.  As always, the food squad is ready to spring into action to aleviate our waiting; fruits, cold drinks, soups, you name it...
Don't worry, we only got stranded for a bit more than 1hour, and we reached Pakse (30km and 2hours drive away) safe and sound...
And another good news; the mouson rains came, and refreshed the atmosphere...we are now happier and ready for our next adventure; 6 days of motorbiking in the Boloven Plateau; falls, coffee plantations and ethnic minorities... More news when we come back... 01:04 - 1/05/2007 - Ajouter un commentaire
|
From New-Caledonia to France without using a plane.
Accueil Qui suis-je ? Album photos Archives Mes amis Derniers articles Mes amis - ysa - Voyages - mimine - dede - monette - Monyselia - matei21 - heidi |
