2015 - MEKONG RIVER in LAOS, aboard the Mekong Sun

The boys from the ship set up a net & played the SE Asian version of volleyball .. with a raffia ball that they use their feet to kick back & forth across the net .. they ate very skillful but it is too much work for me to join in so I have a beer instead.

After they had finished their game, they piled logs on the sand & made a bonfire & some of the locals came down & joined us in a sing-song.

The crew also helped us passengers send small hot air balloons into the sky .. it looked very good but I don't remember why I did not take photos .. I do remember a large bug crawling around inside my shirt though .. the pain lasted for over a week.

Next day we progressed along the river towards Luang Prabang & stopped to have a wander along a small tributary filled with a series of waterfalls ..

Some of the passengers cooled off with a swim ..

& I headed for a snack ..

These boys were playing with the water buffalo when we arrived back at the boat .. looked like fun.

That evening, back at Luang Prabang we were treated to a folkloric show on board .. .

Some locals drifted down to take in the free show.

The girls .. looking very different in their everyday clothes

And that's that for the show & also the Mekong Sun cruise. It was good fun .. only about 22 passengers .. the language groups kept mostly to themselves but the French couples were chatty as they were on my table for meals & it is an amazing coincidence that they live on an island in the Pacific that I will be visiting on my way home .. I made arrangements to meet them in a month or so.