Day starts early at 03.00 a.m.


Sharp at 04.00 the driver arrives, and delivers the bags as arranged to the boat.
Another episode of travel starts.

The dock is dimly lit, the waters of the Mekong gushing below when we cross the narrow
bridge to the vessel.

The skipper starting the engine at 04.50 a.m..

Dark the sky, I wonder when he steers the boat into midstream.
The giant Mekong lies ahead of us, some 700 km north our destination.

Slowly, the engines take up speed, the boat shivering under the mighty
force of the two Diesels.

Once again, like so many times before, I begin to wonder how I ended up in this corner
of the world.






As always, I find no answer. I traveled through dark age Africa, many times over
have I seen strange places on my journeys.

This is a new, unknown territory, as I am unfamiliar with prolonged boat rides, I have a natural
aversion towards the waters of the sea, or lakes, or rivers for that matter.

We are two hours into sailing when daylight finally breaks. The misty hills along both shores
hang deep down towards the water; jungles filled with heavy fog.

Chilled the air from beneath the waters, the rushing stream of the murky Mekong glides
below us. The Diesels run below deck in a round, continuous run; nothing can stop those powerful
500 HP 8 cylinders.

First daylight brings us on deck, a stern cold awaits us, swimming vests warapped we climb
the outer deck.

Now only we are aware of the Mekong' s treacherous rapids; swerving left and right the skipper
avoids shallow waters to avoid running the vessel aground.

Sometimes he releases power to slow the boat down; when rocks appear from the waters, sometimes dangerous
close.

He knows the river, one can be sure.




Continued ....