Pak Ou Caves two hours North of Luang Prabang, at the confluence of the Ou and Mekong rivers hence it's name.

Inside the caves are hundreds of abandoned buddha images.   Their owners having made the journey here to deposit them on the shelves and floor of the caves  rather than discard them.

Our young boatman skillfully navigated the shallow river avoiding the pebble bottom and more serious rocks.  His father  who lost an arm in 'the war' but with  a lifetime of experience on the river directed our passage and  occasionally jumped out to give us a push.

It was a long and unseasonably cold day on the river and I was desperate for a shore break!

This looked like a quiet spot to stretch our legs and relieve our bladders.