Although it's January now, Jim has just posted some photos he took in Chiang Khong during LoiKratong held during November's full moon. The launching of a small float (a krathong) signifies ridding yourself of ill fortune as well as expressing apologies to Khongkha, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha's footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respects to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Buddha's great disciples. The Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water, with unique characteristics in each locale. 
At BaanFai GH, Jim talks to two Americans who were taking a year to travel thru Europe, Asia and parts unknown on a tandem recumbent bike. (See below.)
Here are a few photos from my last day in Chiang Khong.
Here are some of Jim's pix of native plants in Chiang Khong.
And here he captures the activity of Chinese shipping in CK.
He was invited to join a few Thai folks heading upriver and so he took the opportunity to cruise the Mekong without having to get a Laos visa. He sometimes goes to the river crossing at Immigration to purchase Bia Laos from a local riverboatmen. Difficult - and expensive - to get in Thailand, Bia Laos is delicious.
