4,000 Reasons for Peace

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In southern Laos there is a beautiful place called Si Phan Don (4,000 islands). In this area, the Mekong spreads to 14km wide and a large fault line created Khone falls which tumble 21m into Cambodia.

I spent 5 glorious days on Don Det. Much of it was spent in a hammock or swimming in the Mekong. The occasional (ahem) bottle of Lao Lao that was circulated around the guesthouse kept us all moving even when all we did was play musical chairs.

I wanted to move in. No one I met actually left the day they originally planned to.

My first full day was spent bicycling around Don Det and across the bridge to Don Khon. There is a small waterfall there, upmarket guesthouses and a little restaurant overhanging the water where I tucked into fresh fish with ginger and a lemon-lime shake. Weary, sun-burned, and on the verge of heat-exhaustion I slowly peddled my way back to Paradise and hung out in the hammock.

My last full day there several of us hired the guesthouse owner to take us out in his boat. He took us to an uninhabited island with a nice-sized sand bar where we reverted to about eight years old and spent several hours floating, taunting, throwing, and making up outrageous stories. The water was incredibly clear and cool.

In between it was pure leisure.

Wish you could have been there.

Enjoy.

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Photos

Fisherwomen
The eldest daughter is dropping and pulling the nets

Old Tracks
The old rail bridge connects Don Det and Don Kohn

Bobbing Away
They were dismantling and repairing this floating restaurant

Wat
Stumbled upon this in the middle of the island. A few monks and crazy 4 year old.

Palms Rustle
Enticing to set up shop - Guesthouse anyone?

Comments

[dj]

sigh
looks amazing! viewing these sitting in my office may not have been a good idea...