life at a stand still

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Wow. I really don't think life could get any slower than this. This has to be the most relaxed place on earth. Don Det is one of "thousands" of islands on the mekong in the south of Laos(although right now with the water being so high I'm sure there are only hundreds). Although the Lao are busy transplanting the rice seedlings right now, apparently in high season business is purely in bungalows, with them working as soon as the first guest is up til the last guest goes to bed. $1 - $2 for a basic bungalow and a hammock, and really that is all you need here.
So this entry will be brief because all I did was go for a couple of bike rides down to another island, Don Khon, and chill out in my hammock. I think it's a place you could end up staying at least a couple of weeks if you got into the groove. A guy who stayed in the bungalow next to me was like, "how the hell do you stay here for more than a couple of days, what is there to do? How do you just lie in a hammock for days on end?". Ummm, actually it's pretty easy. I suppose it's not for the restless. But the relaxed attitude in Laos has seriously worn off on me and this lifestyle could suit me fine for a week or so. So yes, I WOULD have stayed a while except that it started to rain... for more than just an hour here and there. It truly was monsoon season. The day before I left it rained for HOURS on end! I actually would have been okay with that except that it was horizontal rain so I couldn't even lie in my hammock.
So I left wonderful Don Det. I think my 5 days there cost me a whopping $25. More and more I'm aware that I'll soon be in Australia paying that alone for a dorm bed for one night. Crazy really.
Well onto Thailand, again.

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Photos

plowing the rice fields
biking through the middle of the island you pass the most beautiful rice paddies. It's incredible to watch how quickly they can transplant a field of rice seedlings.

DonDet Sunset (almost)
every evening I lay in my hammock hoping for that perfect sunset, but it never came

the mekong rapids plowing right through the islands
I wish I could see it in dry season, it's supposed to be calm, crystal clear water. Which is very hard to believe considering the Mekong is like chocolate milk right now.

Comments

[Rebecca]

Laos pictures
Your pictures are so beautiful Zan. Can't wait to see you in Australia. love Rebecca