4000 Islands in the Mekong

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Hello, hello. Did no one notice I've not blogged for an unsually long time? Sob sob, I could have been eaten by a crocidle or anything. As it happpens I was on an Island. One of 4000 Islands in the middle of the river Mekong. Bear in mind that the Mekong is huge at this point and a lot of the Islands are no more than a tufft of trees. However, At least three or four of the Islands are big enough to live on and cultivate. We headed for Don Det Island.

As ever in Laos the journey there wasn't simple. We ended up sharing a bg tuk tuk (a pick up with an extended back and benchs in it) with tons of bannanas as well as loads of locals. The roof was almost caving in with them and half the back ws full and they were tied onto the steps at the back. The tu tuk then took us half an hour past the turning to the Islands, unloaded the bannanas then took us back. So after four hours we arrived and got the boat to Don Det. A canadian who we have met a few time was on the bus with us so he all headed off to find a place to stay. We ended up with two bungalows next to each other with a long baclony and hammocks over loking the river. The rooms were only 2 USD (about 1 pound) and night and we got a fantastic view of the sunset. Unforutnaly the bright orange of the sunset just doesn't come out in photos so you'll just have to close your eyes and imagine the bright orange of monks robes steaked across the water.

Don Det is the perfect place for doing bugger all. Which is what we did for our first day. Hammocks, and great view and a good book. We did walk some way round the Island to have lunch and sit and read with a different very nice view. It seems that everyone catches the same mood there and in the evening everyone sat round in bars laying cards and board games, as did we. We met an English couple who we had met in Pakse and had a good evening playing cards with them.

For our second day we decided to hire push bikes and cycle round the Island and on to another Island to look at a waterfall. It was lovley riding through green paddy fields and along the banks of the river. You do have to dodge quite a lot as buffalow, pigs, chickens, ducks, cat and dogs live everywhere in Loas. Under almost every house you will find a pig, chickens and ducks and Buffalow are on every corner. The waterfall was amazing. It's not very high but it's very wide and is more like a huge set of rapids. It is a lovely plave to sit and just admire the fall.

We were reasured by people that it was impossible to get lost on the Islands but we seemed to managed it. We were going down any tiny path we felt like just for fun. However when it got to 12pm we found ourselves going down a never ending very bumpy track in the blazing heat. We realised this was a sure way to heat stroke so sat under a tree for a while then went back the way we had come.

We had a great evening as David our french friend turned up with some other people so we had a bit of a party night. All the bars kick you out at 10:30pm so we all headed back to our balcony until 1am when we all decided it was about time to go to bed as most of us had to get up early for buses. It was a great night of sitting round listerning to music and telling bad jokes. We have met some great people in Laos who will be fondly remembered.

I'm really glad we went to the Islands as we have been a bit disapointed with the south but they more than made up for it.

I'm really sad to be leaving Laos today. It's a great place that I could easily spend many months in. It's beautiful, laid back and friendly and still full of cultuer and charm. I will definatly be comeing back even if just for two week summer holidays. Tonight we get an all night bus to Vietnam, which should be aufull. Hue, the place we are going to, sounds great though once we get there the 17 hour bus journey will be worth it.

So until next time take care.

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Comments

[Helen]

So glad to read your entry. i was a bit worrried as SAm had not done bone at all since 28th but you did say you might not be able to for a while. Hope Sam is more successful this time as there still isn't anything on his blog. I have to go out so can't wait to see if it arrives, but will email when I return

[Lynn]

I'm enjoying reading the blog, and am really rather glad the crocs didn't get you! It all sounds so beautiful and relaxing, absolutely what we all should do , enjoy Vietnam. Lynn