We thought we would be able to get a "VIP" bus which came with A/C the next morning when we arrived to the bus station; however, as it happens in Laos, that bus didn't seem to actually exist like the schedule said it did. Another local (non- a/c) bus showed up to take us south, was fine while moving and the windows open, yet deathly hot when idle. Did we mention the weather is like Houston in July (very hot and humid)?
Given we feel like old people and Kristin couldn't take another four hours on a non-a/c bus, we had a stop over in Pakse for the night before continuing on to the islands in the morning. It turned out to be a good choice. We took a four hour mini-van the next morning to the pier where we took a 15 minute boat ride over to Don Det island. The 4000 Islands is a group of islands in Southern Laos amidst the Mekong River delta. The number of islands can vary from 2,000 to 4,000 depending on the water level between the wet and dry season.
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| Taking the boat from the mainland over to Don Det island |
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| View of Don Det from the river |
We stayed in a very basic bungalow right on the riverfront for about $4 each. There was just a bed, fan, window, and porch with two hammocks (view of the Mekong river included). It was a very peaceful environment though. Good thing too because it was over 100 degrees and without air conditioning anywhere on the island we didn't want to move very much. Only from restaurant to restaurant looking for "cold" beer. Most of the places gave us room temperature beer and ice to add to the mug. Yum ?
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| Our bungalow porch over the river |
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| Cooling off and enjoying the view from the hammock |
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| One of the "ferries" |
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| View of sunset on the Mekong from our porch |
Don Det was hotter than hell, yet, we managed to take care of a few logistics that afternoon. We booked a kayak trip for the next day and a bus to Cambodia the day after.
The kayak trip was a full day, with about 16 other people, of kayaking, walking through villages, visiting waterfalls and swimming, lunch, seeing the highly endangered freshwater irrawaddy dolphins, and more waterfalls. It was a great way to casually enjoy the Mekong river and the region around it.
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| Group kayaking down the river |
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| Local fishermen |
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| First waterfalls and swim stop of the day |
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| The "tractor and cart" used to moved our kayaks from one point to another (very common throughout Laos) |
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| Break time |
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| Our lazy guide enjoying his partner doing all the work ;-) |
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| View from the river |
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| Another break time |
The last stop of the day was at the largest waterfalls, by volume, in Southeast Asia, Khone Phapheng Falls. These Falls are the reason why the Mekong is not fully navigable into China. Some Canadians in the group described it as a mini version of Niagra Falls because of the similar shape. Obviously it wasn't the same as seeing Iguazu Falls, but it was still very powerful, loud, and amazing to see.
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| Hard to capture the size of the falls |
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| Standard pic with the falls |
The next morning it was time to head out of Laos and into Cambodia!
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