39. 4000 Islands... Don Khong

The next morning I watched the sun come up over the Mekong.... It's not very often that I do that! It was magical.... 

Then heading further south Catherine and I got the ferry across the river from Champassak waved off by our friendly Mr Motorbike Man....

And I'm sure he'll be out later looking for more stray travellers! 

We waited for the bus and met some locals. A hammock is such a comfy way to sleep for babies and adults alike!

Then we got the bus to the next ferry port to go to Don Khong, the biggest and most northerly of the Si Phan Don Islands.... 4000 Islands. This is Laos version of the beach, and it is lotus eaters laid back paradise. Most people stayed on the bus to go straight to Don Det, but we wanted to travel slowly.... This was our ferry across the Mekong 

And our hotel just above the boat station. This was very upmarket... There was a communal balcony! There was air con available too, but I didn't need it, and it does cost extra.... A fan wafting overhead is wonderful

The Main Street

Further along the street we found a beach.... And had a wonderful swim! It's where the locals go 

It is not done to show your body while swimming, so I swam in my sarong as the locals do....

That night there was another beautiful sunset, this time over the fields

And looking a bit later in the other direction, a fabulous full moon rising. This photo doesn't do it justice, but I had to put it in....

There's not much happening in Don Khong..... So the next morning we hired bikes to explore the island and local life... This was the local temple in the village

Then we cycled about 8 kms across the island to the next village

And had breakfast. It's always best to go early before it gets too hot. By the way.... There are lots and lots of photos of me in the same clothes! But I do wash them every night and they're dry by the morning... And I'm travelling light at the mo having left my big bag in Vientiane! 

This little girl was watching me eat. I don't think they get many falang here....

So we then got a ferry across to the next island going west.... And couldn't go further as the next piece of land was Cambodia! Foreigners can't cross here. Three guys were keeping a watch of the river bank.... What a hard life! The village over the water is in Cambodia...

But we did explore the island, which doesn't seem to see any foreigners at all.... I parked my bike in the shade of a frangipani

And we stopped for a cold drink

We admired the colour of the rice growing in the fields.... So many fields are dry and barren at this time of year, but not here

Then we got the ferry back

The end of another wonderful day