After trying the hammocks at our start of the trip through Laos we had the desire to enjoy them again, which is already time ... and what better place than Where the Mekong becomes a huge sea full of islets, the so-called 4,000 islands of Laos, some so small that they only have a small tree, and some larger ones where you can stay in one of its many bungalows by the river. And in one of these we spent the next 5 days of our trip, the last in Laotian lands.
As we were doing too much time we had been lounging in our hammocks, one day we dedicated to touring the island ofWhere Tand the neighbor Don Khon connected by a bridge from the French era, mounted on a pair of bicycles. Of course, the road mixed rice fields that are now yellow fields, small houses on the sides of the river, people working (and also resting), animals, etc.
The idea was to see the waterfall considered the largest in Laos, and the famous freshwater dolphins living at this height of the Mekong, in the waters that separate Laos from Cambodia. The first was not difficult, it was enough to follow the path, but the second ... if it does not happen to be for a couple that we found later, we would still be doubting the existence of these animals, in addition to the photos of the agencies do not help much. To see them it is necessary to get to where they live in a boat, and have a little luck to be seen.
If in this area it seems that the Mekong becomes a sea, it is necessary that there is at least one small beach to prove it, right? Well that was one of the surprises we got. Next to the waterfall there is a Beach where kayak groups take the opportunity to take a break. We wanted beach, but this is not the best place to take a bath, the waters are a little rough here.
The couple we talked about are a boy from Vitoria and a girl from ... Guadalajara! They were getting a barbecue lady when we passed by and decided to take the same, and bingo! It's already weird to see Spaniards around here, I don't say anything about Alcarreños ... barbecue (which is really like a hot pot for cooking meat and soup at the same time) It consisted of a mix of meats, vegetables and a broth, which you cook yourself on some embers in the middle of the table. The meat here is not scarce ... how many barbecues can be taken from this gorrino?
It is our last stage in this charming country, so we try to hurry the money we have left, but there is always a little left over, maybe it will help us pay the illegal exit fees on the border with Cambodia ... who knows ... but that is another story.
USEFUL INFO
Transport. How to get to the 4,000 islands?
We arrive from Pakse with combined minivan + boat ticket, in total 60,000kips, it takes about 3 hours.
How to get to Cambodia from the 4,000 islands of Laos?
There are packages offered by travel agencies with the route Wheret (4000 islands) - Phnom Penh at 25 dollars: boat, then minivan to the border and another bus that awaits you across the border in the part of Cambodia that takes you to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap (which is closer). In recent times it seems that it has risen a lot, it is seen in the posters of the agencies, as they have erased the much lower old prices. Total were about 15 hours between boat, minivan and bus, with the stops of rigor.
Accommodation. Where to sleep on the 4,000 islands?
We stayed 5 nights on the island of Dondet, in the Nouphit, the bungalows with private bathroom, wifi and two hammocks overlooking the Mekong, 40,000kips, there are cheaper options but no bathroom. On the last day, we do not know if due to misunderstanding or for bad intentions, they tried to charge us two more nights, saying that the chek-in we had done two days before ... it was clearly a lie and when we showed him the extract of a withdrawal he throws Pakse himself day of the real check in (there are no ATMs on the island) no apologies or anything. Go bad drink! Even at the beginning he threatened to call the police ...
!!!Watch out!!!
If you want to wash your clothes you may use trick scales to weigh it! One trick is to carry a 1lt water bottle and check the weight (on a scale the Lety camera weighing 500gr weighed 1 kg!)
