Island time
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2011
1
22
56
Trip End
Jan 16, 2012
Where I stayed
Pan's Guesthouse
What I did
cycling, waterfalls, chilling
Ban Khon, Champasak, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Once on our long boat, with our big rucksacks literally chucked on behind us – thanks guys! We zipped across the Mekong – all seems really refreshing with the water spraying you and cooling you down, then you remember (sometimes a little too late) that the Mekong is brown because the whole country's sewage fills it, then you shut your mouth, and try not to think of how much crap (literally) just sprayed on you!
We arrived on to one of the southern islands, Dhon Khon and, at first, were a bit peeved as it didn’t seem as idyllic as hoped because all we could hear and see were workmen building a new guesthouse but once we checked into our little casa – a decent sized hut right on the Mekong all seemed better. The river might not be the cleanest but it was very pretty and our balcony looked straight at it! We slept a little then rented bikes and cycled around the island. First along the bumpiest path ever, our poor bottoms, before admitting defeat and heading the other way, past a caged orang-utan and through beautiful lush rice paddy fields and giddy kids playing in the lanes.
For dinner we had Mekong Fish – it wasn’t barbequed for a change and was really delicious – like something you would find on a menu Wagamama or Busaba Ethai (Londoners who know us will probably have been to one of both of these places with us at some point.) Finally food that didn’t just fill a hole.
On the second and last day at the Island we cycled for about 4km, first to South East Asia’s fastest flowing waterfall. Pretty impressive. Fast flowing water with several signs saying that the path was "Danger rious." Classic spelling. There was a beach too accessed along a jungle path which was sandy and white, but the water was Mekong (poo) water, so we headed back for our bikes. We made a little stalker friend in the shape of a rabid scabby and bleeding dog who followed us for ages. I was crapping myself but it left us alone after a bit and seemed to be pretty happy despite looking so ill.
Back on our bikes we went to the spot where we heard you could spot Dolphins from but we didn’t see any. We settled for seeing Cambodia across the river then headed back to our little hut and our lunch of baguettes stuffed with Pringles. The smell attracted “Moggy” our new little cat. We looked after her as she seemed hungry – we gave her 3 tins of the finest sardines in a tomatoes and herb sauce between that point and by the time we left at 8am the next morning. She was lovely; she sat on our feet and then snoozed on our balcony for the rest of the afternoon. On our last day when we were due to leave, she was back and we seriously thought about smuggling her into our bags. I think someone (besides me for a change) was getting broody!
We managed to Skype both the Abid's and Wells's before sunset, which was great because Zareena, Haaris, Ehsan, Bibi and Seems ran over to my parents with cereal bowls in hand. Skyping Maureen (mum in law) was hilarious, we couldn’t hear her, so we had to speak and then wait until she nodded or put her thumbs up as a sign she heard us. Lots of fun!
Dinner was TWO portions of …wait for it…Mekong Fish! We had been using the restaurant that went with the guesthouse and Mr Pans food was scrummy!
After getting the long boat back ashore we caught the bus to the Laos – Cambodian border. We were then told to get back off the bus we were on as another bus would take us past the border, but it never came, so 15 of us had to pile into a 10 seat mini bus – it was so much fun, and to add to the comedy when the minibus reversed it played a Jennifer Lopez track. Almost immediately we had to pile off again as we had a flat tyre which needed to be re inflated! We then got back on and zoomed up to the border, got our visa’s in our passports and crossed the border on foot. So exciting, I never usually have stamps or visa’s in my Passport and now I have 3! Just call me Citizen of the world darling!
Over the border the rain started – but it seems to have stopped thank god. We have a pool in the hotel we are booked into for the next 2 days and it better not bloody rain. There is also no toilet on this “VIP” bus which we were told would have one and we are on it for 7 hours. I think I may have to go plead with the driver. Now, what’s “pee myself” in Cambodian…?
