Don Khon, part two.

Don Khon is very nice. This area is called Si Phan Don, or Four Thousand Islands. It is the widest point of the Mekong, where there are, I'm going to guess, about 4000 islands. Of these many islands, a handful are populated. Between the islands the Mekong runs very fast and shallow and from Don Khon one can walk very close to the only waterfall on the Mekong, Tat Somphamit (pictures below). But for these features, the Mekong would be navigable from the South China Sea and the Mekong Delta, up through to China.

Don Khon has as short (1/2 km) commercial strip - guest houses, restaurants, travel agents - , most of the rest of the island farms and jungle. "Town" is a dirt track, low key and friendly and just step from the river. The Lao, tourists and thousands of dogs, cats, chickens and ducks live in a laid back harmony. This is the first place we have been on this trip where one feels this small pocket of civilization has been carved out out on the jungle. Sugar and Banana palm and giant Betel trees line the river and in the morning a haze of smoke hangs over the village from breakfast fires. Roosters announce the day. 

Yesterday Kim and I rented bicycles and went down every dirt road and lane on the island, stopping at the falls, before continuing across the short bridge to Don Det. Today is a rest day with Kim taking a couple of short walking a getting a massage while I arrange our travel for tomorrow.