Coming to the end of Laos:
In early October we arrive at the southern border of Laos, where the Mekong swirls and divides to form the famous 'Thousand Islands'. We take a longtail boat to Don Det Island and rest for three glorious days...

We fish off our breezy balcony, dozing off in swaying hammocks...













and by candlelight dine on Mekong Fish steamed in Banana leaf,











and river raft,













humbled by the swift, quiet power of the Mighty Mekong in flood,













and watch the sunset, drinking quarts of ice-cold beer Lao (our favourite brand so far),











our hosts the lovely Mr and Madam Phin who adopt us, doing their utmost to make us feel at home, from installing a bedlight for reading in our bamboo shanty to cooking us exotic Cao Lac and even brewing us litres and litres of Lipton tea - gentle, humble people...