Si Phan Don (4000 Islands) - Don Khone / Laos

The last days we spend really relaxing on one of the so called “4000 Islands” at the Mekong in Laos, Don Khone. We have a great bungalow and as it is low season on the islands, we are almost the only tourists. On one hand that’s great – we have all the nature and the whole hotel facilities to ourselves. On the other hand, all the restaurants and bars are at half-mast… But still, it’s very beautiful here! 

 We undertake an excursion by bicycles to explore the surroundings. Highlight is a waterfall. 

 There is also a so-called “beach”. As nobody is there, self-entertainment is on ;-)

This is our only stop in Laos and tomorrow we have a long journey to the south of Thailand to meet a good friend!

Kratie - Last stop in Cambodia

After some intense days in Siem Reap we head to Kratie, a small town at the Mekong in the east of Cambodia. It's really laidback...

Vis-à-vis Kratie lies Khao Trong, a small island we went to explore - rural Cambodian life!

The main reason to come to Kratie is that nearby the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins can be spotted. Usually, they live near coasts, river mouths and in estuaries. But they also have established subpopulations in freshwater rivers, including the Ganges or Mekong. Optically the Irrawaddy dolphin is similar to the beluga - it has a large melon and a blunt, rounded head, and the beak is indistinct. Like with many other animals, the population of the dolphins is diminishing, mainly because of mankind.

In Kratie they offer a great kayaking-tour to spot the dolphins - we're in :-) First we drive up 20 km north and then kayak on the Mekong... We're just 7 persons and a guide, 4 boats...   

 ... it's beautiful to kayak here!

A lonely, very beautiful water buffalo...

Then we do a nice break on a sandbar...

... and even have a cooling swim in the Mekong :-)

 

Then we continue to get near the dolphins. The way down there is really fun and beautiful.

 

And then we arrive at the bassin where the dolphins are - and we get lucky!! We see at least 4-6 of them! Here you have an exemplary shot as we did not try to take pictures. They just come up really quick to breath and you only see them for 2-3 seconds... A great experience to have seen them!

Angkor Day III

On day 3 we decide to change vehicle and rent some bikes. The site is beautiful and it's lovely to cycle around...

We go back to Angkor Wat as the previous day we did not see all the sections of the temple...

It's midday and everybody seems to be eating lunch or escaping the heat - there are only very few people around :-)

Here the famous carvings that go round the whole temple site, very impressive! It takes us almost an hour to walk around the site and explore all the relief.

And here the upper part of the temple with its 5 towers...

We continue our tour and discover some new temples. Here's Baksei Chamkrong...

Baphuon

Here the famous bridge that leads to Angkor Thom...

The Royal Palace Area

Lunchtime: Alfredo going after his favourite food in Cambodia: sticky rice out of a bamboo-stick :-)

Step 1: Hold the bamboo and be happy

Step 2: Begin to peel the bamboo...

Step 3: Once the bamboo is peeled off, grab the delicious sticky rice :-)

Later we pass by the temple Bayon again - so beautiful and unique!

Cambodians are really relaxed and chilled people. Angkor Wat is a beautiful area and the locals come here to chill in hammocks. Now that's something!