After flying to Pakse in southern Laos, we immediately got a local bus (a pick up truck with some benches in) to the 4000 islands.’ Our first stop was Don Khong the largest island.’ However the bus wasn’t as direct as we had hoped and’ simply stopped at the side of the highway and we were told to get out as the driver pointed to a dirt track.’ We couldn’t tell how long this was but we did know it was midday and VERY hot!’ As we strapped on our backpacks and headed down the track a little girl came running out of one of the farming houses, she took one look at us and ran off crying!’ We must have looked like aliens with our backpacks on coupled with the amount we were sweating!’ We finally found a pier about 1 mile down the track and got a longtail boat to the island. (more…)