Both me and Ash had enjoyed our day relaxing on Don Khon and were really excited about our day of kayaking with the people we`d met the previous day. When arranging the deal the day before the guy had told us he would pick us up at 9am from our bungalow and the plan would be for the others to kayak down the river to us. This sounded ideal as it meant we didn't have to bike over to the other island and so we both sat in our hammocks eagerly awaiting their arrival at 9am. The owner of the bungalows came over to speak to us and so I didn't notice so much time had gone by until I looked at my watch and it was 9.30am. We both tried to reassure each other that all was ok, things never run to time in Asia. Again more time went by until suddenly 3 kayaks appeared the other side of the river. There was no way they were for us though as they went past at a good pace! Again we both looked at each other thinking this isn't looking good and at 10am we`d given up hope. Kayaking wasnt meant to be. We decided the best plan was to bike over to te office and see what had happened and hoped we could book on the following day. Just as we were about to leave our bungalow at 10.15am, 7 kayaks appeared all waving their arms at us! Both of us were so happy and once we`d geared up with helmets and lifejackets we were lowered down into our own kayaks and were off! We were so relieved that our idea of Laos people being so nice and honest wasnt shattered after all.

As part of the trip we got to visit some waterfalls, the first was Li Phi falls which were more like rapids. We had to leave our kayaks and walk a little to see them but it was good to chat to the others and hear their stories of their travels so far as we walked. We then got back into the kayaks and went down the river for another 30 minutes. This involved us going through some rapids which were great fun, although me and Ash were both a bit scared to start with. We did have lots of faith in our leader though Jean; a French guy who was really nice and had amazing kayaking skills. Ash went off first before me so I could watch what he did as all the instructions I caught were 'bum to the rapid' and 'paddle to the left lots then the right'. Ash didn't quite catch the instructions as I did and managed to capsize thinking it was bum away from. He did however get back into his kayak in rapid speed, so quick that I didn't actually realise he`d fallen out until the others said! Minutes later Ash was off again, this time he seen the double kayak out at the front ledged against the rocks before more rapids. Thinking this was a point we needed to stop at and wait for the others Ash hung onto a flooded tree to then find out how fast the river was running and so Ash was holding the tree while the kayak continued! Luckily he managed to get back on the kayak before the rapids.

Another highlight of the trip was seeing the Irrawady dolphins that live in the waters between Laos and Cambodia. They are an endangered species that can actually survive in fresh water rather the the typical salt. It is believed that only a small number (maybe less than 20) are still alive so we were all really happy that we managed to catch a glimpse of them during our lunch stop off in Cambodia. Strangely we were in a country that we didn't have a visa for but when we questioned it, Jean said `you give them money, they're happy'. After lunch we enjoyed a couple of games of volleyball before heading back out in our kayaks for another hour or so. The scenery was beautiful and we felt so lucky to be able to see it as you wouldnt be able to access it any other way really. Ash also had the chance to try out Jeans kayak which was a short slalom kayak which he was chuffed about! So straight into a spray deck that didn't properly fit without training. We left Ash behind with Jean as he was getting to grips with the kayak that now was spun by every current on the river. In light of this Jean thought it would be a good idea for Ash to get to grips with flipping himself back up against a kayak. So in the middle of the Mekong Ash turned the kayak and got his face full of the the brown highly sedimented water. Ash said it was fine but made sure he stayed close to Jean as they paddled accross the river incase he needed to turn himself aginst his kayak.

Around 4.30pm we kayaked to the shore where we met our van and once the kayaks and kit were loaded, we visited another big waterfall Khon Phapheng which again was spectacular and like a huge rapid. It was dark by the time we got back to the boat point and so we had a moonlit boat ride back to the island. Although a little bit scary, especially when the motor cut out as we were leaving and we started drifting down the river, it was really magical and the water really reflected the night sky. Jean and one of the dutch guys decided to kayak back in the dark which was brave but they managed it! On arrival at the other end we hitched a ride on the back of a motorbike back to our bungalow and enjoyed a nice shower (cold but nice all the same). A great day.

That evening we were really tired after a long day in the sun so we only walked a short distance to Mr pons restaurant. Here there were lots of Laos men drinking Laos beer and having a good time. They worked for an Australian guy who do river bed consultancy for hydro electric. They had just finished a month long survey but were also celebrating striking a deal witha local fisherman who had retrieved the boat down river after it had broke free a couple of nights earlier in some bad weather. By the end of the night we had beer given to us and some dodgy spirit! Again a perfect example of how kind hearted these people are. An enjoyable and interesting evening.