SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2006

Got an 11hour bus to Pakse then another local bus to Si Phan Don(AKA THE 4000 ISLANDS) for 4hours. Me & Gaz were the only non-locals on the bus & blatantly got ripped off paying more than double (still works out about a pound which is laughable but frustrating at the time. Got dropped off on a dirt path with no clue where to go but soon found our feet. The island (Don Khong) was small & not very touristy which made a change.Gaz hired a motorbike to explore but Chris's emails about dying & my mums hatred of motorbikes put me off & i left Gaz to it. Had a bit of a go but bikes are not for me so ;lazed in a rivewrside bar all day :)

SUNDAY 24TH - TUESDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2006

Got a boat to Don Det - a neighbouriung island. Stayed in a cool bamboo hut on the riverside - Gaz loving the hammock on our deck. Chilled all day - pure paradise. Christmas day was strange - didn't feel at all festive & felt even less so when eating breakfast a pig was being slaughtered in the next bar along. Gaz watched as they slit its throat and shaved it while i considered becoming a vegetarian (whilst ironically eating a bacon sandwhich!). Hired bikes to explore Don Khon (the next island along). Went to the waterfalls on the island and to the beach to see if we could spot the dolphins - failing miserably. Cycled to the furthest point away on the island - drove over a rock and got a flat tyre leaving Gaz carrying the bike 3k (he said it felt more like 20! - happy christmas Gaz). Spoke to family in the evening which made my christmas! Spent boxing day recovering from our hectic day on the bikes - hammocks are a god-send!