Don Det
I slept well last night not waking until or at least not looking at my watch until 0730. It was hard to tell the time because the room was pitch black.
After breakfast a group of us traipsed off to find accommodation. While this place is nice it really is a little overpriced for what it is. Basically they are charging $10 because the room is being fixed up for when Don Det gets electricity. Fair enough but they seem to be charging for the hot water they don’t have, the fan that doesn’t work and the light bulb with no electricity to run it. Personally charging $10 just so I can have the privilege of looking at these wonderful features that may work one day is a bit much.
Ended up at the Mr Si Dae Bungalows. They are thatched and right on the river with little balconies with hammocks. The shower and toilet are shared. They really have seen better days. The cost is $1. The family does not have much and they looked very happy to suddenly have 5 guests where before they had none.
They have a little restaurant attached with a pool table. The restaurant is funny because you ask for something on the menu, which they assure you they have then they hop on their motorbike or send one of the kids running off only to return with a bag with the eggs or noodles, rice, basically the ingredients that they needed to cook the food you ordered.
It may take some time that way but at least the food is fresh and they are very obliging.
We hired some bikes in the afternoon and went riding out to the waterfalls. The road was flat and it only took about 30 mins to get there. Still the road was a little rough with rocks and pot holes in true Lao style.
When we arrived at the falls a bunch of Thai ladies wanted their photo taken with us. Very weird and funny with flashbacks to India where the same occurred.
When we walked through the gates the man checked our ticket then charged us 2000 kip parking fee for the bikes! We were laughing about that one figuring that he’d found himself a nice little money earner!
The falls were quite big and spread out but mostly flat….. if that makes sense. Still worth the ride to see.
