We've spent the last few days exploring our island; Don Khon and our neighbouring island Don Det by bike. Yesterday we headed to the waterfalls on our island. On our way their we were stopped on a little path by some locals, unsure why, but they were very sure we had to stop, then thud....a massive coconut came down from the tree in front of us!! There was a guy at the top cutting them down - I am now very cautious of being under coconut trees!!!! Anyway we made it to the waterfalls without getting knocked out by a coconut and crossed a series of wooden and bamboo bridges - some with no hand rails and a bit rickety! We saw local fishermen throwing their nets in and jumping in to collect them. After heading back we called it a day on the bikes, it was so hot and the hammock was calling!
Today we tackled some washing - I will really appreciate the washing machine when I get home......it takes ages by hand!! Then onto the bikes and over the bridge to Don Det for a little cycle and stopped at a place Emma had noticed in our travel book- a gay friendly place, so we had a drink and some lunch there. Then back over the bridge to the bottom of our island where we were told we could catch a little boat to see the rare irrawaddy dolphins that inhabit the water between here and Cambodia. For £6 Emma and I had a little wooden boat to ourselves (with the boat driver) and headed only 5 - 10 minutes south towards Cambodia and then stopped. Eagerly looking out and not thinking we would see any dolphins suddenly our young boat driver made some excited noises....and then we started seeing some, very slowly breaking the water with their small dorsal fin following. We had to pay a small fee as we had asked to go further south and therefore into Cambodia territory, so we also made a little stop on Cambodia for our guy to pay the fees. Anyway, it was lovely to see them, I just hope their numbers continue to increase which apparently they have done.
