Lao Voices

As as little kid in Laos I have never attended Pha Vet festival. My hometown in Nongbon didn’t host Boun Pha Vet as far as I could recall. I have heard the story of Pha Vet Sandone, told by my parents many times and about Hare Pha Vet Sandone. To hear my Grand-Mama on the [...]

This year, the Pha Vet festival is bigger and better with a larger parade and more people participating. Since I sent a camera to my cousin Mo last year, he has been taking photos around the temple a few times. His photo taking activities didn’t go un-notice under the eyes of the senior Monks.
On the [...]

Boun Pha Vet at Ban Phonsikhay in Muang Pakse is celebrated once a year. The festival takes two day and involves the entire community as well as neighboring villages. The event starts at Wat Phonsikhay with a parade (Hare Pha Vet Sandone) and a Baci ceremony later.
The highlight of Boun Pha Vet is the recital [...]

The last set of photos of Dannavieng Lao book box library in Muang Phone Thong, Champassak province. Thank you once again to all the supporters of the Book Box Fund. You have given these children the power of knowledge.

I paid a visit to my Hmong neighbor’s rice paddy again during my morning break, I was hoping that the rice plants would produce some rice grains by now, but I guess I’m a bit impatience. I asked one of my American co-workers to join me this time, she said, “I don’t know why you [...]

There is still something familiar with this picture. While Vientiane might be moving at a faster pace, this durian seller still relies on the old fashion wagon. This is something that most merchants would be using in the 80’s to transport their fruits and vegetables. The main difference is that it was a dusty dirt [...]

A couple of pictures of That Luang Marsh near by That Luang Market. There are a lot of activities in the area and soon it will be more crowded with new housing and more businesses.

The new Dannavieng Elementary school is not quite 100% completed. At the moment, the school is missing the doors, the windows, and of course the concrete floor. The ceilings and the walls are still needed to work on. But even at this state of the condition, the students, parents, and the entire community are happy [...]

On the last day of Wat Phu Festival there is a Morning Alms Giving with long lines of Buddhist faithfuls, eager to make merit on this special day. Hundreds of people would travel from all over the country to take part in the festiviy. They would camp out the night before on the holy ground [...]

Check out Montreal Landscape architect/artist make fruits from artificial materials. For few Laotian, this may be a surprise they wake up in Vientiane and see fruits made of plastics all over the place. It is a change to see synthetic material instead of bio material once in a while.