Lao Voices

Samples of home made products in Laos that were on display at the Lao Traditional Food Festival 2008, at the Lao National Culture Hall last month (February 22-23). The colorful candles would be something that I would buy for myself or give away as gifts. I particularly like the candles in a shape of Dok [...]

There was more than Lao food on display at the 2008 Lao Traditional Food Festival in Vientiane on February 22-23. In addition to the 100 booths displaying delicious Lao dishes from all the Lao provinces, many Lao homemade products as well as Lao textiles, arts and crafts were on display and for sale to [...]

In early 2007 we delivered four book boxes to four different elementary schools in Laos. We now have some photos from Akat Elementary School, which is located in Muang Sikhotabong, Vientiane to share with all of you. Akat Elementary is a few minutes from Wattay International Airport with a few small buildings, including a kindergarten [...]

Beautiful photo slideshow of Laos. I like the buffaloes in the water.

A favorite dish for those that like to eat bitter things as well as frogs. Many people would use pork instead. That is quite creative to take something from nature and turned it into a delicious meal.

Hoy collected from a stream in Pakse have been cooked in boiling water and then pulled out from the shells and seasoned with various herbs and spices. They are then put on bamboo sticks and then grilled and eaten with spicy dipping sauce. I was told this dish is a favorite for the men to [...]

Rare images of Luang Prabang from the golden time.

During fish season my relatives in Pakse tend to make steamed fish to serve at festival time. There are so many boun in the Lao calendar so you can expect to cook a great deal of food almost monthly. Steamed fish can be make in large quantity using steamer called Mor Seung. Usually steamed vegetables [...]

Soured cabbage or Som Phak Galam Pee is great with smoked pork’s ears and feet. Make sure you don’t take this to work or else it will really stink up the place. Laocook has a great recipe for those that don’t know how to make it.

There is nothing more inviting than the delicious taste of warm ping kai and bung khao larm during festival times. When I think of ping kai and bung khao larm I think of Boun That Luang.

Photo slideshow from Operation Smile. World Journey of Smiles (WJOS) in Pakse is part of the medical mission conducted by Operation Smile, a United Nations affiliated organization.

Lao National Culture Hall or Ho Watthanatham in Vientiane. I’ve never been inside this place but drove by a few times during my visit to Laos in January/February of 2007. It looks quite impressive from the outside, a modern building with a touch of Lao style.

The bridge on the Sedone river is a one way bridge with a walk way on the side. It connects the center of Pakse to the rest of the town. This is where the business district is located with Wat Louang (the oldest temple in Pakse) a few meters from the bridge. The Champassak Palace [...]

Before the year 2000, the only way to cross from Pakse to Phonthong district in Champassak province was to catch a buk or ferry. Now there is a grand Lao-Nippon Bridge, known to the local as Pakse bridge stretching over the mighty Mekong River to connect the southern region of Laos and the neighboring countries. [...]

I am a fan of great architecture and I’m very fond of temples and church buildings. When I go on vacation I would try to visit churches or temples so I can study the details of the constructions and take pictures. During my stay in Laos I tried whenever possible to visit temples in the [...]