Lao Voices

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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 [...]

A very nice set of photo slideshow of Pakse City. I just love the two kids taking a bath in the Mekong River. You can see the Lao-Nippon Bridge or Pakse Bridge in the background.

It’s time to hit the water, all fun and business folks.
Part I

Part II

Part III

The sights and sounds of Boat Racing Festival in Pakse 2007. From watching the clips I want to get up and dance. How do you know that I am not dancing at the moment? I do miss Laos and all the festivals a kid in me can enjoy.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

More clips to come.

For the first time in the history of the ruling government since 1975 there was a parade with candle light procession to Wat Loung, with representatives (students, teachers, and elders) from all the villages in Pakse district. Many tourists (farangs) asked to join in the parade and were dancing to sound of khene. Including in [...]

The Boat Racing Festival in Pakse this year was bigger and better than the Vientiane Boat Racing Festival. Viewers on Lao Television all agreed about how grand and spectacular the grand finale at Pakse was compared to the event in Vientiane. Even though both cities had the same set up with vendors, selling food [...]

Imagine you managed to save half of your crop from the flood and just when you think the worse is over, then you are hit with unexpected rainfall at a time that is supposed to be a dry season, with no rain. The storm in Vietnam the last few weeks brought more rain, showering the [...]

My relatives in Pakse and Vientiane were busy making khao thom for Boun Ok Phansa the day before the Morning Alms Giving. This is the end of the Buddhist Lent and the faithful villagers will gather for the food offering at their local temple. After the spiritual event then it’s time to get down and [...]

This little play area in Pakse city is located near a busy intersection (on the right side) and opposite of Wat Louang.

When I went to visit Wat Louang in Pakse the second time, I found out they were building a new Champasak Sangha College right behind the current building. If you are every in the area, please visit Wat Louang and see if you can help with the project or just to check out the beautiful [...]

Sala Kham was built a little over a year ago. It has a great view of the river and a favorite spot for the locals to hang out and watch the sunset. The finish line for this year’s Boun Suang Huer or Boat Racing Festival was in front of Sala Kham.
I only went by the [...]

The small Chinese community has made a home for themselves from day one in Pakse. San Jao Sop Se is a place for worship and relaxation for the Sino-Lao and the Lao. With a new wave of investors coming from China, many businesses have signs posted in both Lao and Chinese characters. It will be [...]

During my visit to Laos in January and February of this year, I saw a big construction site across the street from Dao Heuang Market in Pakse. I was not able to figure out what they were building and forgot to ask one of my relatives. I asked my cousin about the construction last month [...]

For the villagers at Ban Phonsikhay, the high light of Boun Hor Khao Padapdin is the Lai Fai Din ceremony. A Tai Viengchanh like me have never heard of such thing. My cousin Mo explained to me how Tai Pakse have held Lai Fai ceremony for many generations. For those temples that are located next [...]