Hunger remains a major problem in Laos
One-third of children in the country have limited access to food, World Food Program says. In a file photo, students eating lunch at a school in a remote area of Oudomxay province in northern Laos. Citizen Journalist Despite economic growth, one-third of Lao children and about 20 percent of the country’s population as a whole continue […]
From Cambodia to Laos: A Journey of Inspiration and Purpose
Over a decade ago, a transformative trip to Cambodia ignited a flame within me, setting me on an unexpected path of discovery. It was a journey that forever altered my perspective and led me to the enchanting country of Laos. here I reflect on the profound impact of my travels, the loss of a dear […]
Education, Featured, Food, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, School, Travel, UXO, Volunteering
Boun Hor Khaopadapdin, The festival That Feeds The Spirits
Boun Hor Khaopadapdin is an annual festival during which the people of Laos “feed” spirits with home-made parcels of food, reflecting their love, respect and gratitude for their deceased ancestors and guardians.
Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Temple
Hardship in Laos: Can you help someone?
It’s the time of year when Novice Monks finish school and many leave the temple to become laymen. School exams have finished and many novices decide to leave the temple around this time. They are often ill-prepared with little to no education about living life as a layman and no financial support. Many of these […]
Culture, Donation, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Volunteering
Helping the hungry In Luang Prabang
A Solidarity Canteen has been setup be people living in Luang Prabang to provide food assistance to people living in Luang Prabang who are finding it difficult to eat =as many have lost their incomes due to COVID-19. Every day, this nonprofit serves lunch for everyone from 11 to 1PM at the Institut Français du […]
Secret train streets in Hanoi?
Visit Dec 2018 Hanoi, a city of many past names, was originally known as Long Biên ( “dragon edge”) during the CHinese ccupation. Long Biên Bridge, built during French colonial time just happened to be the highlight of my recent revisit to Hanoi. I’ve long had a love affair with Vietnam. It is the incredible […]
Luang Prabang Bamboo Bridge
Each year at the end of the rainy season the local village builds a Bamboo Bridge across the Nam Khan river. It is narrow and very sturdy. It washes away when the high waters come again in rainy season. For 5,000 kip you can cross from the peninsula side to Ban Phuang Luang (or vice […]
Bamboo bridge, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Nam Khan, School, Travel
Sunday morning roadworks
One of my favourite sights in Luang Prabang … roadworks!!! It is not a sight seen often but a very welcome one. It seems the roads, including main roads and main tourist streets, were only repaired 6 months ago and already large potholes had reappeared causing traffic to grind to a halt. So imagine my […]
Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Travel, Video
Making merit at Buddhist temple
Buddhism is practiced by most Laotians. Life in Laos beats to a rhythm set by religion. Alms are given every morning at 5 am in the hot season and about 6.30 when colder. Sticky rice is washed and soaked the evening before and cooked early the next morning. Sometimes it’s mixed with banana and wrapped […]
Cats and dogs left over after rain
Well the rainy season in Laos has ended and it was a bad season. There is a lot of damage to roads and of course, there was the Dam collapse in Attapeu on 23 July. It’s not raining cats and dogs anymore but there are a lot of cats and dogs in Laos. They can […]
Dam, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang
Fishing on the border
Bokèo is a northern province of Laos. It is the smallest and least populous province in Laos. For most people they enter Bokeo when crossing via land from Thailand. I love going from Luang prabang up the Mekong River to Huay Xai, in Bokeo Province and into Thailand, it is a magic few days. I […]
Beware the voluntourists intent on doing good
The term voluntourism refers to the growing phenomenon of individuals travelling to developing countries to carry out volunteer work. They go for a week or two for a “project” — a temporary medical clinic, an orphanage visit or a school construction. Many go to teach English during high school, college vacations or during an OE/gap year. […]
Development, Food, Laos, Poverty, School, Video, Volunteering
What is the most delicious noodle soup in Laos?
One of my greatest pleasures in Laos is eating some of the local soups. Kao soi is a must try. It’s available almost everywhere and a few street places are my favourite. Kao soi is a soup made with wide rice noodles, coarsely chopped pork, tomatoes, fermented soy beans, chillies, shallots, and garlic, then topped […]
Where else can you dine like this?
When I get time off, what better way to spend an afternoon than chilling out in a river hut? Just outside Luang Prabang, 30 mins up the Mekong river are a number of huts where you can relax and eat great Lao food and cool drinks. It does feel like a bit of a special treat to […]
Nightlife in Laos – Eating at a Beer bar
So what do local restaurants in Luang Prabang look like? Here is your intro to a local “Beer bar”. I enjoy the odd night out to a local restaurant to enjoy a meal and sometimes a few beers. The food is usually excellent and one of my favourites – sweet and sour whole fish (usually […]
First day’s food in Vientiane
I do like the food in Laos. It tends to be super spicy but not always. I caught up with some friends in their village in Vientiane, not far from Patuxai (the Gate of Triumph). We walked 3 minutes across the road to the street vendor to buy some lunch. I love these eggs which have been emptied and […]