Sao Lao

Today is Queen’s Day Celebration, an official national holiday. I spent the afternoon walking and watching people enjoying a day off on Monday. There was music everywhere and people were having a flea market on their street blocks. It was like a big garage sale all over the country.

I want one of these for my next trip to Laos. I can really have some fun.

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The last three parts of episode two from Pleng Ruk Rim Fang Khong or เพลงรักริมฝั่งโขง Thai soap.

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Clash is a very popular Thai band in Laos. It was not a surprise for me to hear their latest CD while driving around with my male cousins. They were surprised to know that I like the same band as they do since their wives and girlfriends don’t care much for their taste in music. I have one cousin who even named his son “Bank” as the lead singer of the band “Bank”.

Biking in the city can be fun, especially on a route where I run into beautiful trees at a local park. I have never paid much attention to these trees before until now. I took the time to examine the simple beauty in life mother nature has given us. I got a nasty headache afterward but it’s worth the price.

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The story of my adventure in Laos is not quite finished. A few days before we left Pakse, we went to the Bolavan Plateau. It was a nice long drive and we encountered a pig with her four babies along the way. They were looking for food at the three ways intersection and picking up scraps by the fruit stand. My cousins and I were worried about the pigs and didn’t want them to get hit by a car or a bus. We couldn’t stop talking about them even when we got to Paksong Market.

Soon there will be Paksong Vegas Entertainment Hotel and Casino in the area.

Curvy and steep road we had to climb.

Many homes are growing Bai Phu next to Lao coffee.

The land is good for growing just about anything, even corn.

A billboard, welcoming visitors to the town of Paksong.

Entrance of Paksong Market.

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As requested, here is the first and second part of episode two from Pleng Ruk Rim Fang Khong or เพลงรักริมฝั่งโขง Thai soap. To see the previous clips, please see Entertainment category.

I’m very happy to know of Saolao Magazine, which will be launched later this year in Laos. I’m going to have to get my hands on the first publication. See the news articles for complete details.

Women’s issues the focus of new magazine

In Lao culture, women are always described as the ‘rear legs of an elephant’, unequal to the men who ‘hold up the animal’s front’, but this metaphor is set to crumble thanks to an upcoming new publication.

The Deputy Head of the Information Department of the Lao Women’s Union , Mr Saysamone Bouthdavong, said yesterday that his organisation was preparing to launch a women’s magazine, which would aim to promote gender equality in accordance with the policy of the Party and government.

The magazine, entitled Saolao (Lao Girl), will be introduced in Vientiane in July, he said, and would be published in both Lao and English.

“We have submitted our proposal to the President of the Lao Women’s Union to allow us to publish the magazine, and she is currently considering it. At this stage, we don’t anticipate any problems with getting a publication permit,” he said.

Mr Saysamone, who is also the magazine’s editor, said its content would not only inform readers of the government’s policy on gender, but also reflect the true nature of the policy’s implementation, and highlight areas where it is not being enforced.

“There will be several critical articles on the implementation of the government’s policy on gender equality,” he said.

He said the magazine would also cover many issues relating to women and the family institution, with the intention of promoting Lao culture while condemning violence.

However, Mr Saysamone maintained that the magazine would not be a completely serious publication, as it would contain profiles of outstanding women, information on weaving, shopping, the charms of the traditional Lao girl, how to raise children, new stars, sports, and travel.

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The last part of episode 1 from Pleng Ruk Rim Fang Khong, “เพลงรักริมฝั่งโขง” Thai drama. More will be uploaded soon. Happy Friday.

It’s spring time and I time to get on my bike and go places. I normally don’t use my bike for daily routines and prefer to walk to the grocery store or to the train station to catch a train for school. The reason? I am afraid of hitting cars on the sides of the road. I rather walk and only use my bike during the weekend when the weather is nice. This particular Sunday evening the weather was warm enough for a ride along the harbor. The goal was to get to the movable dam gate in the waterweg at Hoek van Holland (Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier). I have to admit that I almost gave up near the end of the route but Johan kept telling me not to quit.

Final Destination is that white thing way down there.

I made it half way. Looking back.

Electric windmills for harvesting energy.

A boat passes through the harbor.

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For fans of Alexandra Bounxouei, be sure to check out her fan site http://alexandra.bounxouei.com for the latest updates and information about her. You can listen to her music and watch some of her music videos and clips from Pleng Ruk Rim Fang Khong, “เพลงรักริมฝั่งโขง” Thai drama, currently playing on Thai TV channel 7.