Archive for July, 2007
Morning Drive part 3
Author: DJA continuation of a morning drive in Vientiane. My father wanted to go have Lao Coffee at Darn Thadeu. He said that is where he can find the best coffee in Vientiane and used to go there on a regular basis. As we were driving on Thadeu Road, my aunt told me that her husband’s brother won a contract for building the road all the way to where Friendship Bridge International is located at.
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Morning Drive part 2
Author: DJOn our way out to the main road, I asked my aunt to make a stop at Wat Pakhouei Samakheetham Xaysathane or Wat Chinaimo for short. My aunt parked at the entrance and I walked fast around the temple ground and took as many pictures as I can.
Morning Drive part 1
Author: DJIt was Monday, a rest day for my parents. I asked my aunt if she could take me to the National Library of Laos so I can arrange for LP Book Box Library to be constructed. Of course my mother wanted to do some shopping so I asked my aunt to just drop me off at the library and when I am finished I will give her a call to pick me up. My aunt wanted to show us around a bit of places that are related to our family history and to go pay taxes on her land and houses in various towns.
Morning rush hour.
We first went to Chinaimo area and checked out one of my aunt’s houses. This house is located along the Mekong River and it is being rented by a foreign national. We were going to stay there but it was rented out before our arrival in Vientiane.
The house was built in 2004 and was renting out for $2,300 per month during the time of ASEAN conference. At the moment the house is rented for $1,700 per month with an annual contract by a foreign national, who is working in Laos for an NGO. I asked my aunt how much she wanted to sell the house for and she said a little over $200, 000 or in her words song sane guar. I love the house but I don’t have that kind of dough.
Shopping at Lao-ITECC
Author: DJWe didn’t stay too long at Patouxay Monument because we were called home for dinner. After dinner, my aunt took my parents and I to do some shopping at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Center (Lao-ITECC). It was Sunday and the last day of some sort of trade convention.
My mother was busy looking for clothes to take back as gifts for family members and friends. When my aunt told my mother about the owner of the clothing store was a daughter of my mother’s friend, it made her spend more money. I wouldn’t mind wearing some of the above dresses.
Patouxay Monument Revisited
Author: DJAfter taking some pictures of Wat That Luang, we went to see the Patouxay Monument. I was fortunate to have seen the water display a few weeks before. Of course I could never get enough of the sights and sounds of Vientiane.
Sai Nam Sam Chee Wit Episode 5, part 3-5
Author: DJThe last three clips from episode 5 of Sai Nam Sam Chee Wit (สายน้ำสามชีวิต) Thai soap opera.
That Luang Stupa at night
Author: DJOn our way back from the garden and fish farm in Tha Ngon, we made a quick stop at Wat That Luang for some photos. I was happy to walk around my former play ground. It was a pity that we went there after the sunset.
I wanted so much to go inside the temple and to see if anything has changed from the last time I was there. I have so many fond memories of the area, especially of Wat That Luang and Wat Nong Bohn.
The next time I go to Laos, I will have to pay a visit to both temples, during the day time. I don’t like the fact that I didn’t get a chance to visit my sister’s remains (ashes) at Wat Nong Bohn. I don’t know what is wrong with my parents sometimes since they didn’t make the time to pay respect to my sister. Perhaps my mother didn’t want to think about the past.
Sai Nam Sam Chee Wit Episode 5, part 1-2
Author: DJA visit to a garden in Tha Ngon
Author: DJAfter we flew back from Pakse and came back to my aunt’s house, my father wanted to visit his old friend. There was no one at home except for my great aunt. My father’s friend sent his son to pick us up but got lost along the way. It was a good thing that the other aunt was at home. She lives within two minutes of walking distance. She offered to take us to see my father’s friend and later to visit the family’s garden in Tha Ngon.
When we were crossing Tha Ngon Bridge, I wanted to try out the famous Sao Noi Disco. Of course, my father said no. That is how it is when you are traveling with your parents, they can still boss you around, no matter how old you are.
My relatives like to buy land for investment. They either build a house for people to rent or turn it into a garden, planting ketsana trees and edible crops. This particular plot of land is along Tha Ngon River, which is not too far from Tha Ngon Bridge. Since my great aunt is retiring in Laos, she decided to invest in fish farm with her daughter. My cousin Bee is the one taking care of the garden and the fish farm.
Alexandra Bounxouei at Future Park
Author: DJAlexandra Bounxouei and Weir Sukollawat were at Future Park in Bangkok, Thailand for their Pleng Ruk Rim Fang Khong promotional tour. Here is a video clip of their performance of Bor Hou Pheng Yan or I don’t know why song.
