Thursday 30 November 2017

Yellow Balloons

Yellow balloons - targets for darts- all part of a night out in Vientiane.

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Textile Art


The textile arts of Kiyoko Maki, a 70 year old Japanese weaver who has worked in Laos for many years were exhibited at i:cat gallery for the past month. Her work was divine, and creative, with three themes sky, cloud , wind. Some glorious wall hangings, scarfs, and items of clothing and an installation of objects and rugs made from denim jeans ripped up and then woven to form cloth.

Sunday 26 November 2017

Doi Suthep

The weekend in Chiang Mai was not just about visiting the elephants, I also revisited some of my favourite temples including Doi Suthep, where I admired this unusual and slightly creepy looking Buddha statue.

Saturday 25 November 2017

Mother and Baby

A very small elephant, 4 months old with its mother. I do love these elephants.

Friday 24 November 2017

A big elephant

 As well as the  babies, there were big elephants at the waterfall near Chiang Mai last weekend.

Thursday 23 November 2017

Babies Playing

There were several baby elephants in the group at the waterfall.  These two were having a great time playing with one another.  How adorable!

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Visiting Old Friends


I went to Chiang Mai over the weekend as we had Friday off.  Saturday afternoon I hired a scooter and drove up the hill to APIS and the nearby waterfall to visit my friends the elephants.  I am sure this one remembered me!

Monday 20 November 2017

The Rice Harvest 4


The broad Luang Namtha Valley is covered with rice.  The huts in the fields were intriguing and add character to the fields.

Sunday 19 November 2017

Friday 17 November 2017

The Rice Harvest


When I was in the north of Laos, Luang Namtha, for SALSA at the end of October it was rice harvest season. 

Thursday 16 November 2017

Two Communists

The President of China, Xi Jinping has been visiting Vientiane for two days.  The weekend was a flurry of cleaning and tidying and putting up posters like these on the road to the airport.

Tuesday 14 November 2017

A VIS Leaf

As part of One World Day the entire school from EY (ie 3 y.o. kindergarten to Grade 12 and faculty) formed a leaf and stem as a symbol of peace and growth.  It looks great.O

Monday 13 November 2017

Sunday Bike Ride through the farms and bamboo

A lovely, but challenging bike ride on narrow, bumpy, dirt tracks through small farms, bamboo and cleared ground. At one stage we had to stop and walk through piles of bushes and branches piled on the track, as nearby diggers were clearing the land.

Sunday 12 November 2017

MRISA volleyball

The MRISA (Mekong River International School Association) Senior Volleyball tournament was held at VIS Friday and Saturday.  It was a logistical challenge hosting students and staff from 8 schools, but it has been a great community event.  The girls team, VIS Dragons, was in the semi final play off this afternoon.  After a competitive game they lost to ISCHMC Rhinos (International School of Ho Chi Minh City).

Leila, No 7 was the go to server and Zazie, No 10 was a great at the net and Noni on the right was a spiker.  A great team of lovely girls.

Saturday 11 November 2017

One World Day - The Sister School


Students from our "sister school", a near by local Laos school, performed a dance during the One World Day opening ceremony. They were truly adorable.

Friday 10 November 2017

International Diversity


More photos from World Day. Love these kids - so adorable - to use an expression popular with the Americans on staff.  These are a few of my favorites!

Norbu from Bhutan, with a lapel button showing a picture of the King of Bhutan, Alima smiling in her bright African top, Torah in her elegant Laos sinh and Raphael with his French Cravat.

Thursday 9 November 2017

International Blokes

Today was One World Day,  where staff and students are encouraged to wear national dress.
Arno the Science co-ordinator had his clog slippers; it's obvious Alistair the DP co-ordinator is from the U.K.; David lived in South Africa for a while; And I think it is also obvious where Pierre and Jamie are from. Great outfits guys!

Wednesday 8 November 2017

Boiled Chicken

That Luang festival was last week.  When I visited That Luang on Friday morning I was surprised by the number of boiled chickens for sale.  Rather scrawny and well boiled at 7 am in the morning. Not sure I would be wanting to eat one.  However it is tradition to eat chicken after visiting That Luang in the morning.

Tuesday 7 November 2017

Tuesday Temple Scenes

Detail from a wall surrounding a temple, Wat Nong Sikhounmuang, in Luang Prabang. The small animal looks like a dog, but I think it is meant to be a lion.

Monday 6 November 2017

Monday Monks and Lanterns

Monks sharing a candle to light lanterns at one of the many temples in Luang Prabang during the Buon Awk Phansa lantern festival.

Saturday 4 November 2017

Same Same but Different

Traditional Laos style women's blouses.  You can have any colour you like - within a limited range - but the style is the same, long sleeves, covered buttons at the front and a simple decolletage.

Friday 3 November 2017

Festival at Wat Simeuang


Tonight I visited Wat Simueng for part of the festival of That Luang (Buon That Luang). Color, movement, noise, vibrant culture and friendly people.  I have been each year and it is always an amazing event.

Worshipers offer Phasat Pheung (wax castles) of banana trunks and decorated with yellow flowers made of wax  with candles, incense and money. The Phasat, are  commissioned by families or villages in and  around Vientiane. Of varying sizes, from small bouquets to huge multi-layered structures, they are carried three times around the Sin and then offered to the  monks inside the temple.