Farewell for now from Laos

Hope to see you all while I am home.  Love from Laos.   Good fortune to all with this Malai. 

This photo shows the blessing garland - Malai - given to parents by graduates as part of the Grade 12 Graduation ceremony in May.  This is sitting on Bryndis lap on her lovely embroidered Sinh.  Bryndis has been the business manager at VIS for 9 years and her son Kristjan graduated this year.  He is hoping to go to the Netherlands to study 'Psychology and Bryndis is leaving  VIS to go home to Iceland.

Sri Lanka Lady Selling Vegetables by the Road

Bar Modi

Farewell drinks last week at Bar Lodi on the Mekong in  Vientiane.  The bar is on top of container and overlooks the river and serves Laos rum.  I like the view to the back to this derelict building - a relic of the communist building spree in the 70s maybe or maybe from the French earlier in the century.  Either way I like the colour, the graffitti and the concrete cancer.

A long line

On Friday traffic was stopped along "Avocado Street" in Vientiane for this funeral parade.  Monks lead the parade with those in front holding a photo of the deceased man.  Women followed, all connected to a piece of rope, and then a small truck holding a large casket.

Science Summer Camp

This week I have been running "Art in Science" Summer Camp at school, for 12 elementary students.  Its been fun working with the "little people".  These two are my favourites - Nobu and Hiro- twins from Japan in Grade 2. They love making origami and showed me the blue balloon and the paper pig they made for me.  So cute!!!

Sri Lankan Roadside Vegetable Market Seller

Pouring Water

Like me, this nun has a daily chore of pouring water from a 20L container into smaller vessels.

Reclining Buddha

The reclining Buddha pose is the one I think I prefer the most - maybe because it is so relaxing!

Saturday Signs - Champa Love

Love for Champa land - surrounded by frangipanis - very Laos!

Friday Storm Clouds

Storm clouds have been in the sky most afternoons this week.  Often followed by thunder and heavy rain.

Yellow Marigolds

Yellow Marigolds as offerings to Buddha at Temple Wat Tham Pha on Sunday.

Sri Lankan Roadside Green Vegetables

 Healthy looking Sri Lankan greens!!

Buddha in the Heat

This white Buddha in a shady location  looks quite cool.  About to head off on a stroll. I wasn't!  I took refuge from the heat on my bike ride yesterday, by stopping in the shade at temple complex (Wat Tha Pha) on the Mekong about 30 km upstream from Vientiane.  Even with an early start it was a hot ride. One of those days where its 34/35 at 8.00 am but feels like 40 +.

Saturday Signs - Gender Specific

No explanation needed.

Recycling Laos Style

This lady cycles around town collecting aluminium cans from rubbish bags to sell to a recycling business.

Jackson Pollock at VIS

Jackson Pollock inspired the EY (Early Years) students to paint a long mural on the wall near their classroms.  Emma (Alima in Grade 11s sister) was happy to show me her work.

Impressive that these little people know who Jackson Pollock is and his style of painting.