Yellow Balloons

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

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.

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.

Mother and Baby

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

A big elephant

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

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!

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!

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.

The Rice Harvest 3

While the adults are in the field harvesting rice, the children are playing nearby.

Rice Harvest 2

There is person under the hat, in amongst the rice.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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 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.

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.

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.