Watching the Rockets

This young boy was engrossed watching and waiting for the rocket to launch.

Headless Shirts

Pii Mai - Laos New Year is approaching  and the shops and street vendors are displaying their newest Pii Mai shirts - inspired by Hawaiian shirts. Why are all the mannequins headless?

The rocket is on the way

 The rockets were paraded along the main street with inebriated revellers.  This was one of our favourites with the Beer Laos bottle on the roof of the ute.  The rocket was long and shaped like a naga .

Rocket Preparation and Beer Laos

The process of making the rockets was complex and involved packing the prepared PVC rockets with gunpowder.  Traditionally they were made from bamboo, but today more modern materials are used. The tradition of firing rockets into the air is a ceremony believed to bring the rains so that rice planting can begin.  Beer Laos is the traditional accompaniment for the festival!

Gun powder and beer laos

A relaxing weekend away at "The Laos Lake House"  turned into an opportunity to join in local festivities.  Boun Bang Fai is the rocket festival.

Yesterday preparations were being made for the rocket festival. The village was a hive of activity and maybe just a little bit of mayhem. The front garden of every house was filled with a karaoke machine and partiers steadily drinking Beer Lao, occasionally punctuated by a toast of (Lao Lao) rice whiskey.

This afternoon with a party atmosphere, the rockets were launched from this wood and bamboo scaffold. 

Victoria and her Monks

Victoria Jones, the art teacher at VIS has an exhibition of her work, together with her colleague Jamie Lowe, at iCat gallery for the next month.  It has been a joy visiting Victoria in the art room as she teaches, creates and inspires the students. Her series of drawings of monks capture their spirituality and the spirit of Laos.

Beer Lao at Sunset

The Friday night local - Naga views - well that's what I call it.  Essentially a shack over hanging the banks of the Mekong, it is a great place for a Beer Lao at the end of the working week as the sun sets over Thailand.