Sao Darly

There is a believer inside of us. Being optimistic about life is better than being bitter and resentful about things that are out of our control. I like to think that I am a believer to certain degrees. This song is a good reminder for me to be more positive toward life.

Here is a clip from “Be Cool” movie with a short part of the song by Christina Milian.

Christina Milian – Believer

Life is what you make it
At least that’s what they say
Well I think I’m gonna make it
Fulfill my dreams one day
I feel this fire growin’ deep inside of me
I’m so inspired knowin’ that it’s my destiny

I breathe like a champion
I dream I’m a champion
I see I’m a champion
It’s meant to be
My wills gettin’ stronger
I can’t wait any longer
I’m singin’ a song that’s inside of me

‘Cause I’m a believer
I know that I can make it
No matter what they say
So I’m a believer
The future is now
It starts today

Read the rest of this entry »

After a long day and a successful search for the fishing nets, we went back home for a nice shower and a quick change of clothes. My parents were going to the garden in Tha Ngon with my aunt for a nice meal. My cousin, Bee selected one of his best hen for chicken laap and soup. I was waiting for my friend, Fong to pick me up for dinner so I didn’t go with my parents.

Of course my parents told me to be home early, as in be home by the time my parents are back from dinner. My aunt would drop them off and then go back to the garden. She has to get up early and help count the fishes for the customer and my parents didn’t want to sleep on the farm and want comforts of a home with AC.

While I was waiting for Fong to pick me up I asked my cousin to take me to an internet cafe. We were surfing online when Fong called me. He felt bad for calling me so late because he went to work out after work. Fong asked where I was and came by to pick me up for dinner. He ordered sien dart and a big bottle of Beer Lao. Fong asked me if I have ever tasted Beer Lao and I told him no. So, I had a few sips of this famous beer, without ice. It is strange for me to see people drinking beer with ice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Now and then I listen to romantic music. I am not into only angry music as you know who would like to suggest.

After our shopping at the Morning Market, we had to drive all over Vientiane looking for fishing net. My aunt got a call from my cousin Bee who said he lost the bigger fishing nets. The workers at the fish farm accidentally drop the fishing nets in the river. A man is coming the next morning (4:00 AM) to pick up a batch of fishes and they need the bigger fish net to catch the fishes at the fish farm.

My aunt decided to go to That Luang (Tad Luang) market first. I was so excited to be on the road leading to That Luang Stupa. It was the street of my former home. On our way there we drove by my Great-Uncle’s former house which is a few minutes of walking distance from our old house. The new owner was building a new house but I got a glimpse of the area. The old lady’s house across the street is old and worn down. I didn’t see any flowers anymore. We were in such a hurry that I didn’t even get a chance to see our old house. We just drove past the alley and I tried to look out the window so I can see the palm trees from the distance.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been thinking about my Grandmother lately. When I was little I was taught the proper names of my grandparents. I had to remember “pou, yar, tha, yaai”. Pou is the father of my father. Yar is the mother of my father. As for my mother’s parents we were used to calling them por tou (Grandfather) and mair tou (Grandmother).

This song makes me cry because I miss my Grandmother so much. I never had a chance to see her before she passed away a fews year ago. It was my goal to visit her upon my graduation. Now I can only look at her pictures and think about the past. At least now and then she would be in my dream and I get to talk to her. Sometimes she would take me to see where she lives in the after life and also to see her mother (my Great Grandmother). I have strange dreams but I think it is a way for my brain to cope with the death of my Grandmother.

After a short walk around Nam Phu area I was picked up by my aunt for some shopping at the Morning Market.

Read the rest of this entry »

After my visit to the National Library of Laos, I decided to walk around Nam Phu area and went to Joma Bakery Cafe for a nice glass of Lao ice coffee. Then it was more walking to kill sometime until my aunt came by to pick me up for some shopping at the Talat Sao or Morning Market.

At the four ways intersection, you can catch a Tuk Tuk easily.

The Vientiane Times Newspaper office and also other Lao Newspaper headquarters.

Read the rest of this entry »

Episode 6 of Sai Nam Sam Chee Wit (สายน้ำสามชีวิต) Thai soap opera.

Part 1

Part 2

Read the rest of this entry »

I arrived at the National Library of Laos around noon. It was lunch time and the library was closed. I asked a worker there when it will be open again and she told me in an hour or so. I called Aunt Kian and asked her to pick me up. I ate lunch at her house and tried on some clothes that she was making for me. Then I headed back to do what I was supposed to do, have LP book boxes make and ready for delivery to 4 lucky schools in Laos.

The library is not in a good shape but there is no budget for maintenance. Half of the Book Mobile vans are broken and with no money to fix them. The National Library of Laos depends on donors to keep their literary projects going. Program such as Book Box Library or Book Mobile Reading program are very important to kids in Laos. Without such programs, they would have have access to reading materials.

Read the rest of this entry »

While my parents made a quick stop to visit some friends near Hospital 103, I made a phone call to Fong and told him that I was in town. Before I went to Laos I made a promise to his wife that I will call him and have a visit with him. I met Fong and his wife, Phin at the First International Conference on Lao Studies. After the conference we spent a couple of days in Chicago together and have been friends since. Fong said we should have dinner together and I agreed.

This area used to have a market where my aunt took me to buy Dhom Khem when I was like in the first grade. I can’t even recall what the place used to look like now. This is what is left of the old market. Urbanization is changing the face of Vientiane.

Read the rest of this entry »