Sao Darly
Home away from Home
It was a smooth 45 minutes flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Vientiane, Laos. They gave out forms for us to fill out during our flight but they forgot to give us the Visa Application Form. When the plane landed and we all went up to the Immigration desk, we were told one form was missing so we all had to get out of line and went to fill out the form and get inline again. The process didn’t go as smooth as the last time because there were a couple of males from Nigeria and another African country with questionable documents and were holding up the line. These two individuals didn’t have any suitcase or a carry-on for that matter and just wanted Visa for just one day. Of course this raised some questions with the Immigration officer.
After some time the men were taken aside to discuss their Visa with another officer so the line can proceed. I asked for two months Visa and it was not a problem and the nice lady at the counter told me when my stamp expired in one month I can just renew it in Laos for $60.00 or cross over to Thailand via the Friendship Bridge and it would be only $35.00.
After that it was time for me to get through custom. The gentleman at the counter checked my passport and my Visa and told me I can just walk to Ban Akat because it is such a beautiful night. Adhering to custom, I invited him for dinner. Later at the luggage claim area, the young workers there told me to just go right ahead and pick any suitcase that I want. I told them I just want my own and went straight for my bright orange suitcase. When they asked me what village I am going to and I told them Ban Akat, one of them said that it is a pity that I was not Tai Tai (southerner) and there were more remarks and being a friendly person that I am, I stood there and we carried on a conversation. These guys really thought I was Khon Lao Nai (Lao inside Lao) until the gentleman who was holding my passport and checking the Duty Declaration said to the guys that I don’t live here but abroad. We all laughed and I thank the Duty officer when he told me I am cleared to exit the airport. What a nice welcoming home experience.
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Aunt Kian and Aunt Phone decided to build a new kitchen and a bathroom. The house was built in 2001 but was not quite complete with modern bathroom and kitchen with hot running water. When you do anything in Laos, it’s mostly done in cash. With my help they were able to start the new project in July. For religious or superstitious reason, they told me that you have to do it in the even month so July is actually the 8th month in Lao calendar.
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Sidney is at a stage where she doesn’t know how to stand still. She runs around and wants to do things adults do. Here she is trying out my old sunglasses.
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On her way home from Wat Nongbone, Aunt Kian made one last stop for me. She went by my former house to take some photos for me. She didn’t know whether or not she had the right house and asked a couple of people and they still remember my mother and also the death of my sister.
The old house is gone but the new owner built a new house on the same spot. I can still see the coconut trees that my parents grew for us. We each had a coconut tree to take care of and now they are all bearing fruits. I don’t know if the owner of the house is still the same one that my parents sold the house to before we moved to stay with my grandmother in Phon Tong.
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Laos is the top destination in Asia for ecotourism. There is plenty to do at the World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang as well as Wat Phu in Champassak province. Check out the two promotional clips from the Lao National Tourism Administration. You just might want to head down to the land of a million elephants.
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Matt Lauer and team made their way to Laos for the third day of Where in the World is Matt Lauer 2008. Here are a few clips from the Today show featuring the natural beauty of Laos, food and music, and culture. If you have never been to Laos, then this is a good time to make your plan before the country becomes too crowded with tourists. Laos is the number one destination for travel this year!
Laos on Today Show 1
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On January 29, 2008 my aunt Kian went to Wat That Luang to take some photos for me. During my visit to Laos last year I didn’t get a chance to visit the place during the day time because my parents didn’t want to go there and didn’t make time for us to be in the area either. I had to beg for my aunt to make a stop at Wat That Luang on our way back from Tha Ngon in the early evening. Wat That Luang is very special to me because I grew up in the area and my former house was a few minutes walk down the street from the 4-ways intersection. My elementary school was right across from Wat That Luang as well.
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On January 28th of last month, my relatives in Vientiane got up extra early for a special Morning Alms Giving. On that day Buddhist Monks from the nearby temples would travel beyond the usual routes. There would be around 40 Buddhist Monks that would make a procession pass a short and tiny street where Aunt Kian’s house is located. Aunt Kian is very religious if I compare her to other relatives for the fact that she takes part in the rituals of Morning Alms Giving daily and often attend religious events at her local temple. Some other relatives that I visited in Laos would not even take part in the Morning Alms Giving, not even once a week or once every two weeks.
Even though I am not a Buddhist anymore Aunt Kian always tell me that she tum boun and thuk badt for me as well because of the money I sent on a regular basis, which she used part of it for merit making. She told me that if we tum boun together and the next life we would see each other again. I told her that I don’t mind at all to see her and the other relatives again in the next life if there is such a thing.
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A few weeks ago my relatives in Vientiane were invited for a visit at a papaya garden at K50 or Lak 50. It was a day full of fun for the kids and adults. My cousins were having fun feeding and playing with the animals. They got to ride on the the wagon and helping with collecting papayas. All the relatives that went for the visit all got enough papayas and bananas home and for the next two weeks they were eating green papaya salad and riped papaya.
This green papaya salad became part of a lunch that day.
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