Photo credit: all photos by Cindy Fan The Lao Elephant Festival takes places every February in Sayabouly (also spelled Xayaboury, Sainyabuli, Sayaboury) in northern Laos. The festival celebrates the important historical, cultural and symbolic significance of Asian elephants in Laos. Over 40 elephants and their mahouts make the journey from throughout the province and beyond to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: CULTURE
LIVING AS A MAHOUT ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE, LUANG PRABANG
KHAO SAN ROAD, BANGKOK, THAILAND
KHAO PIAK SIEN: THE NOODLE SOUP OF LAOS
At first glance, Khao piak sien, a rice noodle soup with meat, may not look like much. But what’s simple is good and khao piak is deserving of its title as one of the signature noodle dishes of Laos, parts of Vietnam and northeast Thailand. The noodle is a fresh rice noodle, tubular (versus a flat noodle… Read more »
INSIDER’S GUIDE: SIX THINGS TO DO IN VIENTIANE
Travellers in Laos often spend little time in Vientiane, sometimes bypassing the capital city completely. True, Vientiane lacks the tourist-centric charms of Luang Prabang–but in a way, this is the city’s draw. The city is for living and to fully appreciate it, free-spirited exploration is required—if you do, you’ll be rewarded with incredible surprises. Here’s… Read more »
THE TADLO.NET PROJECT: CONNECTING LAO YOUTH TO COMPUTERS
Internet connectivity is recognized as a world development indicator and is closely related to a country’s economic development and infrastructure. This is why projects like the Tadlo Computer Education Center (TCEC) are so vital to Laos, a developing nation. Laos lags behind in global rankings of Internet connectivity. According to latest World Bank data on… Read more »
RICE GROWING SEASON, LAOS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM, PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
With the UN-backed trial of three senior surviving Khmer Rouge leaders finally underway in Phnom Penh, the world is reminded of Cambodia’s sad history. Wounds have reopened, cries for justice ring out 33 years after one of the 20th century’s worst crimes against humanity. From 1975-78, an estimated two million people died from starvation, disease,… Read more »
HOMESTAYS: EXPERIENCING THE REAL LAOS
The children huddle together in awe of the giant 6’3” figure looming over them. The giant spreads his arms, threatening to devour them in one swoop. The kids are giddy, their excitement palpable; they know what’s coming next. “My…name…IS….BAZZA!” the giant roars. The kids squeal with glee and eagerly wait for the giant to do it… Read more »
LAO COFFEE TOUR: THE BOLAVEN PLATEAU
“Mr. Coffee” earned his nickname as a child when he first fell in love with the stuff. He can be described as many things: enthusiastic, passionate, a coffee lover, aficionado and connoisseur. One thing’s for sure: he loves and lives coffee. Mr. Coffee runs tours and tastings at his micro plantation on the Bolaven Plateau,… Read more »
