One of the many monks who requested an impromtu conversation class after asking what I did in Japan. It happened again and again every day, and was a lot of fun for me.
Washing
The Royal Ballet after performing a section from a Laos Epic Poem.
Hmong Hill Tribe Night Market
Royal Palace Temple in the Moonlight. I'm still trying to figure out how to take shots of the moon that show the seas.
Two more of my “students” standing proudly in front of the “Peacock / Chicken” (They couldn't decide) they had built for the end of Buddhist lent. They were both 13 and spoke exceptionally well.
Spirits collecting Alms.
At the morning food market.
Swallows and other delicacies. I had a swallow later in Phonsavan by the Plain of Jars. They taste like Liver in case you were wondering. I hate liver.
Someform of rodent, I think.
Coming to get you
Lao Coffee, beautifully brewed in a sock
Carrying rice tothe stock exchange
Temple Doors
With a paddle, and completely pissed
The Boatman
Luang Prabang at Sun set.
The tourists queued to take a photo of the sunset form one particular place at the top of Phousi Hill, and then promptly truned around to ignore it.
Over the Mekong, on the way up Phousi Hill
Evening Prayers
Wat Xieng Thong
Learning the Sutras at night
Judging Petang
Do you smoke?
Some more impromptu students
Silk worms at work, munching away
Naturally dyed silk frying out
boiling the worm coccoons to gather the silk
Working on the Loom
Fishing
Crossing the border into Laos, we get cut off by the boat racers
First day on the Slow boat from Huay Xai to Pak Beng. We were the ones up front making all the noise...
She is, really, she is.
L:ooking out on the Mekong in Pak beng, our stop off for the night
Day 2, Sow boat from Pak beng to Luang Prabang. Significantly smaler and less fun...
Schools out, and with the umbrellas
SPF Factor 50
Fishing in the Nan Khong, the Mekong tribuary that flows on one side of Luang Prabang
Hard at work, studying art.
Random garden wear
Wat Keeper
Local school children explain the upcoming Festival, part 1
Part 2
Boat Racing Festival, part 1
part 2
Just like on the N4 from Dublin to Sligo, ”This project was 85% funded by the European Union Regional Structural Fund“
Carving Enlightenment
Learnign the skills to maintian the Wats (Temples)
Gicing back
SPF 100
Medicine man. He had a herb for every occasion and illness.
The “Old” Bridge to the airport. Thing is,there is no New bridge.
Crossing the bridge
The Market across the river had a far greater variety of foodstuffs. How many do you recognise?
Riding down the Nan Khong
Kuang Si Waterfall, South of Luang Prabang, and a greta palce to swim
Main Highway into Luang prabang
Novices at work
Mixing cement with their minds
I walk the Line
Orange men on the March
Making an Ark
hhmmmmm
Carving the Stern
There is a Universal Constant: Little People love being lifted up off the ground by giants
The kids started playing on me like I was a tree, so I decided to teach them how to use an SLR camera. This is what the little girl from before managed to take.
And this is what the little boy from the previous picture took.
Determination
Taking a Shower in the waterfall after our cycle. Cillian much preferred sitting by the bank.
Cillian and I with our trusty steeds, cycling through the Laos country side.
Alms giving at Dawn
Reverence
Every morning, the monks collect their meal for the day
Giving food, normally sticky rice, to the monks each morning earns the giver great merit. In some sects of Buddhism, it is believed that only men can achieve enlightenemnt, so women earn merit other ways
At the end of the long line of devotees, there stands a group of young children, hoping to receive some sticky rice from the monks.
Some monks do give. I imagine that this adds to the merit that the monk is already earning through his studies.
