Everyone was taking part by making lanterns for this festival, including the monks!
All the monks were making lanterns to decorate the temples.
The festival lasts for three days.
During the festival, they celebrate with all their friends and families. They also drink a lot of “Lao Lao” (or Laos Whisky), which is a kind of rice wine.
Everyone walks down to the river during the day to watch the boat races.
Later in the evening, everyone parties some more and drinks more beer.
It does not matter that it is pouring down. The whole village is at the party and everyone is happy.
On the night of the festival, people light candles. They also float the candles in the rivers.
Unfortunately it was raining a lot that night, so people had difficulties keeping the candles lit.
At the end of the day, I managed to get a photo of me sitting outside the Tanoy Guest House!
Food . . .
The food is excellent in Laos.
It takes some time to get used to eating noodle soup for breakfast, but once you get used to it, it is excellent.
There are pigs and turkeys all over the place. Above is a pig being weighed.
An essential part of farming is the water buffalo - it is important for pulling the heavy plough and there feet are designed to walk in water-logged gxround.
All ingredients used are very fresh. People are walking around selling vegetables on the streets.
It is hard work getting the rice ready for eating. First the rice is to be pounded to break the husks. Then thrown up in the air to remove the husks from the rice itself.
Created: Jan 2000 Last Updated: 16 Sept 2001