Timeless Art of Saa Paper in Ban Xieng Lek
Ban Xieng Lek, a serene village nestled close to the historic city of Luang Prabang, boasts a rich tradition of Saa paper making that spans generations. This artisanal craft relies on the bark of the mulberry tree, which locals meticulously gather and prepare. The process begins with stripping the bark from the tree, followed by […]
Establishing a Farm for the Khmu
In 2020 I began setting up an organic farm for a local Khmu family. Today 8 people live or work on the farm. Six dogs also live there, mainly Rosie’s offspring and they provide company and security. The farm is known as Numtong farm and is 10km from Luang Prabang in Laos. Fruit trees were […]
Continued support for Chansy
I know you are interested in how Chansy is progressing. With the help of John and other locals in her village and your support, Chansy has received regular food and toiletry supplies over the last year. She is still interested in moving into a blind center house when she can. This has been delayed because […]
Hunger remains a major problem in Laos
One-third of children in the country have limited access to food, World Food Program says. In a file photo, students eating lunch at a school in a remote area of Oudomxay province in northern Laos. Citizen Journalist Despite economic growth, one-third of Lao children and about 20 percent of the country’s population as a whole continue […]
Buy Food for Lao Families
I am helping to raise money to buy rice for Lao families in need. Lao people eat sticky rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner! A large bag of 50kg rice costs $60 NZD and will feed an average family for 2-4 weeks.
Community Development, COVID-19, Donation, Featured, Laos, Luang Prabang
People in Nong Khiaw quarantine with no food
UPDATE from Nic Lutz, local resident in Nong Khiaw. Emergency donation to provide food for quarantined locals in Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi On behalf of Nong Kiau Riverside, Delilahs Cafe & Mandala Ou Resort I would like to say a massively heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that has donated so far. Your generosity is […]
Helping the hungry In Luang Prabang
A Solidarity Canteen has been setup be people living in Luang Prabang to provide food assistance to people living in Luang Prabang who are finding it difficult to eat =as many have lost their incomes due to COVID-19. Every day, this nonprofit serves lunch for everyone from 11 to 1PM at the Institut Français du […]
Helping victims of bomb accidents
Up to a third of the bombs dropped did not explode. In 2008, 300 people a year were injured or killed and today that figure is closer to 50. Uncleared land still poses a threat to farmers and villages and sadly people still suffer injuries today, often lost limbs or eyesight.
Exhibition, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, Travel, UXO
Secret train streets in Hanoi?
Visit Dec 2018 Hanoi, a city of many past names, was originally known as Long Biên ( “dragon edge”) during the CHinese ccupation. Long Biên Bridge, built during French colonial time just happened to be the highlight of my recent revisit to Hanoi. I’ve long had a love affair with Vietnam. It is the incredible […]
Sunday morning roadworks
One of my favourite sights in Luang Prabang … roadworks!!! It is not a sight seen often but a very welcome one. It seems the roads, including main roads and main tourist streets, were only repaired 6 months ago and already large potholes had reappeared causing traffic to grind to a halt. So imagine my […]
Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Travel, Video
What is the most delicious noodle soup in Laos?
One of my greatest pleasures in Laos is eating some of the local soups. Kao soi is a must try. It’s available almost everywhere and a few street places are my favourite. Kao soi is a soup made with wide rice noodles, coarsely chopped pork, tomatoes, fermented soy beans, chillies, shallots, and garlic, then topped […]
Where else can you dine like this?
When I get time off, what better way to spend an afternoon than chilling out in a river hut? Just outside Luang Prabang, 30 mins up the Mekong river are a number of huts where you can relax and eat great Lao food and cool drinks. It does feel like a bit of a special treat to […]
Nightlife in Laos – Eating at a Beer bar
So what do local restaurants in Luang Prabang look like? Here is your intro to a local “Beer bar”. I enjoy the odd night out to a local restaurant to enjoy a meal and sometimes a few beers. The food is usually excellent and one of my favourites – sweet and sour whole fish (usually […]
What is sticky rice – really?
Firstly, Lao people are the biggest sticky rice eaters in the world. It is eaten at most meals if not all! Secondly I have left NZ and am on my way to Luang Prabang where I will son be indulging in sticky rice most days. Not many people what makes it sticky. It is the actual type […]
A computer centre is born in Laos
A project is made of many parts. We send our thanks to the many people that have made it possible. We would like to record our very special thanks to David Allan for his endless work and spirit in giving the project life. Reposted from article written by Peter. The School Centre is a story of […]
September in Luang Prabang
I have been busy everyday helping at school, setting up computers for the new computer teaching programme and other IT administration tasks. Laos is deeply rooted in Buddhist traditions and it does feel like time has stopped here especially in the centre where there is still a very strong colonial french feel. Last weekend I met […]
Arriving Lao PDR
After much prep and planning the last month, I woke at 3.40am in Wellington, showered, dressed and walked my 30KG bag to the street to meet the taxi. It is a nice feeling not having to worry about too many things in the morning especially when it’s early. I had lived off lists this past […]
Clean Drinking Water in Laos
I fund projects using Kiva. With Kiva I make a small loan with many other people. People get the money they need and the loans are repaid over time. I then lend the same monies again. Recently I made a loan to Kari Derenzi who has reported back, “I am excited to share with you […]
First day’s food in Vientiane
I do like the food in Laos. It tends to be super spicy but not always. I caught up with some friends in their village in Vientiane, not far from Patuxai (the Gate of Triumph). We walked 3 minutes across the road to the street vendor to buy some lunch. I love these eggs which have been emptied and […]
Live below the line
Thanks to everyone who helped me raise $330 for the Global Poverty project. Eating off $2.25 a day was interesting and quite enjoyable. A little weight loss didn’t hurt either.