The Roofs on Temples in Luang Prabang: A Symbol of Beauty and Belief
The temples of Luang Prabang are renowned for their elegant and ornate architecture. One of the most striking features of these temples is their roofs, which are often multi-tiered and decorated with intricate carvings and symbolism. The roofs on temples in Luang Prabang are not just decorative. They also play an important symbolic role. The […]
Unwind on a Mekong River cruise
He’s aiming for luxury travel with a dose of education, history and first-hand insights into how some of the most traditional (and poorest) people in this region live.
The result is a fascinating and, at times, hilarious experience that is not only, yes, relaxing and tranquil, but also a sobering reality check.
Wat Pa Phon Phao: A hidden gem in Luang Prabang
Wat Pa Phon Phao is perched atop a small hill, offering stunning views of the surrounding town
From Bangkok to Vientiane
Richard Barrow has been a writer of online Thai travel guides and travel news for nearly 30 years. He writes about his recent experience on getting the train from Bangkok, Thailand to Vientiane, Laos. He has also taken so many great photos so we can follow his experience, thanks Richard. “I recently embarked on a train journey […]
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 […]
Lao New Year 2023 is here
Lao New Year, also known as Pi Mai Lao, is a traditional festival celebrated in Laos in mid-April, marking the start of the Lao calendar year. The celebration usually lasts for three days, from April 14 to 16, and is a time for family reunions, paying respects to elders, and splashing water on each other. […]
Worst Ever Air Pollution in Laos 2023
Smog caused by the annual burning off of fields has hit all-time highs in 2023. The annual burn-off runs from Dec to April with March traditionally being the peak. From Jan to Feb large particles of ash fell from the sky and by March the particles below PM2.5 caused the air to become hazardous – […]
Enjoying the Mekong River in Laos
Over January I got the chance to enjoy a taste of life on the Mekong River a few times. The first was to take the dogs out for a trip with my friend past cucumber island to the island near the new China-Laos railway bridge. It was the most relaxing day I have had in […]
Banksy in Vientiane
I realized it’s been a while since I have blogged. Life has been incredibly busy the past few years despite the pandemic. How at times I longed to have nothing to do but secretly I think it would bore me to death. After my time with family and working remotely from New Zealand, I made […]
Laotian film features on Netflix
“Laotian cinema does not really exist.” In the mid-’90s, when Som Ock Southiponh wrote this, he was the only Laotian director not working for the government. Only 12 Lao films had ever been made. Only three were still around. In the 30 years since, little has changed for Laos. When Mattie Do, who was born […]
Laos confident COVID-19 pandemic under control with one case recorded
June 26, 2022 VIENTIANE (LAOTIAN TIMES/THE STAR) – Laos reported just a single case of COVID-19 and zero deaths across the country on Friday night, the Laotian Times reported. The daily COVID-19 tally from the Centre of Information and Education for Health showed that only one case of COVID-19 had been recorded in Vientiane Capital, […]
Surge in travel from Laos
More than 2,000 Lao people are arriving in Nong Khai province every day after the Thai-Laos border checkpoint reopened. Some Thais have smuggled petrol into Laos to profiteer from fuel sales there, said Nongkhai Customs House. Pakin Tiabkam, head of customs control at Nong Khai Customs House, said 2,000 people are crossing the border checkpoint […]
Laos Inflation hits 12.8%
The rate of inflation in Laos reached 12.8% in May, the highest point in 15 years. In reality it seems the rate of inflation is over 250% on many items. However, according to information provided by the Bank of Laos, inflation has now increased to a five-year high after reaching 10% in January 2016. Increases […]
Nong Khai-Laos border checkpoints finally reopen after two years
From 9 May the Laos borders fully open Three border checkpoints in Nong Khai were reopened on Sunday, more than two years after they were sealed in March 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The main checkpoint is the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai’s Muang district, which connects with the Laos capital […]
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 […]
“No Water Play” in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang has issued guidelines for safely celebrating Lao New Year in the province this year, with water play prohibited. The notice, issued by Luang Prabang Provincial Governor’s Office, encourages small celebrations at home or with family, while large group celebrations will be prohibited without authorization from the provincial Covid taskforce. At the same time, […]
COVID-19 Vaccination rates in Laos
A total of 5,136,399 people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Laos, (70% of the country’s population), according to the Lao Ministry of Health. A total of 4,367,592 people had been given a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, equal to 59.52% of the population. In addition, 953,825 people have had […]
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 […]
Laos Cuts Quarantine times
Quarantine times slashed as health system no longer under pressure
224 new species in Mekong region identified
A monkey with ghostly white circles around its eyes is among 224 new species listed in the World Wildlife Fund’s latest update on the greater Mekong region.
Is Walmart moving into Laos?
Hopefully not but the word is that Walmart might be moving to Laos. An American multinational retail conglomerate, best known for its hypermarket and grocery store chains across the States, has shown its interest in Laos as a group of Lao-Americans met yesterday, including the Lao Overseas Affairs Department and the Lao National Chamber of […]
20 tonnes of smuggled pork from Laos seized
About 20 tonnes of pork was seized from an 18-wheel lorry that crossed the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong river to this northeastern border province from Savannakhet province of Laos on Saturday night, according to a media report. The lorry was stopped at 7.30pm for a search at the animal quarantine centre on […]
Lao authorities urge people to get vaccinated
The Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Laos achieved good results last year, with at least 50 per cent of the population vaccinated. The government urges people in all at-risk groups to come forward and be vaccinated to minimize the impact on people’s health and the economy.
Train exports potash fertilizer and rubber
VIENTIANE, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) — Just after one month’s operation, the China-Laos Railway has demonstrated its advantages and favorable effects in passenger and freight transportation. The China-Laos Railway, which connects Kunming, the capital city of southwestern China’s Yunnan Province, and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, was opened on Dec. 3. In the past month, the […]
Laos, Laos Train, News, Travel
Students learn remotely during COVID
Since the rapid spread of COVID-19 (119,000 cases and 437 deaths) took hold of Laos schools have been closed and education moved to online learning. This is not an option for many students but it is pleasing to see a reasonable number of LEOT School students have been able to continue lessons.
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
Laos makes huge drug bust
Police in Laos have made one of Asia’s biggest-ever drug busts, seizing more than 55.6 million methamphetamine pills in a single raid. The drugs were found in the northern province of Bokeo, the state-run Vientiane Times newspaper reported on Thursday. The drugs were found on Wednesday in sacks in a house that police searched after […]
Laos Launches Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate
Health authorities in Laos have launched a new enhanced Covid-19 vaccination certificate with a QR Code that will allow for greater authenticity and digital verification. According to a report by the Center of Information and Education for Health, the QR code on the Covid-19 vaccination certificate will ensure that the certificates are authentic and can be more […]
Man is Electrocuted Cutting Cables on Laos-China Railway
A man has died after being electrocuted while cutting cables at a Naxaythong section of the Laos-China Railway in Vientiane Capital. It is believed the man had been attempting to steal electrical cables. The incident occurred in Chengsavang Village, Naxaythong District yesterday when a local man attempted to cut cables, presumably stealing for sale as […]
Laos First Train Gets Name – Langxang
The Lao flag symbol with it’s three colors inspires the new passenger train design for the Laos-China Railway. The passenger train has been named Lanxang and is due to arrive this week, ahead of the grand opening on 2 December 2021. The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday issued a notice that named the historic passenger […]
Laos COVID Vaccine update
The sixth batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines has been handed over to Laos this week upon arrival at the Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday. A million doses were donated. China is trying to donate 6.8 million doses in 2021. Laos has a population of approximately 7 million people. The Republic of Korea will also […]
Villages Locked down for COVID-19
Today an order was issued to lock down Luang Prabang to stop the spread of COVID-19. Authorities in several Lao provinces have ordered lockdowns with travel banned between some districts due to a surge in Covid infections. All Covid rule-breakers will be fined. This includes anyone who comes into contact with a known COVID case […]
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 […]
Laos The Cryptocurrency Capital of Asia?
Mining requires massive amounts of power. Cheap power pitches rely heavily on ambitious dam-building projects as Laos heads towards becoming the battery of Asia and perhaps along with the Cryptocurrency Capital of Asia as well.
Laos-China Railway on Track for December
The 6 US Billion Laos-China railway which was started in December 2016 is a year early and set up open on Lao National day this year, 2 December. The railway runs from the town of Boten on Laos’s border with China to the capital Vientiane and is now 93.82% complete according to the Miniter of […]
Covid-19 feeds child labour in Laos
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the poverty level of Laotian families and denied the right to education of a growing number of children, pushing them into the arms of those who exploit child labour. Most of them are employed in the fields and farmland by their parents and, in the worst cases, some of the little ones start working before they even go to elementary school.
Royal Lao Airforce Video – Late 1960’s
It shows the Royal Lao Airforce pilots, between 19 and 34 years of age and paid $55 a month and $1.60 per combat mission. They flew 4000 missions a month in T28 planes that were originally built as training planes for the Korean war. They are laden with bombs and napalm. Near the end of […]
Give your old smartphone a new life
There is a student in Laos who would love your unused smartphone! Smartphones are hard to come by and expensive and out of reach for most Lao people where the average monthly wage used to be only $150 but now is zero, after most jobs were lost last March and there is no social welfare. […]
My COVID Journey: Prologue
In the future, I may look back on this and remember what is was like to travel during COVID-19. Of course, unless one really had to, you would not choose to travel at such a time. I will summarize my two-week quarantine in New Zealand. In the meantime here is a prologue while I remain […]
Blessing at Wat Naxang
I visited this monk at Wat Naxang this week. It had been a while since going to temple and it was time for a Buddhist blessing of good luck and protection evidently. I have followed this monk over the years from Wat That Luang to Wat Taohai and now Ban Naxang. He seems to move […]
Students get bicycles fixed
Many local Luang Prabang school students had their bikes fixed while being served free lunch at the town library in Luang Prabang, Laos. The Solidarity Food Canteen was started in 2020 during COVID-19. Volunteers prepare food that is donated by local suppliers or purchased with donated funds. They serve 120 meals every weekday. I arranged […]
Update: Helping Teenage Girl
Today with the kind help of a few people in Luang Prabang we drove 20 minutes outside Luang Prabang and picked up Chansy, the 17 year old girl we have been assisting, with her mother, and we went to the Fred Hollows Foundation center at the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital. The wonderful doctor at the […]
Chansy, Community Development, Donation, Laos, Luang Prabang, Volunteering
Helping a young Lao girl at risk
2 days before the new year I was contacted by Khmu people I know well, who discovered an at-risk teenager in their village. She has hardly any clothes and food and had been abused in the past. She is 17 years old and left alone most of the day in her parent’s house. She went […]
Life in Ban Paksanam
This past weekend I was invited to help a remote village about 3 hours out of Luang Prabang with a new roof for the school, clothes and blanket (it’s almost cold season). About an hour south of Luang Prabang we stopped at Xiang Ngeun at the top of the hill. Lovely views (including the new […]
Anouluck Xang – Protect our Elephants
Laos has been known as Lan Xang, the Land of a Million Elephants, since it was a remote, reclusive, ancient kingdom. Elephants are part of Lao peoples’ blood, bones and essential beings – as important as roots are to trees. It is with the understanding and respect for this connection that we share with you […]
Magic Laos
‘The Vietnamese plant the rice, the Cambodians tend the rice and the Lao listen to it grow’ – said the French colonialists. Needless to say, they didn’t mean it as a compliment. And maybe they should have. Hundred years later, looking at Laos we might find out that there is much to learn from its […]
From Cambodia to Laos: A Journey of Inspiration and Purpose
Over a decade ago, a transformative trip to Cambodia ignited a flame within me, setting me on an unexpected path of discovery. It was a journey that forever altered my perspective and led me to the enchanting country of Laos. here I reflect on the profound impact of my travels, the loss of a dear […]
Education, Featured, Food, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, School, Travel, UXO, Volunteering
Lao New Year 1974
A video showing the celebrations in Luang Prabang, Laos in 1974. Not a lot has changed.
Boun Hor Khaopadapdin, The festival That Feeds The Spirits
Boun Hor Khaopadapdin is an annual festival during which the people of Laos “feed” spirits with home-made parcels of food, reflecting their love, respect and gratitude for their deceased ancestors and guardians.
Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Temple
Ordaining a Buddhist Monk
Reposted from the diaries of Laos magazine n Laos, as in other Buddhist countries, men can be ordained as novice monks to live the monastic life for a certain period. It is also popular for children and teenagers to live as monks for a couple of months, during the summer holidays, as a means of […]
Hardship in Laos: Can you help someone?
It’s the time of year when Novice Monks finish school and many leave the temple to become laymen. School exams have finished and many novices decide to leave the temple around this time. They are often ill-prepared with little to no education about living life as a layman and no financial support. Many of these […]
Culture, Donation, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Volunteering
Blessings from a scholarship student
Monk Sivone was a LEOT students and was successful in getting a scholarship to continue his study. He is one of the most motivated students I have met. He is completing his studies this year and had this to say: My name is Phra Sivone Keovilaipunya who was born and raised in the countryside at […]
LEOT School opens after Lao COVID lockdown
Laos locked down in March and a country-wide lockdown was enforced on 1 April for 6 weeks. The entire country had to stay at home and only go out for food. With only 19 COVID-19 cases in Laos the lockdown was effective with no community transmission for over 100 days. LEOT, the only English and […]
A love of reading
Mr Outhiphon is studying at Law College but also comes at 9am to study in our Elementary 1 class. He is enjoying borrowing and reading books from the library. If he has a problem with difficult words, he uses his dictionary to find out the meaning. He keeps his library book in his bag and […]
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
Vientiane Opthamology Centre
It’s almost been 12 month since I rushed down to Vientiane to the Opthamology centre after losing sight on one of my eyes. Looking back, I was surprisingly calm throughout the whole ordeal which took about 4 months with professionals to try and get to the bottom of the situation. At the time I thought […]
Is there enough parking in Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang is located in northern Laos at the heart of a mountainous region built on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers. They say Buddha would have smiled when he rested there during his travels, prophesying that it would one day be the site of a rich and powerful city. […]
Business, China, Community Development, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Nam Khan, Travel
The Dammed Nam Khan River
I took this photo of Novices washing in the Nam Khan river on the way home today. It’s one of my favourite landscapes and I don’t stop to appreciate it enough. The bamboo bridge is up at the moment as it is dry season. It will come down when the monsoon season arrives in May. […]
Bamboo bridge, Business, China, Culture, Dam, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Nam Khan, News, School
Novice Monks paint Wat Mano
As I passed, Wat Mano, this morning on the way to work, I noticed a swarm of Novices up bamboo scaffolding busy painting the temple. Wat Manorom, known as Wat Mano, was built to inter the ashes of King Samsenthai (1373-1416) so it is one of the oldest sites in town and quite a large […]
Education, French, Laos, Monks, Painting, School, Temple, Travel
Getting around Luang Prabang
I was back at the motorbike shop this week. I’ve had a good run lately. I was going to the shop every few months since I got my fake Honda motorbike in 2016. I’ve changed shops during the last few years, from one Vietnamese shop to another. I decided bypassing the fuse to fit the […]
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 […]
Chasing Dreams in Laos
LEOT School runs a Dreamcatcher programme for students pursuing their goals and dreams. About 30 students who are in their final year of high school or have finished school meet twice a month. Some are unsuccessful at getting one of the limited places at university We aim to help students identify their dreams and provide […]
Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
Luang Prabang Bamboo Bridge
Each year at the end of the rainy season the local village builds a Bamboo Bridge across the Nam Khan river. It is narrow and very sturdy. It washes away when the high waters come again in rainy season. For 5,000 kip you can cross from the peninsula side to Ban Phuang Luang (or vice […]
Bamboo bridge, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang, Nam Khan, School, Travel
Laos – Thailand: Free ticket
You don’tget much for free these days, especially as a foreigner in Laos. Recently when I crossed the Lao-Thai border across the Friendship bridge by bus, from Vientiane to Nong Khai I was surprised. It’s a simple crossing but I imagine it’s confusing for “1st time crossers” as there is little signage to what to […]
Students painting for exhibition
LEOT School students have been learning to paint from a volunteer who has kindly been coming 3 times a week. The French Institute has allowed us to use their building in the heritage area of Luang Prabang to display the artwork. It’s an opportunity for students to publicly showcase their work and artwork sold is […]
Education, Exhibition, Follow-your-dream, French, Laos, Luang Prabang, Painting, School, Volunteering
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
5 computer topics taught in Laos
Computer education in Laos is limited. It is not taught in many schools and experienced teachers are unavailable. Students are increasingly needing to have computer skills to compete with others to secure jobs. English and computing and becoming vital skills to gain employment which is why I helped establish computing lessons in 2015 so 16-22 year […]
Community Development, Education, Employment, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
Making merit at Buddhist temple
Buddhism is practiced by most Laotians. Life in Laos beats to a rhythm set by religion. Alms are given every morning at 5 am in the hot season and about 6.30 when colder. Sticky rice is washed and soaked the evening before and cooked early the next morning. Sometimes it’s mixed with banana and wrapped […]
History of Luang Prabang by Nat Geo
This video by National Geographic gives you an overview of Luang Prabang and sights around the area.
Uplifting a local village school in Laos
I visited a village with colleagues near the famous Kuangsi waterfall as we’d been told their classrooms were in need of repair. It is a typical school in a village serving the families from that village. There were 8 classrooms split among two buildings. One was wooden and would be very hot much of the […]
Community Development, Donation, Education, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
Fundraising concert a hit
LEOT and the Music School, both not-for-profits providing education opportunities to Lao youth held a fundraising concert on Sunday night at the beautiful Heuan Chan Heritage center in Luang Prabang, just off the main street. It took some organising and a big thank you to all those who gave us prized for the raffle. I […]
Education, Festival, Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
New students learning computer skills in Luang Prabang
The fourth year of teaching computer skills to students began a few weeks ago. Students learn during weekdays Monday to Friday and extra classes are held on Saturdays allowing other students to attend. A small fee is asked in order to get some commitment to come each week if things are free people tend to […]
Community Development, Education, Follow-your-dream, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
Road collapses in Luang Prabang
The road on the peninsula in UNESCO Heritage Zone 1 has collapsed further from the rain this past season. The road runs along the Nam Khan (the river that joins the Mekong River). It is a very beautiful part of Luang Prabang and teenagers love to ride their motorbikes round and round at night (much […]
Local village school northern Laos
During the school break, a past Monk student came back to visit and we went to visit his village. His village is typical of a village in the countryside, very basic facilities. A small classroom with a dirt floor and simple slat sides. It lacked books and other materials. We visited to see how we […]
Cats and dogs left over after rain
Well the rainy season in Laos has ended and it was a bad season. There is a lot of damage to roads and of course, there was the Dam collapse in Attapeu on 23 July. It’s not raining cats and dogs anymore but there are a lot of cats and dogs in Laos. They can […]
Dam, Food, Laos, Luang Prabang
Fishing on the border
Bokèo is a northern province of Laos. It is the smallest and least populous province in Laos. For most people they enter Bokeo when crossing via land from Thailand. I love going from Luang prabang up the Mekong River to Huay Xai, in Bokeo Province and into Thailand, it is a magic few days. I […]
Stunning Laos – Together we thrive
A beautiful video of Laos showing the stunning scenery and people that fill this magic country. Video by: Cedric Jean-Baptiste They say travelling is one of the best ways to grow and whilst true this only occurs if you reflect on the experience and learn from it. After going through hours of footage, this is what […]
Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, Travel, Vang Vieng, Video
Beautiful Laos – Paradise seen from Heaven
Filmed by: Christoph von Toggenburg Laos is covered in wild jungles, mirroring lakes, colourful rice paddies, beautiful temples, ancient ruins, amazing waterfalls and slow rivers. This short film takes you on a journey across Laos, captured from the air, showing this unique country from an entirely unseen perspective. Celebrating our engagement, my finacée Valentine and […]
Making hand washing stations in Luang Prabang, Laos
As part of the community projects LEOT School does, we are often improving sanitation and washing facilities. Handwashing stations at schools are often lacking. Niew is our project man as well as helping administer the school in Luang Prabang. He recently returned from the capital Vientiane, where washing stations are manufactured. He went to learn […]
Community Development, Donation, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Vientiane
Napao Primary School,Laos get painted
Last month, Jeannette school staff, a Government education official and myself surveyed Napao primary school as we were told it needed supplies and a good paint. Painting a school not only instills pride in teachers and students but makes the rooms lighter as many rooms do not have good lighting. We found donors for the […]
Community Development, Education, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
A dream comes true to study in France
Alounny Thammavongsavanh is a student studying at LEOT and she has written this short story. I’m 17 years old and I live in PhanLuang village. I’m a student in my final year at Pasathipatay school. It’s a bilingual school. I have been studying French for 10 years at primary and secondary school and then I […]
Phousi Mountain – Luangs Prabangs sunset vantage point
Phousi Mountain or Mount Phousi as some say is a hill located in the centre of town in the heritage area, located on the peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The “sacred hill” is about 100 meters high. Many tourists climb the hill about 5.30pm to view the sunset so it gets rather […]
Making Change in the Mekong
Film for Change Aotearoa New Zealand produced this short film about my volunteer work in Laos establishing computer education programs to raise awareness of opportunities to support sustainable, grass-roots education efforts in Laos to help improve people’s lives a little. I volunteer with Lao teachers to provide free education, scholarships and hardship support for impoverished […]
Community Development, Development, Education, Featured, Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Poverty, School, Video, Volunteering
Rural villages need more books
I joined in a visit to a remote village school to take them books. The Luang Prabang libary runs a book bag program at the library on the night market street. People can purchase books and put them in a bag and when there are enough they are taken to a village. The books are […]
Community Development, Donation, Education, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, School
Special guests in Luang Prabang
I was very lucky to recently have my mother and brother travel to Luang Prabang to visit me. The week was wonderful and we saw some of the spectacular sites Luang Prabang has to offer as well as spending time helping at school. We also visited the famous Pak Ou caves and the Luang […]
Finding magic on Luang Prabang’s doorstep.
I have always enjoyed crossing the Mekong on the car ferry or boat to the ‘other side’. I often go for a walk over here in Chomphet District in the Village of Xiengmene. Chomphet district is a poor area and many projects are needed in this area. See recent posts for recent projects in this […]
Novice Bountay and his village school
Novice Bountay is an inspiring person. He has been a student at LEOT (a free charity school) for 2 years now and excels in our computer class. Like other Novices, he goes to Buddhist high school each day and somehow manages to find time to study English, photography and a number of other interests. Read […]
Donation, Education, Festival, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Poverty, School
What’s David doing in the office
A teacher snapped this photo of me sitting at my ‘new’ recycled desk one of a few pieces of furniture donated to us that we needed. I am very much focused on getting the computer lessons ready for the new teaching term starting soon. We teach Microsoft Office and general computer skills such as safety, […]
Education, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School