Lao teenagers beating poverty as novice monks
Many of the students at the school I work at in Luang Prabang are novice monks. It is certainly a sight to behold – a classroom bathed in bright saffron robes beneath a sea of shaved heads (and eyebrows). People outside Laos find it interesting as to why so many novice monks come to school without […]
Helping English students at a local school – Luang Prabang, Laos
I helped out a small class of eager high school students with their English lessons last week. During the high school break, these students are taking a holiday class to improve their English skills. They go a small school set up in someone’s home in the center of Luang Prabang where two small classes of […]
Kayaking the Ou and Mekong river to Luang Prabang
I decided this week to take a day off and go kayaking down the Mekong River from just north of Pak Ou caves. I’ve visited the caves a few times before but never via the Mekong or kayaking. So I joined a tour and set out by tuk-tuk about an hour north of Luang Prabang. […]
A glimpse into life in Luang Prabang
In this 3 minute video, I show you a few scenes around Luang Prabang, life at the school where I volunteer and a brief insight to a village up river we got to by ‘long boat’. I will return soon to continue developing computer teaching programmes, running teacher training workshops and assisting Lao teachers in […]
A short film: New Day ຈົວຕົ້ນຄົນໃໝ່
This short film made by students in the summer 2016 film class @ My Library in Luang Prabang shows the talent of young film makers as well as a glimpse into temple life as a Novice Monk.
This past month helping Orphanages and School in Laos
Time has passed quickly since late August when I stopped in Saigon, Vietnam. I joined Love Shines from Singapore on a mission to orphanages looking after youth with hydrocephalus, also called Water on the Brain. It causes enlargement of the head and is fatal. I visited two orphanages and we purchased supplies at local stores for these programmes. […]
Laos US: Obama regrets ‘biggest bombing in history’ – BBC News
Barack Obama announces a major funding boost for the removal of unexploded US ordnance in Laos though some question what real difference it can make. Source: Laos US: Obama regrets ‘biggest bombing in history’ – BBC News
Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang, Laos 2016
In Luang Prabang, Boun Suang Heua, or the Boat Racing Festival is held on Khao Padapdin, the Day of the Commemoration of the Dead (in August usually but this year it was yesterday on 2 September). In Vientiane Capital it is held the day after the End of Buddhist Lent. Both are important social and […]
Elephants in Luang Prabang for new year
It is Lao New Year now (Pimai), one of the most important dates in the Lao calendar. Although officially a three-day festival in Luang Prabang, the party always goes on for at least a week. Officially the last day of the year, 13th April is traditionally a day of renewal, the main symbol of which is […]
Unlocking Laos for the traveller
This article recently published By Harry Bedford shows what a wonderful place Laos is for tourists. It is the only country in South East Asia with no beaches but they make up for it with beautiful people, mountains and waterfalls. Did I mention the food? This short articles will give you a good taste of […]
Without mindfulness film
“Without Mindfulness” a short film made at the summer filmmaking workshop @ My Library won first prize at the Vientianale film festival last night! Congratulations to the filmmakers novice Mai Latanavong Novice Bouasy, former Novice Somjai Soulivongvang and Novice Touly, and the others who helped: Vanhxai Thor Zua Lee Leeoneyang Yang and Youa Lao. Congratulations […]
Magical Laotian Town Preserved by UNESCO Loses Its Soul
This article by DENIS D. GRAY: AP has been posted on so many sites including NZ news media. There is a lot of truth to this. it is sad that locals are gone and their places taken by outsiders and foreigners. I feel that foreigners living in Luang Prabang seem to respect the local customs and […]
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 […]
Luang Prabang temples
Luang Prabang has 33 Buddhist temples. This short video is of some smaller less glamorous temples than Vat Xieng Thong for example. Sit back, relax and take in the peacefulness of Luang Prabang, Laos.
Trip to Pak Ou cave
Teachers and volunteers from school went to Pak Ou by tuk tuk for lunch together. After lunch we crossed the river to the cave full of Buddhas. Neither the number of Buddhas or steps were counted. This is out day trip where you can see more of the beauty that is Luang Prabang.
Delivering aid to three villages decimated by flash flooding
On Saturday, teachers and volunteers from school in Luang Prabang joined friends from a Laos organisation Education and Sharing to deliver aid to three villages decimated by flash flooding at the end of the monsoon season. The villagers had no warning of the impending disaster as it had not rained for many days. Four people […]
Free English Resource Centres in Luang Prabang
MyLibrary and Big Brother Mouse are two projects in Luang Prabang where students can go for free to learn and practice English. Big Brother Mouse has many foreigners who drop in and speak with the students. MyLibrary runs other training such as photography and has computers and books available to students. Unfortunately so many people […]
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 […]
Educating eager youth in Laos
I have been volunteering at a charity school in Luang Prabang, Laos since 2013 providing IT equipment and training to teachers and students. This supplements their main courses of English. The students come from poor families and are hungry for knowledge! Laos remains one of the poorest world economies. The majority of families are subsistence farmers […]
Walking to school in Laos
I volunteer at an English teaching school that is free for the poverty-stricken 15-25 year old’s that are lucky enough to secure a place. It is a peaceful 30 minute walk from my guesthouse. Typically I have breakfast in the main street in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang sausage is famous and an easy on the run […]
Laos through my eyes – Peter
A piece by Peter – LEOT trustee It was almost by chance that I first visited Laos in 2008. My plan to visit Myanmar with my wife Catriona had been cancelled at the last moment due to changed advice from the Foreign Office. With time off booked and nowhere to go I took out a […]
Business, China, Development, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, School, Vang Vieng, Vientiane