Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Big bangs on Planet Yasothon - Bang Fai Festival

The Northeastern province gets ready for its annual ‘Bang Fai’ Festival ...

Big bangs on Planet Yasothon

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Lush river life... some impressions...

Ferry crossing the Mekong River in Ban Houay Xay, Bokeo Province, Northern Laos.
Boys playing football on the banks of the Nam Ou in Ban Soph Van, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.
Ban Nong Khiow at the Nam Ou, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.
Fisherman checking his net on Nam Khan, near Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.
Training for the boat racing festival?, Nam Khan, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.
Children enjoying the 2008 flood at Nam Khan Riverside, Luang Prabang town, Laos.
Girl watching the 2008 flooding in Luang Prabang town, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.
Boats in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Boat racing festivals are held in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand during the months of September and October.
Flooting restaurant in Pakse on the Sedone River, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.
Boat landing to cross the Mekong river, opposite Ban Champasak (near UNESCO World Heritage site of Vat Phou), Champasak Province, Southern Laos.
Sunset over the Mekong, Khong Island, Sipandone area, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.
Abundant fish life, market on Khong Island, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.
Fisherman fixing his traps, Preah Rumkel community, Stung Treng Province, Cambodia.
Ferry boat in Stung Treng town, Stung Treng Province, Cambodia.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Thai New Year - Songkran, Songkran!!!

Each year in the middle of April Thai and Lao people celebrate New Year (Thai: Songkran; Lao Piimai) and show their respect for Buddha images, elderly people and their parents and superiors. The whole house is getting cleaned and refurbished. Parents are respectfully splashed with some water and powder. Often flower offerings are given as well. Similarly, vehicles such as cars and mopeds, are blessed with flowers, water and powder ...

Who ever is traveling on roads, will almost certainly get a shower from people waiting for their opportunity along the street side. Water is drown from passing cars or from kids who are heavily armed with water pistols and all kind of tools to splash water. This provides you a nice cool off during the hottest time of the year ...

Caution is however advised on Laos and Thailand's roads, as the number of fatal accidents is increasing every year!

Otherwise, a few older clothes assembled, mounted with a hat and equipped with a water pistol and off you go and join in for the ultimate water splash of the year! Happy New Year! Happy Songkran!