Laos (20 Dec PM, Day 3)

Ma Si serving glutinous rice

I liked the center dish best

Tapioca cracker (kie mun do)

Tak Tak

Going to Village Chief's turnip farm

Village Chief in the driver seat

Trust her to bring us down here

Better do it together

Enjoying the ride after getting used to the fume

Turnip farm near Nam Song River

The locals are expert at using knives

The locals eat turnips like we eat apple

Village chief can swim

Can use this boat to go across for picnic

Best of pal

A5-1 Wet market (1 hour south of PS)

Prices are lower in the early morning. Since you can wake up late, you can also pay more.

The floor is wet and dirty

Dried pepper

Tilapia & catfish

A child sleeping blissfully

A river too wide even for a van to cross.

A vehicle ferry to the rescue

This floating platform can carry up to 3 salons

This huge platform is driven by a small propeller

24/7 service

Expect to pay more when the sky gets dark

Inner village school

It is late afternoon & the children have nowhere to go.

Classroom with Christmas decorations.

Students carrying sickle in school.

The sickle is very versatile.  It can double up as an axes or as a knife.

They hacked with power.

Going to explore a cave

Stalactites

It is quite cooling inside the cave.

Stop by the driver's home.

Not exactly a sliding door (this is a toilet).

This house has a magnificent view.

Baci, a ceremony that predates Laos Buddhism

A handmade phakhouan tree with flowers and banana leaves.

Baci conveys goodwill and hospitality.

Baci restores harmony and balance for the community.

Strips of white cotton are tied to our wrists.

The strips should be left on until they fall apart on their own accord.