More from the Drive

This valley will apparently not exist next year, as a dam project further south will cause it to flood.
Many villages are being relocated for the project.

We saw this fire in full force.  If you look closely at the bottom left you can see one of two people that were overseeing it.  Slash-and-burn rice farming is common up on the mountains, where hill rice is grown that doesn't need to be in paddies with water.  I'm told the practice is okay if the land has 8 yrs. before the next burn/plant cycle, but now it is being discouraged b/c they usually return in 4-5 years to the same place.

A large burnt hill; there are lots of banana trees fallen down in this one.  Logging happens a lot up here too, but off the road where you can't see it.  We just saw lots of logging trucks that used to be war trucks.

The views were gorgeous.  Here's one of my favorites.

Lao New Year- Road Trip!

We drove up north about 8 hrs to the province of Xieng Kwang, where we have some friends
who teach at a language school.  Jeff had been there, but we'd been trying to figure out
when I could see it too.  The last few days of Lao New Year was a perfect time
b/c nothing else happens and our friends were on break as well.

It's up in the mountains, so beautiful and cool!   Here's a good shot of what the road looked like.
This is the new road, just opened, and took about 2 hrs. as well as a lot of danger
and carsickness off our trip!  I was glad not to see the old one!

We stopped at the restaurant pictured a couple posts ago.  We ordered boiled chicken and it came with the head, feet, and insides included… even the not-yet-laid eggs developing inside the hen!

This is the inside of the restaurant.  It was nice and new.

I have so many pictures of little wood/thatch houses along the road I didn't know which to choose!

New Year with Neighbors #2

These are the second set of neighbors we met, next door to us (there's an alley/driveway between us).  They have this tiny store, and often sit out there.  We didn't get to talk as much with them
b/c they were already in party mode, loud music and spraying.
 But at least we got to be friendly and meet them.  Not sure who all lives there yet!

The two kids from across the street joined us at this house too.  We were all drenched!

There are lots of styles of water guns, etc, but everybody usually ends up liking just the dip and toss method with a bowl or cup of some sort.  You can soak a passing motorbiker better that way!

Like these three, who were driving around just to get soaked and have fun.  
Funky hats and hawaiian-style loud clothing is also typical!

Lao New Year- with Neighbors

This is the house directly across the street from us. We just met these neighbors, an older couple.  Their son and two grandkids were there too, and live nearby. 

This is the owner of the house.  He is from down south, met his wife up north when he was a soldier.  I imagine this was during the war but not sure yet!  He is retired and his wife is still a teacher. They were very happy we came over and said we would be great friends.  He said he was a teacher too; a teacher of drinking beer, and he would teach Jeff.

This is the son and the 6 yr-old granddaughter.  After chatting awhile, and the kids
all squirting each other, we hung out at the curb dousing all the traffic that came by;
on foot, bicycle, motorbike, or car/truck.

The boy was absolutely adorable.  He couldn't get enough of the water play, and he kept pouring water on himself though he was chattering he was so cold!  He didn't have enough fat on him to keep warm; they said he was 7 yrs although he was a good bit smaller than his sister.  I'm guessing from his teeth that it's partly poor eating habits, lots of snacks and not making him eat anything he doesn't want to.  That's normal around here.

April Highlights

Ready to soak anyone who comes by!  This is one part of celebrating the Lao New Year with your neighbors!

Lunch Time!  It's not McDonald's, but after 4 hours of driving, it sure hit the spot!

All Anna wants for Christmas is her two front teeth!

Jumping on the trampoline (borrowed from our friends) seems to squeeze the joy right out of Abbi and Corrie!