Lunch At The Farm

Most of my friends back in Laos are city folks.  During the weekends they all try to stay away from the city as much as possible.  One of the weekend when I was there, we all decided to have lunch at my buddy’s farm.  Most of the foods were bought in the city and some are being cook at the farm by a friend’s personal caddy.  Yes! Caddy :-).  He golf so much that he have a personal caddy that mainly works for him.  At first I was like, where you find these to people to come and grilled the fishes for us.

It was a nice relaxing day at the farm and the views are awesome.

my buddy's farm along the Mekong River.. he just them build this hut few months earlier

what a view.. the hut is just few steps away from the edge of river bank. the right side across the river is Thailand

this hut is pretty good size.. we had about 18 people that day.. that is one big mango tree next to the hut

my buddy bought this farm about 3 years ago and he can get triple of what he paid for.. as you can see the erosion control works has been done the river bank..

this guy papaya salas was super hot.. i taste it once and i was done..

chow down time.. these guys are eating "punh pa" grilled fish. it is too much works for me, i stick with bbq chicken

this is what happen after too much foods and beerlao.

the caddy is trying to pick some mangoes for us..

i found myself some tamarind.. it was so good

The Gothia Cup

I didn’t know what’s the Gothia Cup is til I read an article from Yahoo this morning.  After some little research I realized this event is equivalent to the World Cup for youth soccer.  Congratulation to an Under-18s football team from Laos that made it to semifinals of this event.

War-torn Laos Football Team Win Major Football Trophy

Press Release Source: The Gothia Cup On Sunday July 25, 2010, 2:59 am EDT

GOTHENBERG, Sweden, July 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — An Under-18s football team from Laos, one of the poorest countries on Earth, have been awarded a key trophy at the world’s largest youth football tournament.

The Laos football team, who are the first football team in the history of Laos to ever play in any European football tournament, have been awarded the Fair Play Cup, in recognition of their outstanding record for good sportsmanship, and having also reached the Under 18s B semi-finals, following many great victories, including those against teams from the United States (2-1), Brazil (5-0), Sweden (3-0), Hungary (2-0) and Scotland (3-2).

Laos is widely recognised as the most bombed country in the world, following blanket bombing by American forces during the Vietnam War. One in five children dies before the age of 5, many through malnutrition. Thousands more are also killed or injured by the tens of millions of unexploded bombs that remain scattered, undetected but live throughout the Laos countryside.

The Gothia Cup is recognised globally as the World Cup for Under 18s football, and this year involves 1,567 teams from 71 nations, and more than 4,500 games. Dennis Andersson, Chairman of the Gothia Cup presented the team with the award live on national TV at a closing ceremony broadcast from the 25,000-seater Gamla Ullevi stadium.

Gareth Carter, organiser of the trip, said, “We’re delighted to have been able to take this team from the jungles of Laos to the world’s biggest youth football tournament, see them play great football, beating teams that tower above them and who often benefit from infinitely better modern facilities. For them to be honoured in this way before they go back to Laos is fabulous.”

The team’s coach, Manophet Mouidouangdy, whose job was managing munition clearance in Laos, died tragically just before the tournament and the boys saw the tournament as an opportunity to play in his memory, as well as a historic moment for Laos, this being the first time Laos have had a team playing in Europe.

Laos’s official team name is the English Development School (EDS) Laos Football Club, which is based in Phonsavan, in North West Laos. This is the area of Laos most badly affected by the legacy of the Vietnam War. Between the ten years between 1964 and 1973 one B-52 bombload was dropped on the country every eight minutes, 24 hours a day.

Team captain, Xay Savard, aged 18, said, “It has been amazing to come to Europe and we are so very happy to win this award and to show the world how Laos people play football and how good we can play.”

Laos top goal scorer, Thai Yang, also aged 18, said, “I am very happy and very proud of my team and my country. I would like to thank the Swedish people, organisers and sponsors. I am honoured to be here.”

The Laos team had many new experiences on this historic trip. None of the team had ever even flown on an aeroplane before. None of them had ever even seen the sea, but on this trip got to swim in it for the first time. Nor had they ever played on a proper football pitch before as their home pitch is primarily used for cattle grazing.

The team were supported by the local Laos community, who brought them Laos food before and after every match. The football team were unable to eat any local or junk food in Gothenburg, as it made them sick every time. One Laos player commented, “I ate a beefburger for the first time here, and if I did that often I think I would change shape and be very unhealthy.”

A full length documentary feature film is being made of the team’s successful trip, which will be released worldwide in 2011. A trailer of the film is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ811CazvSk

Laos Participation in the tournament was made possible through sponsorship from Sony Ericsson and Stena Line.

PHOTOGRAPHS / PHOTO STORIES / FURTHER COMMENT

The Laos team return to their country on the evening Sunday 25th July and can be interviewed before or after this time.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wartorn-Laos-Football-Team-prnews-730581925.html?x=0&.v=1

Check out this video from Gothia TV, Meeting With Laos

http://www.gothiacup.se/eng/index.php/2010/07/gothia-tv-meeting-with-laos/

Growing Pain

It is been 4 years ago since the last time I was in Laos.  As soon as I left Wattay International Airport and right a way I’ve notices changes in the streets of Vientiane.  The traffic was the first thing I’ve notice, so many cars and motorcycles shares the same small roads.  I can’t believe my eyes that once a sleepy town are now clogged up with all kinds of vehicle.  Yet! The only major road construction I’ve seen is along MeKong River just north of Don Chan Palace Hotel.  The Korean firm is the lead on this flood protection/road.

project sign..

looking south at Don Chan Palace Hotel

throughout the years.. the mekong river wahes the thailand banks and deposited all the sand on laos side..

you're looking at the current shoreline road.. soon to be part of inner road

as you can see the other side of river.. the thai already finished their bank protection project..

it is so common.. always see people seeking the shade under the tree..

The Department of Public Works and Transportation have a lot of work ahead of them.  Traffic in Vientiane is getting worse by the day, therefore they need to fix the current problem and plan for the future as well.  Eventually some type of public transportation to move people in and out of center of town.  Widening the existing roads and build some type of express ways around the city.  It will comes down to who’s going to pay for it?

Wat Lao Buddhavong, VA (July 3rd/4th)

For so many years, I’ve seen pictures and videos from 4th of July weekend festival at Wat Lao Buddhavong in VA. This year I finally had a chance to witness the festival first hand. I was little disappointed there aren’t that many folks attending this event like in past years. Maybe due to the heat wave on that weekend and other internal temple issues that kept the local away this year.

Over all I had an awesome trip, I got to meet some relatives whom I haven’t seen since I left Laos.

Here are some of the artists/performers I saw at the temple concerts.

Mike Piromporn

this guy does it all... he sing.. he even make papaya salad for you..

I'm not sure his papaya salad is as good as his singing..

even he is singing.. still manage to pose for the lady

this gal jumped on stage and dance with Mike.. one of the event staff politely asked her to leave the stage..

a singer from Laos, Latsamy

I told my buddies to walk up to the stage and I'll take pictures for them. Latsamy must of heard us talking... while she was still singing, she walks toward us and took pictures with my buddies... tips were flying left and right hahahah

I forgot this lady name.. Guess who's sitting up in the front?? That's Nye and her families.. I didn't know til afterward

Khee Kheng Ya Leum Khuay

Everyone of us probably read and seen so many signs throughout the years.  Signs comes in various sizes, shapes and colors.  Most of us probably reads it and move on.  This one particular sign in Wat Lao Buddhavong, VA caught my attention as I walk pass it.  The sign reads “Khee Kheng Ya Leum Khuay”, a Lao proverb which translate to…  “When you’re riding the motorcycle, don’t forget the buffalo”.  One can interpret this proverb into various situations in life or meaning.  This particular message to me meant… “Once you made it, don’t forget those folks that helped you”.  It is very typical in Laos to see such a smaller version of signs nailed to tree all over the temple ground.  Buddha ways of teaching and reminding folks with simple messages.  For some probably just another junk sign.