Boun That Luang Procession

The annual Boun That Luang (or That Luang Festival) in Vientiane is a week-long from 22nd to 28th November 2012.

On the day before the full moon (27 November this year), a procession of faithfuls and lay-people from all 18 provinces formed the colourful procession to Pha That Luang (The Golden Stupa). The crowd was just fantastic, very lively with music, drums and singing. They performed their traditional dances and songs of their provinces and villages. Many are dressed in their colourful traditional costumes.

On the early morning of the final day of the festival, thousands of monks from the provinces, who had been camping in the temples of the stupa, would circumambulate 3 times in procession around the stupa. Unfortunately, I had to skip this event as I need to go to work.

On the final night, the full moon night which falls on 28 November this year, the stupa was fully lighted up. There was a large crowd lining up in front of the stupa gate to go into the grounds of the stupa. They carry flowers and candles as offerings to Budhha.

It is an event not to be missed if you in Vientiane. I am very fortunate that this time my consultancy work programme in Vientiane coincided with this festival. It was a field day for photography.

If you plan to come to Laos for a holiday, you must coincide your trip with this That Luang Festival.

Blogger in blue shirt - Odd man out without any offerings!

The Golden Stupa fully lighted.

Waiting for the Stupa Gate to be opened. A Monk was chanting before the opening of the gate

The crowd waiting to circumulate the stupa.

Boun That Luang

Today being a Sunday, I decided to spent my time visiting "Boun That Luang" or That Luang Festival that is taking place in Vientiane.

Pha That Luang, also known as the Golden Stupa is the national symbol and the most important religious monument of Laos. The monument dates from 1566. It has been destroyed and ransacked and renovated numerous times. The site is sacred as the Lao people believe that the stupa enshrines a relict of Budhha.

Pha That Luang (Golden Stupa)

The Golden Stupa

"Boun That Luang" is Vientiane's most important Theravada Buddhist festival. It is held for a week during the full moon of the 11th Lunar month. This year (being a Lunar Leep year), the week-long festival starts on 22 November and will end on 28 November (15th day of the lunar month - full moon day). Monks and lay-people from all over Laos congregate at the stupa to celebrate the occasion with 3 days of religious ceremonies followed by a week-long festivities, day and night.

The procession of lay-people begins at Wat Si Muang in the city center and proceeds to Pha That Luang to make offerings to the monks in order to accumulate merits for rebirth into a better life. The religious part concludes as lay-people, carrying incense and candles as offerings circumulate Phat That Luang 3 times in honour of Buddha. Folk and popular music troupes and drama performances provide entertainment at the festival. Read more here.

One of the Offerings besides flowers and candles

The temple has set a number of stores collecting donations

Another Temple Store

Seeking for a favourable horoscope on this auspicious festival

Besides the religious activities, there is a carnival atmosphere at Pha That Luang, especially for shoppers with many stores selling all kinds of merchandise. From clothing, hand bags, shoes, wood carvings, food, tit bits, mobile phones, DVDs etc. There is also a mini fun fare for the children.

 

     

Typical Traditional Lao Meal

Yesterday I had a typical traditional everyday Lao meal called laap for lunch with my Laotian colleagues.

Laap is a very typical Lao dish.

It may be prepared from chopped pieces of pork, beef, fish or duck that is mixed with lime juice and stir-fried in fish sauce with mint, coriander, spring onion and chili. 

It is also often made from raw meat or fish.

We ordered cooked duck laap (pieces of duck meat and gizzard).

Laap is usually eaten with sticky rice (khao nieow in Lao language).

Eating laap is accompanied by some raw vegetables including baby eggplant, mustard leaves, mint, basil, bird-eye chili and lettuce. 

We also had fresh string beans and boiled sword beans.

The meal is also usually taken with meat soup. We ordered duck soup, boiled with tomatoes.

 

Sticky rice is the staple food for Laos. This rice is the glutinous rice variety.
About 80% of rice grown in Laos is of this variety.
This rice variety naturally sticks together when steamed.
That's probably why it is called "sticky rice".
When steamed, it is easy to roll into small balls, dip into the laap sauce and eat with your fingers.

For 5 of us, this lunch costs 185,000 KIPs (USD23.00).
We had 3 plates of duck laap and 2 bowls of duck soup!

This is a very delicious but heavy lunch, especially with the slow digesting sticky rice.
I was still feeling full at dinner time.

Duck Meat Laap

Fresh Vegetables

String beans and steamed sword beans

Some Chilies

Sticky Rice (Khao Nieow) served in baskets. One basket per person.

Rolling the sticky rice

Duck soup

Steaming sticky rice after it has been soaked in water for 6 to 8 hours

 

Welcome Back Lunch

Spent the day working with my Laotian colleagues.
Three of them decided that we should go for an early lunch.
It turned out that they wanted to give me a "welcome back" lunch.
This is actually my 6th trip to Vientiane, 3 in 2009 and 3 this year.
I have be working with this set of colleagues since then.
We have been able to work very closely together on our project.
These colleagues of mine are fantastic hosts, and I always enjoy their companionship.
The lunch was heavy for me though it was delicious.
I enjoyed the food they ordered, although they are mainly meat dishes.

Pork belly with hard boiled eggs stewed in soya sauce

Bitter Gourd stuffed with minced meat

Fried minced meat wrapped with herbal leaves

Raw baby round brinjal

Pork Knuckle Ham

Beer Lao

Flight to Vientiane, Lao PDR

Yesterday morning, I took my 6th trip to Vientiane, Laos for my consultancy services.

Laos is officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

It is a mountainous and landlocked country and one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia.

This is my second flight to Vientiane by Air Asia.

I choose to fly by Air Asia as the direct flight takes only 2 hours 30 minutes.

It is the only airline that flies to Vientiane from Kuala Lumpur.

My employer had in the past always flew me by Thai Airways to Vientiane via Bangkok.

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok is about 2 hours 45 minutes, with a 5 hour transit time in Bangkok to Vientiane.

The flight to Vientiane from Bangkok takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

All in, the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane by Thai Airways takes 9 hours, compared to Air Asia's 2 hours 30 minutes.

By the time I arrive in Vientiane by Thai Airways, its already 10 pm.

By Air Asia's 7.35 am flight, I can arrive in Vientiane by 9.10 am and I can go to the office after a rest and lunch.

The Thai Airways flight is also more costly.

Finally, I convinced my employer to fly me by Air Asia.

For me, transits in airports while waiting for the next connecting flight are always the most boring time.
I used to spent time drinking coffee from one cafe to the next, and toying with my computer.

Vientiane is a popular tourist and business destination for Malaysians.

The Air Asia flight I took yesterday was full.

I shall post some of the interesting places and food in Laos.

Landing in Vientiane

Wattay International Airport, Vientiane

The Winter of My Life

Sometimes I received emails with very interesting contents.
This particular poem was sent to me by a friend, who like me are in our twilight years.
It reminds us of how we have lived our lives.

The poem is by an unknown author.

"The Winter of My Life"

You know .....Time has a way of moving quickly

And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday I was young.

Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,

And I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all ..............

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams .....

But, here it is ... The winter of my life and it catches my by surprise ....

How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well .....

Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those

Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off

That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like ....

But, here it is ...

My friends are retired and getting grey ...

They move slower and I see an older person now.

Some are better and some worse shape than me .....

But, I see the great change .....

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant ....

But, like me, their age is begining to show and we are now those

Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ... it's mandatory!

'Cause if I don't on my own free will .. I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into a new season of my life unprepared

For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability

To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last ....

This I know, that when it's over ... It's over

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done ....

Things that I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.

It's all in a lifetime ...

So, if you've not in the winter yet ....

Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.

Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!

Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,

As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life ....

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember ....

And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things

You have done for them in all the years past!

Life is a gift to you

 The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

"May You always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care!"

Creative Baking

Vacationing in Taiwan in 2010, I came across a cake shop in Taipei with some very decorative and creative cakes. Some pieces appear beautiful, but others? They look too good to be eaten. Maybe they are just decorative pieces. Some bakery shops in Malaysia are selling such decorative cakes.

Cigarette Ash Tray

Piggy

Big Bad Wolf?

Kitty

Puppy?

Tea Set, with Peanuts

Barbie Doll

Froggy

Oh Dear, Wild Imagination to Be Creative!