New Primary School Project in Ka Touat, Laos
The featured Laos community development project is based in the rural village of Baan Ka Touat located in southwestern Laos. However, Ka Touat is actually 2 villages merged into one. Continue Reading →
Laos
Lao culture has been heavily influenced by the Khmer Hindu kingdom dating back to the 5th century. More recently, Theravada Buddhism was introduced and remains a centerpiece of Lao culture to this day. Although Laos is now a communist country, Buddhism and socialist orthodoxy are able to co-exist harmoniously. My Laos travel adventure began in Vientiane and followed the Mekong south ending in Si Phan Don “4000 Islands” near the Cambodian border. Unfortunately, Laos still bears the scars of the secret bombing campaigns of the US military during the Vietnam War. Indeed, more bombs were dropped on Laos than all of the bombs dropped on Europe during the entirety of WWII, resulting in the deaths of countless Lao civilians.
Rural Community Development in Nong Tae, Laos
Nong Tae is a rural village located between Pakse and Champasak in Southern Laos. The village population is 2,653 and the residents support themselves with subsistence farming and casual work Continue Reading →
Political Struggles of the Hmong People
In SE Asia, the struggles of the Hmong people are politically intractable. At the source, their ongoing struggle is because they were allied with American and French colonial ambitions in Continue Reading →
Si Phan Don “4000 Islands” Laos and Beyond
The Si Phan Don 4000 Islands are located in southern Laos near the border with Cambodia. The islands are in easy proximity to Pakse. As a result, driving from Pakse Continue Reading →
Bolaven Plateau Motorbike Tour
The Bolaven Plateau is a geographical phenomenon situated in southern Laos between Pakse and the Vietnam border. Indeed, the magnificent landscape reveals exotic waterfalls, mountain villages, elephants, friendly locals and Continue Reading →