New Years in Laos

New Years was spent at 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) in Laos and it was pretty sweet.

We took a bus to the boarder,  a songthaew to a parking lot where we caught another songthaew and shared a several hour trip packed in with 20 some people, 2 baskets of pigs, a bag of fish and flat chicken on a stick.  It was so crowded strangers just slept on each other.

We stayed on a small island that was a combination of old hippies, new hippies and the Laos families living there.  Children took us on their boat to watch a beautiful sunset, we rented bikes and road around the island, visited a gorgeous waterfall and had the best new years ever.

I hate this blog.  I cannot figure out how to add pictures so they look nice, so here is a list of random photos from the trip.

Our child boat drivers

We were taken to an island to watch the sunset where a family lived and grew crops.  

random dogs

scary bridges we rode bikes over

The water buffalo were out to get me.  They would stand at the edge of the path and walk out as soon as I came by on my bike.

The Students and Christmas

So, what are the students like?  I feel they can best be described by the Christmas show that they put on.  There was some Christmas in it.  They had the poster and some classes sang some tunes.  I was quite disapointed by Deck the Halls.  They only sang the chorus and their 'l's were quite audible.  No fra ra ra ra ra at Benchama.  

They are similar to any other pre/early teenager (about 11-14).  Friends, free time, snacks, in their own world and stress about too much homework and exams gets them, but in other respects, they couldn't be more different.  I'd love to find a talent show back home with dances like some of these...

So the kids start out as cute and innocent.  Let's all "awwww."  Look at them in their uniforms, as Santa and Frozen.  How could that possibly not be so precious!  I bet they are angels in the classroom too... 

They put on a show, each class sings and dances.  

And there is Diamond, the dancing King.  He can bust quite the move.  Put on some music and that boy is going all out.

So it goes from nice to a little weird, topped off with the odd item of clothing that would never fly in the U.S.  The kids are fluent enough to know what it means, though he did ask what comme des meant.  

And then it just gets downright weird.  

I urge you, if you do nothing today, at least watch the videos.  You won't be disappointed.  

Today I couldn't get the kids to calm down enough to play a game.  That, I believe, are the students in a nutshell.

Sam Pan Boak

3000 holes or 3000 shallow lakes.  It is a rock reef that is covered for half of the year by the Mekong River.  During the dry season you can see it.

There isn't too much in terms of natural attractions in Ubon, this is pretty much it, and a good 2 hour drive away.  We went in November and I don't think it was far enough along in the dry season to really see the rock bed.