Hmong New Year

This is a once a year opportunity to find a husband or wife
I went along with 3 single Hmong guys from work
Kongsai waisted no time, he was merrily playing the courtship game with a lady
The other 2 were a little shy but said they had the next 15 days to return and today was a recky!
The girls outnumbered the boys and out dressed them too
Come on geezers, make an effort! it will be a year before you get a chance again!

courting centrale!

you find who you'd like to talk to or potentially marry!
and then you play catch and start chatting
if you don't drop the ball things are looking good
as you have your partners full attention
what could be simpler

relationships are blossoming!

some couples are looking happy
and i think others are not so sure!

Hmong New Year Dinner

The crops have been harvested and stored
so it's time to celebrate New Year for the Hmong ethnic group of Laos
15 days and nights of celebrating
Ka Yang, one of our staff, invited us to his home for a New Year meal with his family
Everyone is generously welcomed, our tuktuk driver joined in too!
It was day 1 today so Ka Yang got up at 3 a.m to start preparing for the next 15 days of visitors
Traditions are eat, drink and be merry like elsewhere in the world
2 pigs were slaughtered as there had been 2 recent big events, a new baby and the return home of a family member, I skipped the pig's head course!
everyone makes a toast, 2 glasses are filled with whisky, one to acknowledge last year's achievments and one for good luck in the new year
the 1st round was whisky, the 2nd red wine and then it was beerlao! blimey o'riley

a new baby

Bounmee, one of our nurses, had a baby boy this week
mother and baby are doing well, bounmee is a very proud father
and i was happy when bounmee asked if i'd do a new baby check, i got to have a cuddle !

8 weeks until the hospital opens!

it's a very exciting time
things are coming together
the building site is looking more and more like a hospital
do you think we'll be ready in time?!

lessons on the roof

it's winter in luang prabang, there's no heating, cycle to work in a woolly hat!
the roof is the warmest place in the building when the sun burns through the mist by mid morning
so we're having sunny lessons with a spectacular view
meanwhile back in the classroom i've abandoned powerpoint presentations
the doctors prefer lectures, saying 'it's better when you talk and teach'
i decided it's back to the white board in an attempt to get everyone to think a bit more!
this is what we came with for diabetes by putting our heads together
and nobody nodded off!

gorgeous sunset by wat sene

having dinner, watching the sun go down

wat sebhun khoun

i live in the middle of 5 temples
wat sebhun khoun has become the temple where i listen to chanting after work
the novices have started to ask for help with their homework
is it cheeky to ask if i can have a go on the temple drum?!
they might ask me to do the 4 a.m. alarm call session
too many spectators for the afternoon drumming

it's orange season

down at the market people are stocking up on oranges for their bus journeys and school lunches

around town ....

.... everyone's talking about the new KFC
delicious!
and i can't stop taking photos

it's cold in luang prabang

i've learned a new phrase, 'now lai' which means very cold
the locals are making small fires to keep warm
the ice-cream sellers are playing on their phones to keep busy
i'm glad i brought a puffer jacket and a wooly jumper

Novices Valee and Somchit

i love this picture
novices valee and somchit come from the same village, mong noi
which is about 4 hours north of luang prabang
they have been at their temples in Luang Prabang for 5 years
they have great english and big ambitions to help their countryfolk

cruising the meekong

people keep telling me sue perkins is here, i can't see her anywhere!
i love being on the river, a splendid way to spend sunday afternoon relaxing with fab mates, watching life, the spectacular scenery and the beautiful colours