Thursday, 16 October 2014
Day 2 and final preparations of the Boats of Light
During the day of the festival of light the villages put the final touches to their boats and then show them off driving them around the streets of Luang Prabang
The Festival of Light Lhai Heua Fai
There was an amazing carnival atmosphere, Luang Prabang was the busiest I've seen
Each village build a bamboo and tissue-paper boat of light. Families line the main street and monks watch from their temples as the procession moves to Wat Xieng Thong, the boats gather in the courtyard are judged before they go down the temple steps and into the River Meekong.
We followed the procession to Xieng Thong and were in a boat to watch the boats of light pass into the Meekong.
It was a spectacular sight seeing thousands of lights - lanterns, boats of light and candles.
James and I set our boat, made of banana leaf, flowers with incense sticks and candles, onto the Meekong to pay respect to the Budha and the river which brings life and to remind of impermenance and to send away last years troubles and wish good luck for the coming year
What a beautiful festival, I loved it
Each village build a bamboo and tissue-paper boat of light. Families line the main street and monks watch from their temples as the procession moves to Wat Xieng Thong, the boats gather in the courtyard are judged before they go down the temple steps and into the River Meekong.
We followed the procession to Xieng Thong and were in a boat to watch the boats of light pass into the Meekong.
It was a spectacular sight seeing thousands of lights - lanterns, boats of light and candles.
James and I set our boat, made of banana leaf, flowers with incense sticks and candles, onto the Meekong to pay respect to the Budha and the river which brings life and to remind of impermenance and to send away last years troubles and wish good luck for the coming year
What a beautiful festival, I loved it
Saturday lunch with the novice monks
Now that Buddhist Lent is over, the novice monks can leave their temples more often
So I asked the 5 novices I sponsor for lunch
They requested western food and of course pizza!
We finished eating by noon and then we relaxed
My family is growing !!
So I asked the 5 novices I sponsor for lunch
They requested western food and of course pizza!
We finished eating by noon and then we relaxed
My family is growing !!
Somlith is our joker
The team were waiting for Carlo at the Friends Visitor Centre
Carlo lives in Vientiane and was taking part in the half marathon
He ran 350 Km to Luang Prabang in 5 days to raise money for our hospital
Amazing achievement or slightly crazy?!
Somlith always finds time to fool around with his possie of girls!
Carlo lives in Vientiane and was taking part in the half marathon
He ran 350 Km to Luang Prabang in 5 days to raise money for our hospital
Amazing achievement or slightly crazy?!
Somlith always finds time to fool around with his possie of girls!
.... and it finished with the Luang Prabang half marathon
it was a fantastic day
the race started at 6 to avoid the heat and humidity
so i set my alarm for 4.30 to have breaky, coffee and museli
not the best idea, was nauseated for the first 5Km.
there was a great atmosphere, a small, friendly event
i had volunteered the day before to hand out the race paraphernalia
so met heaps of the runners
it was great to have support on the course
kept me going!
and what a beautiful course
the monks were taking Alms at the start
we ran passed temples and along the rivers, it was stunning
and all the funds raised this year were being donated to our hospital
the Lao Friends Hospital for Children team were out in force
we loved it, it was so much fun.
thank you to everyone who sponsored me
a great cause, but next year please come a run with me
the race started at 6 to avoid the heat and humidity
so i set my alarm for 4.30 to have breaky, coffee and museli
not the best idea, was nauseated for the first 5Km.
there was a great atmosphere, a small, friendly event
i had volunteered the day before to hand out the race paraphernalia
so met heaps of the runners
it was great to have support on the course
kept me going!
and what a beautiful course
the monks were taking Alms at the start
we ran passed temples and along the rivers, it was stunning
and all the funds raised this year were being donated to our hospital
the Lao Friends Hospital for Children team were out in force
we loved it, it was so much fun.
thank you to everyone who sponsored me
a great cause, but next year please come a run with me
a productive teaching session at Lao Friends Hospital for Children
we did group work to explore values
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