Champa Holiday #5 by insmai

ສານຂອງທ່ານ ດຣ. ສົມພອນ ດວງດາຣາ ຜູ້ອຳນວຍການໃຫ່ຍລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ Message from Dr.Somphone DOUANGDARA President of Lao Airlines

ໃນທ່າມກາງບັນຍາກາດທີ່ປະຊາຊົນລາວ ທົ່ວທັງປະເທດກຳລັງເບີກ ບານມ່ວນຊື່ນກັບການສະເຫລີມ ສະຫລອງ ວຽງຈັນເປັນນະຄອນ ຫລວງ ຄົບຮອບ 450 ປີ ແລະວັນສະຖາປະນາ ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະ ຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ ຄົບຮອບ 35 ປີ ຊຶ່ງລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການ ບິນລາວ ກໍໄດ້ມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມທີ່ສຳຄັນໃນການປະກອບສ່ວນຮັບໃຊ້ວັນ ສຳຄັນຂອງຊາດດັ່ງກ່າວຄຽງຄູ່ກັບການປັບປຸງແລະພັດທະນາສາຍ ການບິນແຫ່ງຊາດໃຫ້ເຂັ້ມແຂງ ເທື່ອລະກ້າວເພື່ອໃຫ້ຫຍັບເຂົ້າສູ່ ມາດຖານສາກົນ. ນອກຈາກນີ້ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວ ກໍຍັງໄດ້ ຮັບພາລະໃນການຮັບໃຊ້ກອງປະຊຸມລັດພາຄີຄັ້ງທີ່ 1 ວ່າດ້ວຍການ ເກືອດຫ້າມລະເບີດລູກຫວ່ານ (ບອມບີ) ໂດຍໄດ້ຈັດຖ້ຽວບິນຮັບໃຊ້ ຄະນະຜູ້ແທນທີ່ໄປຢ້ຽມຢາມສະໜາມ, ກວດກາເກັບກູ້ລະເບີດທີ່ບໍ່ ທັນແຕກ ທີ່ແຂວງ ຊຽງຂວາງ. ຕັ້ງແຕ່ມື້ສ້າງຕັ້ງມາເຖິງປັດຈຸບັນ ພັກແລະລັດຖະບານ ແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ ຍາມໃດກໍ່ໄດ້ເອົາໃຈໃສ່, ເປັນຫ່ວງເປັນໄຍຕໍ່ລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວ ຊຶ່ງໄດ້ສະແດງອອກໃນການສະໜັບສະໜູນ ແລະ ອະນຸມັດໃຫ້ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ຈັດຊື້ເຮືອບິນໃໝ່ ຊະນິດ ATR72-500 ມາເພີ່ມ ເພື່ອຮອງຮັບງານສຳຄັນ ຂ້າງເທິງ ແລະເຮັດ ການບໍລິການການຂົນສົ່ງທາງອາກາດຂອງລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການບິນ ລາວ, ຊຶ່ງລຳທີ່ 4 ກໍໄດ້ເດີນທາງມາເຖິງນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນໃນ ວັນທີ່ 24 ທັນວາ 2010 ທີ່ຜ່ານມາ. ມາຮອດມື້ນີ້ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວ ມີເຮືອບິນ ຊະນິດ ATR72-500 ຈຳນວນ 4 ລຳ ແລະ MA60 ຈຳນວນ 4 ລຳ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຊື່ອໝັ້ນວ່າ ການນຳໃຊ້ເຮືອບິນໃໝ່ນີ້ ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ລັດວິ ສາຫະກິດ ການບິນລາວ ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມໄວ້ວາງໃຈ ແລະຄວາມເຊື່ອ ໝັ້ນຈາກຜູ້ໂດຍສານ ກໍຄືນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ໃຊ້ການບໍລິການຂອງ ສາຍ ການບິນພວກເຮົາ. ພວກເຮົາກໍຈະພະຍາມປັບປຸງຕົນເອງ ເພື່ອເຮັດ ໃຫ້ການບໍລິການຂອງພວກເຮົານັບມື້ດີຂື້ນ ເປັນກ້າວໆ ແລະຫວັງວ່າ ຈະໄດ້ຮັບການສະໜັບສະໜູນຈາກບັນດາທ່ານຫລາຍຂື້ນກວ່າເກົ່າ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຂໍຕາງໜ້າໃຫ້ພະນັກງານ ແລະ ກຳມະກອນຂອງ ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ ຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຮູ້ບຸນຄຸນ ມາຍັງທຸກ ທ່ານທີ່ເລືອກໃຊ້ການບໍລິການຂອງພວກເຮົາໃນທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ແລະ ໃນໂອກາດ ປີໃໝ່ລາວ ພ.ສ. 2554 ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍອວຍພອນໄຊ ອັນປະເສີດ ມາຍັງບັນດາທ່ານ ຈົ່ງມີແຕ່ຄວາມຜາສຸກ, ສຸຂະພາບ ເຂັ້ມແຂງ, ປະສົບຜົນສຳເລັດໃນໜ້າທີ່ການງານ ແລະສົມຫວັງໃນ ທຸກສິ່ງ ທີ່ທ່ານປາດຖະໜາ ຕະຫລອດປີໃໝ່ ນີ້ດ້ວຍເທີ້ນ.

This year’s Lao New Year, 2554 was celebrated amidst the country’s commemoration of the 450th Anniversary of Vientiane Capital and the 35th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic. Lao Airlines, the national flagship carrier, is proud to have played an important role in serving these remarkable events in parallel with improvement and development efforts to bring Lao PDR closer to international standards. Since the establishment of Lao Airlines, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Government of Lao PDR have supported the airline, such as authorizing the purchase of the brand new ATR72-500 aircraft to add to its fleet. This will not only guarantee services to meet traveler’s needs, especially in light of this year’s combined celebrations, but also supports future expansion of Lao Airlines. At present, Lao Airlines has four ATR72-500’s and four MA0 aircraft. I believe that with a larger fleet, this will render Lao Airlines more confidence in the market place. In addition to our regular services, Lao Airlines has provided services to various events, such as the First Meeting of States Parties on Cluster Munitions (bombies) by organizing the delegates’ field trip flights to Xiengkhouang Province. At Lao Airlines, we will endeavor to improve ourselves and hope to receive support from all our loyal and trusted passengers. On behalf of Lao Airlines staff, we would like to express our gratitude to all of you for choosing our services.

ສາລະບານ

Contents

10 Boun Bangfai, a call for rain 16 Do’s & Don’ts in Laos 18 Ecotourism Laos

Five Highlights in Champasak Province

20 Lao Food what’s that?

24 ພູຫີນປູນ ແດນທຳມະຊາດອັນມະຫັດສະຈັນ Phou Hin Poun A Natural Wonderland 28 ຄົ້ນຫາພາທ່ຽວ ຖຳ້ໃນແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ Making Tracks The hidden caves of Khammouane

Saving the Natural Resources for our Children

39 ໃຜຈະໄດ້ເປັນ ທີ່ 1? ສານຝັນໃຫ້ເປັນດາວ 41 Lao Music Award 2011

43 41

35 ປູກຊີວິດ ປູກອານາຄົດ

43 ນັກສີລະປິນ ຍຸກໃຫມ່ ມາຣິສາ “ປ໋ອກ” ດາຣາສຫວັດ Contemporary Artist Marisa “Pok” Darasavath

ຄວາມງາມຂອງຖຳ້ກອງລໍ, ແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ Konglor Cave, Khammouane Province

Lao AIrlines In-Flight Magazine EXECUTIVE ADVISER: MR. SOMPHONG MONGKHONVILAY MR. SOUKASEUM PHOTHISANE DR. SOMPHONE DOUANGDARA MR. SOMSANOUK MIXAY MR. CHANTHY DEUANSAVANH Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Soukhee Norasilp Proof editor: Mr. somsouk souksavath Executive Editor: Inphom Deuansavanh English Editor: KaYing Yang PROJECT MANAGER: ALEXander olsen Graphic Designer: Phitsamai Chanthaboury Xayaphone Thesavong transalation: thanongsak vongsakda PHOTOGRAPHER: Inphom Deuansavanh XAYKHAM Thanavorakit Kounthawatphinyo Account-Finance: Khounkham Chanthaboury Executive Marketing: Jeppe Bauer Carlsen

jeppe@insmai.com

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Editor’s Note Welcome to Champa Holiday! This issue covers several interesting topics, starting with the Boun Bangfai or Rocket Festival which calls for rain, highlights of tourism sites in Champasak and Khammoune provinces, and an interview with an accomplished painter. The months of May and June bring several important events. In mid-May people throughout Laos will observe the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bouca, also recognized by UNESCO as an key Buddhist event to commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment and Death of Lord Buddha. After this holiday, and as described in the article by Somsanouk Mixay, every farming village will celebrate the rocket festival where rockets will be launched towards the sky, asking the gods for rain in preparation for the rice planting season. In June, we celebrate two notable events, National Tree Planting and International Children’s Day. The call to respect our forests and our children is more urgent now than ever. This year, it is even more significant because we saw the destructive earthquake and tsunami in March that killed thousands of people in Japan. In our neighboring countries, floods washed over agricultural lands and damaged people’s livelihood. These natural disasters are caused by man and his greed against nature. So we need to seriously take steps to protect the environment to reduce greenhouse gases in an attempt to stop global warming for our children’s sake. On June 1st, we encourage everyone to plant at least one tree. Reforestation will provide clean air and help restore our natural resources to become a greener Laos for future generations. Finally, as we begin the New Year 2554, I bid everyone excellent health and happiness. Best Regards Editor in Chief Soukhee Norasilp

ບົດ ບ.ກ ສະບາຍດີ ທ່ານຜູ້ອ່ານທີ່ຮັກແພງພົບກັນອີກເທື່ອໜຶ່ງໃນສະບັບ ນີ້ຊຶ່ງເປັນສະບັບທີ່ມີກິດຈະກຳອັນສຳຄັນຫຼາຍຢ່າງເຊັ່ນ: ເປັນວັນ ເດັກນ້ອຍສາກົນ, ວັນປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້, ວັນວິສາຂະບູຊາ ທີ່ເປັນວັນສຳ ຄັນທາງພຸດທະສາດສະໜາທີ່ອົງການ UNESCO ໄດ້ໃຫ້ຄວາມ ສຳຄັນວັນໜຶ່ງອີກຊຶ່ງເອີ້ນ ວັນເພັນ 15 ຄ່ຳເດືອນ 6, ປະສູດ, ຕັດ ສະຮູ້ ແລະ ປະຣິນິພານ ຂອງພະພຸດທະເຈົ້າ. ພ້ອມກັນນີ້ກໍ່ຍັງ ເປັນວັນທີ່ປຽ່ ນສົກໃໝ່ຄື ວັນປ່ຽນ ພ.ສ ຈາກ 2553 ເປັນ ພ.ສ 2554 ກໍແມ່ນວັນນີ້ບແ ໍ່ ມ່ນປ່ຽນຕາມມື້ສງັ ຂານລ່ວງຕາມທີ່ເຂົ້າໃຈກັນ. ໃນເດືອນ 6 ກໍ່ມີປະເພນີລາວເຮົາອີກອັນໜຶ່ງຄືພິທີກຳຂໍຝົນ. ຄື ການຈູດບັ້ງໄຟຖວາຍແຖນຕາມຕຳນານຮີ ດສິບສອງຄອງສິບສີ່ ຂອງມື້ລາງພຣະອາຈາຣຍ໌ມະຫາປານ ອັນນັນໂທ ເຊິ່ງເປັນຄວາມ ເຊື່ ອ ຂອງປະຊາຊົ ນ ລາວໃນສະໄໝກ່ ອ ນເພື່ ອ ໃຫ້ ພ ະຍາແຖນ ໄດ້ປະທານນ້ຳຝົນລົງມາເພື່ອຈະໄດ້ເຮັດການປູກຝັງ. ພິທີກຳດັ່ງ ກ່າວນີ້ແມ່ນເຮັດກ່ອນທີ່ປະຊາຊົນຈະລົງມືການຜະລິດກະສິກຳ ຊຶ່ງປະຈຸບັນນີ້ກໍ່ຍັງມີຢູ່. ໂລກເຮົາກຳລັງຖືກຄຸກຄາມຈາກໄພທຳມະຊາດຫຼາຍຢ່າງເຊັ່ນ: ໃນເດືອນມີນາ 2011 ທີ່ຜ່ານມາມະຫັນຕະໄພຄື້ນມໍລະນະໄດ້ ກືນເອົາຊີວິດຂອງປະຊາຊົນຍີປຸ່ນນັບແສນຄົນ. ຢູ່ແຖບບ້ານໃກ້ ເຮືອນຄຽງຂອງປະເທດເຮົາກໍ່ເກີດມີຝົນຕົກນ້ຳຖ້ວມເຮືອນຊານ ແລະ ມະນຸດເສຍຊີວິດຢ່າງໜ້າເວດທະນາ. ໂສກນາດຕະກຳທີ່ ເກີ ດ ຂື້ ນ ເລື່ ອ ຍໆແບບນີ້ ກໍ່ ຍ້ ອ ນສາຍເຫດມາຈາກນ້ ຳ ມື ຂ ອງມະ ນຸດເອງທີ່ທຳລາຍທຳມະຊາດພາໃຫ້ເກີດພາວະໂລກຮ້ອນເພາະ ວ່າຕົ້ນໄມ້ຖືກຕັດທຳລາຍດ້ວຍຄວາມເຫັນແກ່ໂຕຂອງມະນຸດ. ມັນເຖິງເວລາແລ້ວທີ່ຊາວໂລກທັງມວນຄວນຈະຕ້ອງສາມັກ ຄີກັນຮັກສາສະພາບແວດລ້ອມໂດຍການບໍ່ທຳລາຍປ່າໄມ້ທີ່ເຫຼືອ ຢູ່ພຽງເລັກນ້ອຍນີ້ຕື່ມ. ວັນທີ 1 ມິຖຸນາ ໃນແຕ່ລະປີຈົ່ງລະດົມກັນ ປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ຢ່າງໜ້ອຍໃຫ້ໄດ້ຜູ້ລະໜຶ່ງ (1) ຕົ້ນ, ຕົ້ນໄມ້ຊະນິດໃດ ກໍ່ໄດ້ ພວກເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຄວາມຊຸ່ມຊື່ນຈາກຕົ້ນໄມ້ 6 ລ້ານຕົ້ນ,ໄດ້ ອາກາດບໍລິສຸດ,ໄດ້ສະພາບແວດລ້ ອມທີ່ດີຂຶ້ນຖ້ າ ຈັ ດຕັ້ ງກັ ນໄດ້ ແບບນີບໍ່ດົນເມືອງລາວກໍ່ຈະຂຽວໄປທົ່ວ. ພົບກັນໃໝ່ສະບັບໜ້າ. ດ້ວຍຄວາມນັບຖື ບກ ສຸຂີ ນໍຣະສິລປ໌

ວາລະສານຂອງການບິນລາວ ຄະນະທີ່ປຶກສາ: ທ່ານ ສົມພົງ ມົງຄົນວິໄລ ທ່ານ ສຸກກະເສີມ ໂພທິສານ ທ່ານ ດຣ ສົມພອນ ດວງດາລາ ທ່ານ ສົມສະນຸກ ມີໄຊ ທ່ານ ຈັນທີ ເດືອນສະຫວັນ ຫົວຫນ້າບັນນາທິການ: ທ່ານ ສຸຂີ ນໍຣະສິລປ໌ ບັນນາທິການພິສູດອັກສອນ: ສົມສຸກ ສຸກສະຫວັດ ບັນນາທິການບໍລິຫານ: ອິນພົມ ເດືອນສະຫວັນ ບັນນາທິການພາສາອັງກິດ: ຄາຍີງ ຢາງ ຫົວຫນ້າໂຄງການ: ອາເລັກຊັນເດີ ໂອນເຊີນ ອອກແບບ ແລະ ຈັດຫນ້າ: ພິດສະໄຫມ ຈັນທະບູລີ ໄຊຍະພອນ ເທສາວົງ ຈັດທຳການແປ: ທະນົງສັກ ວົງສັກດາ ຖ່າຍພາບ: ອິນພົມ ເດືອນສະຫວັນ ໄຊຄຳ ທະນະວໍລະກິດ ກຸນທະວັດພິນໂຍ ບັນຊີ-ການເງິນ: ກຸນຄຳ ຈັນທະບູລີ ຜູ້ຈັດການ ຝ່າຍການຕະຫຼາດ: ເຈພີ ເຢຍເປີ ຄາຣເຊັນ jeppe@insmai.com ການຕະຫຼາດ-ໂຄສະນາ ແລະ ສ້າງສັນ: ອິນສະໄຫມ ການສື່ສານທີ່ສ້າງສັນ, ໂທແຟັກ: (856-21) 223590 info@insmai.com | www.insmai.com ເຈົ້າຂອງ ແລະ ຜູ້ຈັດພິມ: ບໍລິສັດ ອິນເຕີ ມີເດຍ ລາວ ຈຳກັດ ໂທແຟັກ: (856-21) 480947 intermedia_laos@gmail.com under license of Lao Airlines ສຳນັກງານໃຫຍ່: 02 ຖະຫນົນປາງຄຳ, ບ້ານຊຽງຢືນ ເມືອງຈັນທະບູລີ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໂທ : (856-21) 212051-54, 212016 ແຟັກ: (856-21) 212056, 212058 info@laoairlines.com www.laoairlines.com

Boun Bangfai, a call for rain By Somsanouk Mixay

The excitement of Pimai or Lao New Year celebrations in the fifth month of the Lao calendar (mid-April) has calmed down (see Champa Holiday issue 04, March-April 2011). According to the Hit Sipsong Khong Sipsee, the Book of 12 festivals and 14 traditions of Laos, the sixth month is devoted to the spirits. As such, people will pay homage to the foundation pillars and the major spirit houses of their towns and villages to ask for protection by making offerings of food to the protectors. An important Buddhist festival, Boun Visakha Bouca, is also held in the sixth month. This festival is the Commemoration of the Birth, Enlightenment and Death of Lord Buddha (this year on May 17). on the evening of the festival, devotees participate in candlelit processions around the Viharn, the main sanctuary of their temples. Following Boun Visakha Bouca, preparations are often underway for the rice cultivation season. But since it is still the dry season the sun scorches the earth and the heat is more and more unbearable. Despite this, villagers must start planting , especially glutinous rice, which is the staple food for the majority of Lao people. Rice paddy cultivation needs a lot of water. To ensure that there is plenty of water, villagers call for rain by resorting to the age-old tradition of Boun Bangfai, the Rocket Festival (bangfai means tube of fire).

An age-old recipe

In the past, rockets were usually made by monks or former monks. The rockets were made of several small bamboos assembled around a main bamboo tube, which is filled with a powder mixture of coal and saltpeter. The coal is obtained from the burning of a special tree, the kapok tree. The formula for the powder is covetously kept. The rockets are classed in several categories. The normal ones being bangfai muen (requiring 12 kilograms of powder); even more powerful than that is bangfai saen (120 kilograms of powder) and the most powerful is banfai larn ( several hundred kilograms of powder). The powder is compacted tightly in the central tube (but nowadays a plastic PVC pipe is used instead of a the main bamboo. The advantage of a PVC pipe is that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t explode like a bamboo tube does sometimes. In case the bamboo explodes, the owner of the rocket would be thrown in a mud puddle while spectators laugh at him. This same treatment is also inflicted to the owner of a rocket that misfires.

Rockets are either commissioned by districts and villages or by individual families and businesses. They are artistically decorated with gold and colored paper with a golden Naga as their head. The Nagas are considered generators of rain. The rockets are carried in a procession to the spirit house of the village and presented to the local protector and to request for a successful launching, good rain and abundant harvest. Then, they are paraded from house to house amidst the sounds of chants, drums and gongs. At each house, alcohol flows, uninterrupted so by the time everyone arrives at the launching pad, the participants are, of course fairly tipsy. Finally, all the rockets are gathered at the temple yard and one by one are fired from the launching pad. The launching pad consists of scaffoldings made up of tree trunks or bamboos and rests on a big and tall tree located at the edge of the village, and often times next to a temple. Each bangfai has to queue up to the launching pad. But before being fired each rocket must be â&#x20AC;&#x153;washedâ&#x20AC;?. That means the powder has to be humidified and softened, otherwise, the rocket would explode immediately. Each specialist has his own recipe for the washing of the rocket. When the rocket is fired, the powder in the front would burn first and the tail would burn last. As the fuse is lit, all the spectators will hold their breath in anticipation. No matter what happens, whether the fuse continues to burn or not, the team responsible for the rocket has to be on the scaffolding, helping it to launch while making erotic gestures. And, when the rocket lifts up in a cloud of fumes, a huge hooray resounds. Hundreds of eyes follow its trajectory until it disappears in the horizon. Officials posted in the landing area would measure how far the rocket has gone and communicate the results to the organizers at the end of the festival when awards are presented to the winners.

A fertility rite

The pre-Buddhist practice of Boun Bangfai was a fertility rite. This explains the phallus-shaped rocket that is fired into the sky to penetrate the clouds and generate rain is also why young men dress as women, as a sexual connotation, to shock the sky which would then send thunder and lightning and finally the much needed rain. People carry wooden penises of all sizes, painted in red, made of wood, and or sometimes carry live turtles, which symbolizes the female sexual organ. Expressive puppets, not seen anymore since the change of the political regime in 1975, operated by the revelers, make love frenetically. During parades, a leader chants to women very crude and risquĂŠ words, while all the other participants sing the chorus. The words of the chants are now less erotic and are more oriented towards production and development.

For a bountiful harvest

In the old days, the main festival was held in Vientiane and the rockets were launched from the sandy banks of the Mekong River just in front of the Lane Xang hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in those days, considered one of the major hotels in the capital city. The rockets were brought in a procession accompanied by dancers and musicians. Awards were given for the most beautifully decorated bangfai, the best dance troupe and the rocket that flew the highest or farthest. One year, a particularly powerful rocket went so far that it fell on to Thai territory on the other side of the Mekong River and burnt down a school. Later on, it was decided that the festival should be held in the hinterland and to fire the bangfai over the rice fields instead. But, as less and less uninhabited land are left surrounding the capital, the event was shifted to other districts and villages. Villages all over the country organized their own festivals on the most auspicious day determined by the monks or simply on weekends so that many people can attend and enjoy the event. If many bangfai have been successfully fired, the rain will pour generously on the earth and that yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harvest will be bountiful.

DO’S & DON’TS IN

LAOS

WELCOME TO LAOS! WE HOPE TOUR VISIT IS ENJOYABLE AND REQUEST THAT YOU RESPECT THE LAO LAW, CULTURE AND CUSTOMS. PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TRAVEL IN THE LAO PDR

The Lao word for Hello is “Sabai dee”, usually Said with a Smile. Touching or Showing Affectionn in Public will Embarrass Your Hosts.

Remember, your head is ‘high’, your feet ’low’, it is polite to gently crouch down when passing someone who is seated. Never, ever step over someone in your path.

Lao people traditionally greet each other by pressing their palms together to ‘NOP’, although it is acceptable for men to shake hands.

Kissing and hugging in public is impolite. Please be discrete.

In Laos your head is ‘High’, your feet ‘Low’. Using your feet for anything other than walking or playing sport is generally considered rude.

Lao people speak softly and avoid confrontation. Please do not shout or raise your voice. Before you take a photo of someone ask if it is ok.

Touching someone’s head is very, very impolite. Lao people appreciate clean and neatly dressed visitors.

Please do not distribute gifts to children as it encourages begging, but give to an established organization or village elders instead.

Bathing nude in public is impolite. Please remember to take your shoes off before you enter a Lao person’s home.

Try eating delicious Lao food whenever you can. It helps local business and Lao farmers.

Please show respect and dress neatly while in temples and when taking photos. There are many other sacred items and sites in Lao. Please don’t touch or enter these places without permission.

Monks are revered and respected in Laos. However woman should not touch a monk or a monk’s robes.

Please help to keep Laos clean and beautiful by not leaving litter. Picking up rubbish sets a good example for Lao youth.

The illegal sale of wildlife and wildlife products endangers many species native to Laos. Help protect Lao wildlife by refusing to buy wildlife products.

Please help prevent forest fires.

Laos loses a little of its heritage every time an antique is taken out of the country. Please do not buy antique Buddha or other sacred items. Instead, support local craftsmen by purchasing new, quality handicrafts. The use of drugs is illegal in Laos. The consequences may be severe for you and Lao society.

Ecotourism Laos

Five Highlights in Champasak Province

Bernie Rosenbloom spotlights five of Champasak’s top attractions, from ancient temples and Mekong River islands to green adventures and lazy island bike rides.

Champasak Province – the Gateway to Southern Laos – places scores of natural, cultural, and historical attractions within easy reach. You can base your stay in Pakse’s urban center, French colonial Champasak Town, the Mekong’s 4,000 Islands, or the Bolaven Plateau, each with its own distinct flavor and sites.

Champasak Province

Pre-Angkor Prize u Temple Complex and 400Champasak’s headliner, the Vat Pho itage Landscape, predates Anghectare UNESCO-listed World Her foot of Vat Phou sits Shestukor Wat by hundreds of years. At the dom’s walled capital, believed pura, the 5th-century Chenla King n settlement. After inspecting to be Southeast Asia’s oldest urba ated water system and marked the “Ancient City” and its sophistic early classic Khmer architecroad to Angkor, explore Vat Phou’s centuries. A staircase climb ture, dating from the 7th to 12th (barays) and six terraces to the leads past giant manmade ponds pillared Nandi Hall.

Photo by Christophe EYQUEM

Mekong Island Madness As the Mekong widens on its Cambodi an approach, the 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don) crop up. Pedal arou nd Don Khong to check out Khmer-era relics, a 14th-century tem ple, and locals processing palm sugar. Head to Don Khone, a com pact tourist enclave, and cross rapids on suspension bridges, pond er fish-catching bamboo scaffold, and examine the remnants of a 100-year-old French locomotive and railway. At Hang Khone Pier, inspect a 19th-century Japanese steam engine, engine house, three-storey pier, and pulley system used to haul ferries, and then take a boat ride to spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins.

Waterfalls Galore When it comes to rivers leaping off cliffs and crashing over boulders, Champasak is king. A wooden bridge in Don Khone leads to the Mekong’s thundering Li Phi Waterfalls, a series of rock-lined channels clouded in mist. Continue south to Khone Pha Pheng, Southeast Asia’s largest waterfall by volume, and watch the Mekong rush over a 15-meter-high, jutting-rock fault line. A trip to the Bolaven Plateau presents the twin 120-meter-high Tad Fane Waterfall (www.tadfane. com), Tad Nyeuang’s 42-metre drop, the broad Tad Champy cluster, and the rectangular Tad Pha Suam near treetop bungalows.

Green Fun Hiking, elephant trekking, and soaring through forest canopies top Champasak’s eco list. A pleasant two-hour trek from Tad Fane to Tad Nyeuang Waterfalls follows a stream and passes through coffee plantations to photographic vantage points. Head off on a pachyderm journey (www.xepian.org) from Kiet Ngong, and climb Phou Asa Mountain to the mysterious stone remains of an ancient temple before spending the night in a village home stay or eco lodge (www.kingfisherecolodge.com). For a bigger thrill, tackle the Treetop Explorer and fly on zip lines through the Bolaven Plateau’s woods (www.treetoplaos.com).

Cultural Cycling Mekong’s Don Daeng Island, located inside the Vat Phou World Heritage Landscape, offers a peaceful retreat with shaded paths, perfect for a cultural bicycle ride. On an island lap, stop at a sacred ancient forest stupa, sample coconut and sugar cane juice and local fruits, watch basket weavers in action, and ferry to pre-Vat Phou Tomo Temple. Local guides are available at Ban Hua Don Daeng Village, which also provides overnight stays in their community lodge and family home stays that include a typical Lao meal of fresh Mekong fish and locally grown organic vegetables.

ientiane-based travel writer, Bernie Rosenbloom, has covered Southeast Asia for more than 15 years. He has authored several Lao provincial guidebooks, and co-authored “The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam”. Along with Champa Holiday, Bernie has recently contributed feature stories about Laos to Sawasdee, PATA Compass, Travel Review, Yunnan Mekong Travel, and Travel Trade Gazette. Contact: bernie.rosenbloom@gmail.com.

isit: rmation, v m fo in re o m co For urismLaos.

www.ecoto rismlaos.org www.tou laos.com www.stdp

Lao

what’s that

by Xaixana Champanakone at Viangchan’s night food market on Khounboulom Road

Introduction

Kin Khao – ‘eat rice’ is the daily celebration of life, and the way of cooking what you ‘eat with rice’ – kin kap khao – reflects the Lao attitude to life : Simplicity

Chilli Dips - the ‘major-domo’ of the food spread

Jeow, there is jeow, and there is jeow. Sauces and dips are called jeow as long as these contain chillies.

Three rocks, some firewood and a pot will do the trick, and a mortar and pestle would come in handy. Ah, and a steam pot and bamboo basket!

The classic jeow is either fairly dry or a paste, which plays a principal role in the daily finger eaten sticky rice diet. Its preparation calls for the chillies, shallots and garlic to be throroughly roasted. This process takes away their acidity and adds that smoky touch. They are then pounded with mortar & pestle to produce the dip.

You buy fresh in the market what has been newly gathered and caught along the rivers, in the fields and in the jungle vegetables, leaves, herbs and fish. Whatever livestock runs around the house yard makes for a feast. Bamboo skewers grill things on the fire while banana leave wrappings roast food in the hot ashes or steam it in the bamboo basket; the pot cooks soups and stews, and fries the odd meat. Mortar and pestle pound roots and spices, chilli pastes and the life sustaining papaya salad; and the steamer and basket makes a home for it all with sticky rice. With few tools and some herbs the Lao know to magically produce culinary delight, finelybalanced in flavour, varied in preparation, all of it ultra healthy - light and fresh. Cooking and life - simple, immediate, receiving the abundance of nature with humility. Every meal is Thanksgiving, an auspicious and merry occasion blessed by the presence of family, friends, neigbours and colleagues … or you as the guest, anytime. Where does this leave you? Venture on foot or by kayak into the deep countryside for a ‘homestay’, eat in the local street stalls or bypass exercise and culture shock and go adventuring at a restaurant dedicated to serving Lao food in style. Where daily meals are ‘ingenuity in simplicity’ – sticky rice, a chilli dip, something grilled and something boiled, all of which is accompanied by mountains of fresh herbs – festive occasions justify the extra effort to produce some of the Lao signature dishes to be featured in this magazine’s next issues together with everyday fare for healthy sustenance : Copyright © Vincent Fischer-Zernin 2010

Tomato Jeow

Eggplant Jeow

Sawtooth leaves Mushroom Jeow

The choice of jeow is enormous and solely depends on what other ingredients you have thought of. The particular herb, vegetable, meat, fish or insect that adds its distinctive flavour, gives its name to a jeow like jeow dok-het (mushroom dip). Some famous preserved bong varieties are identified by province of origin like Louang Prabang, Xieng Khouang, Samneua. A combination of vegetables are served alongside: fresh cucumber and long beans; raw or pickled bamboo shoots; scalded cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, ferns etc. Eat together with sticky rice and any grilled meat and you have a feast; light, healthy and fulfilling simple!

Jeow also means any sauce which contains chilli and is served aside in a little bowl for individual seasoning. The most famous is the universal jeow mak-phet pa (chilli fish sauce) or nam prik pla in Thai. Jazz this sauce up with a bit of garlic, a touch of coriander and a good squeeze of lime and you add spice to any lame-duck dish.

Address Saifone Jeo Hone Restaurant

is located on Quay Fa-ngum Road opposite Don Chan Palace Hotel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit noisy because of the live band but the jeow hawn is real good!

Jeow Hawn, jeow is served hot (hawn) as a soup in an earthenware hotpot on a charcoal stove which is placed in the center of the dining table. The food is cooked and eaten fondue-style. You may like to add young coconut water and its young jellylike meat. Different kinds of meat and fish are served on separate plates. Participants use chopsticks and long handled little sieve-bowls to do their cooking. Prepare a choice of eggs, glass noodles and vegetables such as spring onions, cabbage, morning glory, watercress and mushrooms which are added at intervals to the pot as they are eaten together with the soup. Refill the hotpot with stock when needed. See you in the next issue !

Lao Cooking and The Essence of Life by Xaixana Champanakone

- Monument Books in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse - Green Discovery Travel Specialistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offices in Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Thakhaek and Pakse - Preview and online purchase at tropicaldesignfz.net/book 21

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ພູຫີນປູນ - ແດນທຳມະຊາດອັນມະຫັດສະຈັນ

Phou Hin Poun -A Natural Wonderland Dr. Terry Bolger, Cave and Karst Specialist

Khammouane Province

hou Hin Poun National Protected Area, located in the central Lao province of Khammouane, is a natural wonderland of limestone karst mountains with spires and high cliffs, hidden valleys closed off from the outside world, spectacular caves, rivers and springs. Also known as the Khammouane Limestone, Phou Hin Poun is in the Central Indochina Limestone biogeographical region. Its rugged karst mountains and caves provide a wide variety of habitats which support a high biodiversity of plants and animals. In addition to large cats, elephants, gibbons, the beautiful Duoc Langur and more than 43 bat species, there are a number of rare and unique mammal and bird species living in Phou Hin Poun that have only recently been discovered by scientists. These include the Kha-nyou, a rodent that looks like a cross between a squirrel and a rat, and birds such as the Sooty Babbler and the Bare-faced Bulbul. Phou Hin Poun, with its dissected landscape of rugged karst mountains interspersed with flat-bottomed valleys or khouans, is one of the most accessible of the National Protected Areas. Different areas and tourist attractions can be accessed from Route 13, from Ban Nahin on Route 8 in the north, and from Thakhek and Route 12 in the south. To reach Phou Hin Poun from Vientiane requires a four to five hour drive south on Route 13.

ປ່າສະຫງວນ ແຫ່ງຊາດ ພູຫີນປູນ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ ແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ, ທີ່ພາກ ກາງຂອງ ສປປລາວ. ເປັນແດນດິນທີ່ອູດົມສົມບູນໄປດ້ວຍພູຫີນ ປູນ ທີ່ມີຈອມຊໍ່ຊອນ ສະລັບຊັບຊ້ອນ ແລະ ມີຮ່ອມພູ ທີ່ລຶກລັບ ຫ່າງໄກຈາກໂລກພາຍນອກ, ມີ ຖ້ຳ ແລະ ສາຍນ້ຳລຳທານເກີດຂື້ນ ແບບມະຫັດສະຈັນ ພ້ອມທັງນ້ຳອອກບໍ່ຕ່າງໆ. ພູຫີນປູນ ເປັນພູທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ ເກີດມີຊື່ສຽງ ທັງເປັນ ຈຸດໃຈກາງໃນ ເຂດອິນດູຈນ ີ . ພູຫນ ີ ປູນແຮ່ທາດ ຜາຫີນປູນ ແລະ ບັນດາ ຖ້ຳ ໃນແຂວງນີ້ ເປັນທີ່ພັກພາອາໄສຂອງຊີວະນາໆ ພັນ ທີ່ປະກອບ ດ້ວຍ ພືດພັນ ແລະ ພັນສັດ ຫຼາກຫຼາຍຊະນິດ. ນອກຈາກ ເສືອ ຊ້າງ ທະນີ, ດົກ ດັງເກີ ທີ່ໜ້າຮັກ ແລະ ເຈຍ ຫຼາຍ ກົ່ວ 43 ຊະນິດ ທີ່ເຂດສາຍພູແຫ່ງນີ້ ຍັງມີ ສັດປະເພດຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ລຽ້ ງລູກດ້ວຍນ້ຳນົມ ແລະ ນົກ ຊຶ່ງຂໍ້ມູນທັງຫມົດນີ້ ແມ່ນໄດ້ຮັບການສຳຫຼວດໂດຍຄະນະ ທິມງານ ນັກວິທະຍາສາດ ເມື່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້.ໃນຈຳນວນ ສັດເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ຍັງລວມມີ ໜູ ຂາຢູ ເປັນສັດຈາກການປະສົມພັນລະຫວ່າງກະຮອກ ກັບ ໜູ ແລະ ຍັງມີນົກຕ່າງໆ ລວມທັງຝຸງ ນົກປອດ. ພູຫີນປູນ ປະກອບ ດ້ວຍທິວທັດ ຂອງພູ ທີ່ຊໍ່ຊ້ອນ ຕາມຮ່ອມພູ ທີ່ມີ ພື້ນຮາບພຽງ ຫຼືເອີ້ນວ່າ ຂັວນ, ຊຶ່ງຖືວ່າເປັນຈຸດເດີນທາງເຂົ້າໄປໃນ ເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດ. ຈຸດທີ່ຕັ້ງຕ່າງໆ ແລະ ສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງ

Ecotourism activities available in Phou Hin Poun include trekking, rafting, kayaking and caving. Phou Hin Poun is perhaps best known for its large and spectacular caves. The largest and most well-known of these is the Konglor Cave on the Hinboun River, which is navigable by boat for 7.5 km along the underground river to the closed valley of Ban Natan on the other side of the cave. A number of other popular tourist caves, such as Nang Aen Cave and Pa Fa Cave, are located east of Thakhek along Route 12. On our trip we took ‘the road less travelled’ to visit the caves and hidden village of Ban Boumlou, located in another one of the closed valleys of Phou Hin Poun. The Nam Pakan river flows out of a cave called Tham Khoun Nam Pakan, or ‘Source of the Pakan River Cave’. Just outside of the cave entrance is a beautiful blue lake, fringed with Asoka trees (Kham pha ma) which are bursting with bouquets of bright-orange flowers in March and April. The sandy beach of the lake provides a scenic spot to camp under the Asoka trees, looking out across the lake to the cave entrance.

ທ່ຽວ ອື່ນໆ ສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປເຖີງໄດ້ ໂດຍໃຊ້ທາງເລກທີ 13 ຫຼື ຈາກ ບ້ານນາຫີນ ຕາມທາງເລກທີ 8 ທີ່ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ທິດເໜືອ ຫຼື ຈາກ ເມືອງ ທ່າແຂກ ຫຼື ຕາມທາງເລກທີ 12 ຢູ່ທິດທາງໃຕ້. ຖ້າຈະເດີນທາງ ຈາກນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໄປທ່ຽວຊົມເຂດພູຫີນປູນ ທ່ານສາມາດ ຂັບລົດໄປ ໄປຕາມທາງເລກທີ 13 ໃຕ້ ປະມານ 4 ຫຼື 5 ໂມງ ກໍເຖິງ ຈຸດປາຍທາງ. ກິດຈະກຳ ທີ່ສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້ ທີ່ພູຫີນປູນ ລວມມີການ ທ່ຽວປ່າ ລ່ອງແພ ໃຊ້ເຮືອກາຍັກ ແລະ ທ່ຽວຊົມຖ້ຳ. ພູຫີນປູນ ເປັນສະ ຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ ມີຖ້ຳໃຫຍ່ທີ່ມະຫັດສະຈັນ. ຖ້ຳທີ່ໃຫຍ່ ທີ່ສຸດ ແລະ ມີຊື່ສຽງທີ່ສຸດ ແມ່ນຖ້ຳ ກອງລໍ ທີ່ຢູ່ສາຍນ້ຳ ຫີນບູນ ທີ່ສາມາດຂີ່ເຮືອເຂົ້າລອດຮູຖ້ຳ ມີຄວາມຍາວ 7,5 ກມ ໂດຍມີ ບ້ານນາຕານ ທີ່ຕັ້ງ ຢູ່ອີກເບື້ອງໜຶ່ງຂອງຖ້ຳ. ນອກຈາກນີ້ ທີ່ແຂວງ ຄຳມ່ວນ ຍັງມີຖ້ຳໃຫຍ່ ອີກຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງທີ່ ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ ເຊັ່ນ ຖ້ຳ ນາງ ແອ່ນ ແລະ ຖ້ຳ ປາຝາ ທີ່ຕັ້ງ ຢູ່ທາງທິດ ຕາເວັນອອກ ຂອງເມືອງທ່າແຂກ ຕາມສາຍທາງ ເລກທີ 12. ການເດີນທາງ ພວກເຮົາ ແມ່ນເວົ້າໄດ້ວ່າ ເປັນການໄປຫາເຂດຜີ ບໍ່ທ່ອງຄົນບໍ່ທຽວ ເພື່ອ ຊອກຊົມຖ້ຳ ແລະ ຫາຄວາມລຶກລັບ ຂອງ ບ້ານ ບູມລູ ທີ່ຕັ້ງ ຢູ່ເບື້ອງລະຟາກ ພູ ຫີນປູນ. ສາຍ ນ້ຳປະກັນ ໄຫຼອອກຈາກຖ້ຳ ເອີ້ນວ່າ ຖ້ຳຂຸນ ນ້ຳປະກັນເປັນແຫຼ່ງກຳເນີດ ຂອງ ຖ້ຳ ນ້ຳປະກັນ. ຢູ່ໃກ້ໆ ທາງເຂົ້າປາກຖ້ຳ ຍັງມີວັງນ້ຳສີຟ້າ ທີ່ໃສ ສົດງົດງາມ ໄຫຼກະຈາຍມາຈາກປ່າໄມ້ ຄຳພະມາ. ເປັນຕົ້ນໄມ້ ຄ້າຍ ຄື ເຕົ້າດອກໄມ້ ມີດອກສີເຫຼືອງອ່ອນ, ທີ່ແຍ້ມບານ ໃນລະຫວ່າງ ເດືອນມິນາ ແລະ ເມສາ. ທີ່ ຫາດຊາຍ ແຄມໜອງ ສາມາດເປັນ ຈຸດນັ່ງຊົມ ຕົ້ນໄມ້ ຄຳພະມາ ໂດຍແນມຜ່ານໜອງ ມາທາງເຂົ້າ ປາກຖ້ຳ. 25

ການເຂົ້າທ່ຽວຊົມ ຖ້ຳຂຸນ ນ້ຳປະກັນ ສາມາດນຳ ໃຊ້ເຮືອກາຍັກ ຫຼື ແພໄມ້ນ້ອຍໆ ໃນຕອນທຳອິດ ຈາກທາງເຂົ້າປະມານ 400 ແມັດ ຈະເຫັນວ່າມີຄວາມກວ້າງ. ແຕ່ຫຼັງຈາກ ຈຸດນີ້ ຈະໄດ້ອອກຈາກເຮືອ ແລະ ຍ່າງສຳຫຼວດ ເບິ່ງຖ້ຳ. ຖ້ຳນີ້ ມີຄວາມເລິກ ປະມານ 10 ກມ ໂດຍການສຳຫຼວດ ແລະ ສ້າງແຜນທີ່ປະໄວ້ຈາກນັກສຳຫຼວດຖ້ຳ ຂອງຊາວ ອິຕາລິ ແລະ ຊາວຝະລັ່ງ. ປະຈູບັນນີ້ ຖ້ຳດັ່ງກ່າວ ຍັງບໍ ່ທັນໄດ້ບຸກເບີກເປັນຈຸດທ່ອງທ່ຽວເທື່ອ ເຊັ່ນ ຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້ບຸກເບີກ ທາງ ແລະ ຫຼື ຕິດຕັ້ງແສງສະຫວ່າງ ເພາະຍັງຢາກປະໄວ້ໃຫ້ມີການ ປະຈົນໄພທີ່ແທ້ຈິງຕື່ມອີກ !

A boat, kayak, or small inflatable raft is needed to enter Tham Khoun Nam Pakan, as the river fills the width of the passage for the first 400 meters in from the entrance. From here the boats are left behind and you can continue exploring the large cave passage on foot. The cave has about 10 km of passages that have been explored and mapped by Italian and French cave explorers. This cave does not have any tourism developments such as trails or lighting, so be prepared for a real adventure! After emerging from underground, the Nam Pakan flows across the closed valley of Ban Boumlou for about 7 km before disappearing underground again into the mountains at the far side of the valley. Tham Luang or ‘The Great Cave’ is the main connection to the outside world for the people of Ban Boumlou, especially during the rainy season when the rugged track over the mountains becomes impassable. Tham Luang goes about 1.5 km through the mountain and out to the Mekong river valley. There is a well-worn path through the cave and wooden walkways have been built on the sections along or over the river. The large cave passage is impressive, and you are likely to cross paths and exchange greetings and friendly smiles with some of the local villagers as you traverse the cave. From Tham Luang it is not far to drive back to Route 13. Driving south from Tham Luang on Route 13 to Thakhek there are several other natural tourist attractions along the way. You can turn off Route 13 at the blue tourist sign to Khon Keo Rapids and follow the dirt road for about 8 km. These rapids and pools on the Nam Pakan (downstream of Tham Luang) are a popular location for picnics and swimming.

ຫຼັງຈາກ ອອກຈາກພື້ນດິນ, ນ້ຳປະກັນ ແມ່ນໄຫຼຜ່ານຮ່ອມພູນ້ອຍໆ ທີ່ບ້ານ ບູມລູ ປະມານ 7 ກມ ກ່ອນຈະມາເຂົ້າ ນ້ຳລອດຕີນພູ ທີ່ຢູ ່ທາງເບື້ອງໜຶ່ງຂອງຮ່ອມພູ. ຖ້ຳຫຼວງແມ່ນຈຸດຕິດຕໍ່ກັບໂລກພາຍ ນອກ ຂອງຊາວບ້ານ ບູມລູ, ໂດຍສະເພາະ ແມ່ນຍາມລະດູຝົນ ເມື່ອເວລາ ທາງຮ່ອມ ບົນຫຼັງພູ ສາມາດເດີນໄປມາໄດ້. ຖ້ຳຫຼວງ ມີ ຄວາມຍາວ ລອດພື້ນພູ 1.5 ກມ ແລະ ໄຫຼລົງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ. ມີທາງ ຍ່າງ ຜ່ານຖ້ຳດີພໍສົມຄວນ ແລະ ທາງຂົວໄມ້ ທີ່ສ້າງໃນບາງຕອນ ທີ່ແຄມນ້ຳ ຫຼື ບ່ອນຂ້າມນ້ຳ. ບ່ອນທາງຜ່ານໃຫຍ່ໃນຖ້ຳ ເປັນໜ້າ ສົນໃຈ ແລະ ເມື່ອທ່ານໄດ້ຜ່ານເສັ້ນທາງແລ້ວ ທ່ານຈະມີໂອກາດ ໄດ້ ພົບປະ ແລະ ຮັບຮອຍຍີ້ມແບບເປັນກັນເອງ ກັບຊາວບ້ານ. ຈາກ ຖ້ຳຫຼວງ ກັບຄືນມາທາງເລກທີ 13 ບໍ່ໄກປານໄດ. ຈາກນັ້ນ ກໍຂັບລົງທາງໃຕ້ໄປຕາມທາງເລກທີ 13 ໃຕ້ ທ່ານຈະໄດ້ພົບເຫັນ ຫຼາຍສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈ ລຽນຕິດຕໍ່ ກັນຢູ່ແຄມທາງ. ຈາກນັ້ນ ກໍຂັບອອກ ຈາກເສັ້ນທາງເລກທີ 13 ໃຕ້ເມື່ອເວລາເຫັນປ້າຍສີຟ້າ ຂຽນວ່າ ສະຖານທີ່ ແກ້ງ ກ້ອນແກ້ວ ແລະ ສືບຕໍ່ເດີນທາງດິນແດງຕື່ມ ປະມານ 8 ກມ. ຕາດແກ້ງ ແລະ ວັງນ້ຳທຳມະຊາດ ທີ່ນ້ຳ ປະກັນ (ຢູ່ເບື້ອງໃຕ້ ຂອງຖ້ຳຫຼວງ) ເປັນສະ ຖານທີ່ ເໝາະສົມເພື່ອ ກິນເຂົ້າປ່າ ແລະ ລົງລອຍນ້ຳ.

Driving a bit further south on Route 13, there is a blue tourist sign marking the turnoff to Khoun Kongleng Lake. This spectacular lake with its stunning aqua-blue water is fed by a natural spring, with the water coming from the surrounding limestone karst mountains. There are trails leading around the lake, and swimming is allowed in the clear water of the lake’s outflow stream. However, a four-wheel drive vehicle is required to drive the rough road for about 20 km to Khoun Kongleng. The tourist attractions mentioned in this article are all accessible to the independent traveller. However, for some of the more remote or adventurous attractions the services of professional, local guides may be preferred. Tours to many attractions in Phou Hin Poun can be arranged through the Khammouane Provincial Guide Service, or through many major tour companies in Laos. For more information see www.mekongtourism.org/responsible/laos/do-laos/86.html or www.ecotourismlaos.com/khammouane.htm Dr. Terry Bolger, Cave and Karst Specialist Email: Laocaves@gmail.com

ຈາກນັ້ນ ທ່ານອອກສືບຕໍ່ເດີນທາງລົງໃຕ້ ໄປຕາມທາງເລກ ທີ 13 ໃຕ້ຈະໄດ້ພົບເຫັນປ້າຍສີຟ້າ ຂຽນໄວ້ວ່າ ສະຖານທີ່ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ໜອງຂຸນກອງແລງ. ເປັນໜອງ ທີ່ມະຫັດສະຈັນ ທີ່ສຸດ ເພາະມີນ້ຳສີຂຽວນ້ຳເງິນ ໄຫຼອອກບໍ່ມາ ຕາມທຳ ມະຊາດ. ການໄປທ່ຽວຊົມໜອງນີ້ ບໍ່ມີພຽງແຕ່ທາງທີ່ມາຈາກ ພູຫີນປູນ ແຕ່ຍັງມີ ຫຼາຍເສັ້ນທາງ ທີ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປຫາໜອງ ນີ້ໄດ້ ແລະ ທີ່ເບື້ອງໃຕ້ຂອງໜອງ ເພິ່ນອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ທ່ານລົງ ລອຍອາບນ້ຳໄດ້ຕາມສະບາຍ. ແຕ່ການໄປທີ່ນັ້ນ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ ລົດແລ່ນສີ່ຕີນ 4WD, ເພາະມັນເປັນສາຍທາງທີ່ບໍ່ຮາບພຽງ ແລະ ລະຍະທາງເຂົ້າໄປຫາ ໜອງຂຸນກອງແລງ ກໍໄກປະມານ 20 ກມ. ສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ໄດ້ແນະນຳໃບບົດສະເໜີນີ້ ຜູ້ ມັກເດີນທາງ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວແບບເອກະລາດ ກໍສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປ ເຖິງໄດ້ ແຕ່ວ່າ ຖ້າຫາກທ່ານຕ້ອງການຈະໄປ ບາງບ່ອນທີ່ ຢູ່ຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກ ຫຼື ເປັນບ່ອນຜະຈົນໄພນັ້ນ ທ່ານຄວນສະ ເໜີເອົາ ຜູ້ນຳພາທ່ຽວ ທີ່ມີ ວິຊາການປະຈຳທ້ອງຖີ່ນນັ້ນເອງ. ການທ່ຽວຊົມ ສະຖານທີ່ ເຂດພຸຫີນປູນ ທ່ານ ສາມາດກະກຽມ ແຜນການນຳທ່ຽວ ຮ່ວມກັບ ໜ່ວຍບໍລິການ ນຳພາທ່ຽວຂອງ ແຂວງ ຄຳມ່ວນ ຫຼື ໂດຍນຳໃຊ້ ບັນດາ ບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃນປະ ເທດລາວ. ທ່ານສາມາດເບີ່ງຂໍ້ມູນເພີ້ມເຕີມທີ່ www.mekongtourism.org/responsible/laos/do-laos/86.html

ຫຼື www.ecotourismlaos.com/khammouane.htm

Konglor Cave, Khammouane

ຄົ້ນຫາພາທ່ຽວ ຖຳ້ໃນແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ

The hidden caves of Khammouane

nderground caves have always fascinated me. But the caves that are usually within reach for an average person such as myself are the ones that have been made into tourist attractions with paths, lighting and guided tours where you “follow the umbrella” among countless other groups of tourists.

ຍາມໃດ ທີ່ເດີນທາງສຳຫຼວດ ເຂົ້າຖ້ຳໃຕ້ດິນ ຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ຊື່ນຊົມ ກັບ ທຳມະຊາດທີ່ ມະຫັດສະຈັນ ແລະ ສົດສວຍງົດງາມ. ຢ່າງໃດກໍຕາມ ສາມັນຊົນທົ່ວໄປ ກໍສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປເຖິງໄດ້ ຕົວຢ່າງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ກໍ ແມ່ນຜູ້ໜຶ່ງ ທີ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປສະຖານທີ່ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຕ່າງໆ ໂດຍການ ຕິດຕໍ່ກັບ ບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ເດີນທາງແບບເປັນກຸ່ມ.

Not in Khammouane though. Khammouane province is placed in the central part of Laos, bordering Thailand to the West and Vietnam to the East. The Annamite Mountain Range separates Vietnam from Laos and supplies fantastic scenery throughout the province.

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ບໍ່ໄດ້ທ່ຽວຊົມທັງຫມົດໃນທົ່ວແຂວງ ແຕ່ຮູ້ວ່າ ແຂວງ ຄຳ ມ່ວນ ແມ່ນຕັ້ງຢູ່ພາກກາງຂອງປະເທດລາວ ມີຊາຍແດນເບື້ອງຕາ ເວັນຕົກ ຕິດຈອດກັບປະເທດໄທ ແລະເບື້ອງຕາເວັນອອກ ຕິດ ຈອດກັບປະເທດຫວຽດນາມ, ມີສາຍພູຫຼວງແບ່ງເສັ້ນຊາຍແດນ ລະຫວ່າງ ສປປລາວ ແລະ ຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ເປັນສາຍພູທີ່ ມີທີວ

For cave explorers, Khammouane is a lost paradise. A score of caves previously unknown has in the recent years been discovered and mapped out by teams from all over the world. So when I got a chance to go there with a genuine cave expert I had no hesitations. We set off from Vientiane in our Ford Everest four-wheel drive vehicle from Europcar. Our driver told us that in order to reach our destination of Ban Boumlou we needed a good off-road vehicle as there are no ordinary roads going in or out. The drive to the province border took about four hours on good roads. But when we approached the village that was our first stop we saw why our driver had insisted 28

Konglor Cave, Khammouane

on taking the Ford Ranger. Roads were nonexistent and the tracks through the forest jungle were in some cases no more than a meter wide which gave for some exciting driving. The climb and fall of these tracks was like what you would expect from a rollercoaster in an amusement park, sometimes so steep that our gear would be thrown from one end of the vehicle to the other and back. Reaching the village, we were met by the entire population, no more than 50 people, all with welcoming, smiling faces and numerous questions about our travels, destination and everything else. Very quickly we were introduced to the naiban or village chief who arranged for a group of young boys to help carry our gear to the cave. The naiban also recommended that we take a village guide to spend the night in our camp and act as a guide and cook.

Konglor Cave, Khammouane 30

In the evening we went by kayak into the cave, known as Tham Khoun Nam Pakan, as there is no other way of entering. Sailing in the complete silence with our headlamps as the only source of light, the giant cave seemed like something out of the Lord of the Rings movie. Stalagmites and stalactites protruded the darkness and everywhere glittering rock faces mixed with rounded, twisted formations of mountain, shaped by endless eons of water flowing in and out. We put in to a small outcrop where we could tie up the kayak and proceed on foot as the river disappeared underground. Moving over rock debris thousands of years old we trekked on into the cave, carefully negotiating the steep climbs and harrowing drops, taking care not to slip on the wet surface. The humidity was strangling and after

ທັດສວຍງາມ ແລະ ມະຫັດສະຈັນ ແດ່ ນັກສຳຫຼວດຖ້ຳ.ແຂວງຄຳ ມ່ວນ ເປັນສະຫວັນທີ່ລຶກລັບ. ຍັງມີຫຼາຍຖ້ຳ ທີ່ເມື່ອກ່ອນບໍ່ເຄີຍຮູ້ຊື່ ສຽງ ແຕ່ດຽວນີ້ ໄດ້ຮັບການຄົ້ນພົບ ແລະ ສ້າງແຜນທີ່ ໂດຍທີມງານ ສຳຫຼວດ ທີ່ມາຈາກທົ່ວໂລກ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ເມື່ອມີໂອກາດ ມາທີ່ນີ້ໃນນາມ ຄະນະສຳຫຼວດຖ້ຳ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂານຮັບໂດຍບໍ່ລໍຖ້າການຕັດສິນໃຈ ໃດໆ. ພວກເຮົາເລີ້ມເດີນທາງມາຈາກວຽງຈັນໂດຍໃຊ້ ລົດ ຟອດ ແຮນເຈີ ແລ່ນ ສີ່ ຕີນ ຈາກບໍລິສັດ ຢູໂຣບຄາ. ຜູ້ຂັບລົດໄດ້ບອກ ວ່າ ຖ້າເດີນ ທາງໄປຮອດ ບ້ານບຸມລູພວກເຮົາ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ລົດ ທີ່ສາມາດແລ່ນ ວິບາກ ເພາະທາງນັ້ນ ຈະບໍ່ມີທາງເວັ້ນອອກ ຫຼື ເຂົ້າ ເວລາທີ່ໃຊ້ ຂັບລົດໄປຫາຊາຍແດນຂອງແຂວງໃຊ້ເວລາ 4 ຊົ່ວໂມງ ຕາມ ສາຍທາງທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບດີ. ແຕ່ເມື່ອເຮົາໄປຮອດບ້ານທີ່ເປັນຈຸດ ແວ່ພັກເທື່ອທຳອິດພວກເຮົາຈຶ່ງຮູ້ເຫດຜົນ ຂອງ ຜູ້ຂັບລົດທີ່ໄດ້ ສະເໜີໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາ ໃຊ້ ລົດ ຟອດ ແຮນເຈີ ທີ່ແລ່ນ ສີ່ ຕີນ ຈາກ ບໍລິສັດຢູໂຣບຄາ. ບາງຕອນທາງມີຄວາມກວ້າງບໍ່ເກີນ ໜຶ່ງແມັດ ອາດຈະບໍ່ເຫັນເສັ້ນທາງ ແລະ ແລວທາງ ຜ່ານດົງໜາປ່າໄມ້ ການແລ່ນລົດບືນຂື້ນ ແລະ ລົງຄ້ອຍ ຕາມຕອນທາງດັ່ງກວ່າເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ບໍ່ແຕກຕ່າງຫຍັງ ກັບການຂີ່ລົດລອຍຟ້າ ໃນສວນສະນຸກ.. ເມື່ອ ເດີນທາງເຂົ້າບ້ານປະຊາຊົນ ພວກເຮົາພົບປະຊາຊົນ ບໍ່ເກີນ 50 ຄົນ ທີ່ອອກມາຕ້ອນຮັບ ດ້ວຍໃບໜ້າຍີ້ມແຍ້ມແຈ່ມໃສ ແລະ ມີຫຼາຍຄຳຖາມ ກ່ຽວກັບ ການເດີນທາງຂອງພວກເຮົາ. ເຂົາເຈົ້າຖາມເຖິງສະພາບ ຂອງ ຈຸດຈອດແວ່ພັກແຕ່ລະບ່ອນ ແລະ ບັນຫາອື່ນໆ. ດ້ວຍຄວາມຮີບດ່ວນ ທ່ານ ນາຍບ້ານ ໄດ້ ສະເໜີໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາ ແລະ ເອີ້ນພວກຊາວໜູ່ມ ຊ່ວຍຂົນເຄື່ອງ ຂອງພວກເຮົາໄປທີ່ຖ້ຳ. ທ່ານ ນາຍບ້ານ ຍັງໄດ້ ສະເໜີ ໃຫ້ ພ ວ ກ ເ ຮົ າ ເ ອົ າ ຜູ້ ນ ຳ ທ່ ຽ ວ ຂ ອ ງ ບ້ າ ນ ໄ ປ ນ ຳ ໃ ນ ແ ຄ້ ມ

ເພື່ອເຮັດໜ້າທີ່ເປັນຜູ້ນຳພາທ່ຽວ ແລະພໍ່ຄົວ. ພວກເຮົາ ໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປຮອດຖ້ຳໃນເວລາຄ່ຳແລງ ໂດຍໃຊ້ເຮືອ ກາຍັກ ຕາມການຮູ້ຊື່ ຖ້ຳນີີ້ເອີ້ນວ່າ ຖ້ຳຂຸນ ນ້ຳປະກັນ, ຍ້ອນວ່າ ບໍ່ມີທາງສາຍອື່ນເຂົ້າໄປຮອດທີ່ນີ້. ການພາຍເຮືອໄປຢ່າງງຽບໆ ມີໄຟເຍືອງທາງຫົວເຮືອ ຊື່ງເປັນແຫຼ່ງໄຟອັນດຽວ ຖ້ຳຂະໜາດຍັກ ເບິ່ງຄືວ່າເປັນສັບສົມບັດທີ່ລ້ຳຄ່າ. ນ້ຳປູນທີ່ໄຫຼອອກມາຈາກພື້ນຖ້ຳ ຫຼື ໄຫຼຍ້ອຍລົງມາຈາກເພດານຖ້ຳ ບາງຈຸດກໍ ມືດມົນ ແລະ ມີຫຼາຍ ຈຸດ ກໍມີແສງສະທ້ອນ ຕາມໜ້າຫີນ ບາງກ້ອນຫີນກໍກົມ ແລະ ແລວ ທາງໃນຖ້ຳລະອິດລະອ້ຽວ ມີເງົາປະກາຍແສງບົນໜ້ານ້ຳ ບ່ອນທີ່ ພວກເຮົາສາມາດຜູກເຮືອ ພວກເຮົາສ້າງກິດຈະກຳນ້ອຍໆດ້ວຍ ການຍ່າງ ເບິ່ງຄືວ່ານ້ຳໄຫຼຫາຍເຂົ້າ ພື້ນດິນ. ການເດິນທາງເບິ່ງ ກ້ອນຫິນ ທີ່ມີອາຍຸຫຼາຍພັນປີ, ລົມກັນ ແບບຄະລຳສົບ ຄະລຳປາກ ຕາມບ່ອນ ຄານອອກ ຫຼື ເລືອເຂົ້າຮູຖ້ຳ. ຫາຈຸດປຽກຊຸ່ມ ພວກເຮົາ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ໃຊ້ຄວາມລະມັດລະວັງທີ່ສູດເພື່ອບໍ່ໄຫ້ຜະລາດລົ້ມ. ໃນຖ້ຳ ມີຄວາມຊຸ່ມ ແລະ ຫາຍໃຈຝືດ ແລະ ຫຼັງຈາກ 90 ນາທີ ກັບຄວາມ ຫຍູ້ງຍາກ ພວກເຮົາ ກໍມາຮອດບ່ອນຈອດເຮືອ ແລະ ຮູ້ສຶກໜາວ ເຢັນ ຈາກຂ້າງນອກ ເມື່ອພວກເຮົາຈະມາຮອດໃກ້ປາກຖ້ຳ. ເມື່ອເວລາ ກັບມາຮອດທີ່ພັກ ຜູ້ນຳພາທ່ຽວ ຂອງພວກເຮົາ ໄດ້ໄປ ລໍຖ້າພວກເຮົາໄວ້ກ່ອນແລ້ວ ໂດຍເຂົາໄດ້ກຽມກອງໄຟ ເບຍເຢັນ ແລະ ຂອງແກ້ມ ແລະ ຈາກນັ້ນ ພວກເຮົາ ກໍໃຊ້ເວລາຫຼາຍຊົ່ວໂມງ ເພື່ອທວນຄືນປະສົບປະການ ລວມທັງ ປະຫວັດຄວາມເປັນມາ ຂອງສະຖານທີ່ເຂດນີ້ ໂດຍ ຜູ້ນຳພາທ່ຽວຜູ້ຮູ້ຈັກດີ. ຕົກມາຮອດ ຮຸ່ງອາລຸນ ຂອງວັນໃຫມ່ ເດັກນ້ອຍຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງ ມາ ຈາກບ້ານໄດ້ມາປຸກພວກເຮົາໃຫ້ຕື່ນນອນ ແລະ ຊ່ວຍຂົນເຄື່ອງ ໄປຫາລົດ ແລະ ພວກເຮົາກໍເລີ້ມອ່ວຍໜ້າກັບເຂົ້າບ້ານ. ຍ້ອນຕ້ອງ

Tham Luang Cave

90 minutes of hard work we were glad to reach our kayak again and feel the breeze from the outside as we neared the entrance once more. Coming back to the campsite, our guide was waiting by a campfire with a couple of cold beers and a snack. We spent a couple of hours talking about the experience as well as the history of the area, of which our guide was well familiar with. At dawn the next day, we were awaken by our little “sherpas” coming back from the village to carry our gear back to the truck and we started our trek home. As an added bonus, we would do a one hour walk through Tham Luang cave, which connects the village with the outside world, while our driver took the long drive around. The villager’s only means of accessing the closed valley where they live is through this cave as they do not have any means of transporting themselves by the narrow, treacherous road that goes to the village. After being picked up on the other side, we took a scenic detour to Thakhek, the provincial capital, to get some luxury treatment at the Inthira Boutique Hotel, located in the center of town, near the Mekong river. It is a beautiful old colonial building, renovated by the owner to its former glory. After two days of “roughing it” Inthira was a most welcoming experience, with its hospitable staff, soft beds and delicious Lao and French cuisine. All in all an amazing experience. If you want to discover the real Lao, I can only recommend getting off the beaten track with a four-wheel drive vehicle and explore this beautiful country by yourself.

ການຊອກຮູ້ຊອກເຫັນເພີ້ມເຕີມ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາປະມານໜຶ່ງ ຊົ່ວໂມງເພື່ອຍ່າງຊົມຖ້ຳຫຼວງ ທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ໃກ້ບ້ານ ແລະ ຫ່າງໄກຈາກ ໂລກພາຍນອກ. ເມື່ອເວລາຜູ້ຂັບລົດ, ຂັບລົດອ້ອມບ້ານຈາກ ໄປ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ແນມເບິ່ງຄືນຫຼັງ ແລະ ເຫັນວ່າບ້ານແມ່ນຕັ້ງ ຢູ່ຮ່ອມພູ ບ່ອນທີ່ເຂົາເຈົ້າອາໄສນັ້ນ ຄື ຫວ່າງຖ້ຳ ເບິ່ງຄືວ່າປະຊາ ຊົນຊາວບ້ານ ບໍ່ມີພາຫານະເດີນທາງດ້ວຍຕົວເຂົາເຈົ້າເອງ ຕາມ ສາຍທາງຮ່ອມນ້ອຍຢູ່ ແລະ ຫຍູ້ງຍາກ ກັນດານ. ຫຼັງຈາກ ມີຜູ້ມາຕ້ອນຮັບ ອີກຝ່າຍໜຶ່ງ ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ເດີນທ່ຽວກິນ ລົມຊົມວິວເຂົ້າມາເມືອງທ່າແຂກ ຊຶ່ງເປັນເມືອງເອກຂອງແຂວງ ແລະ ກໍມາຮອດທ່າແຂກ ເມືອງເອກຂອງແຂວງຄຳມ່ວນ ພວກເຮົາ ໄດ້ ຖືກຕ້ອນຮັບ ເພື່ອພັກຜ່ອນ ກາຍ ແລະ ສຳລານໃຈ ທີ່ໂຮງແຮມ ອິນທິຣາ ບູຕິກ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ຈຸດໃຈກາງເມືອງ, ແຄມຝັ່ງແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ, ເປັນ ເຮືອນ ແບບ ທີ່ສວຍງາມ ໂດຍໄດ້ຮັບການຟື້ນຟູໃຫມ່. ຫຼັງຈາກ ໄດ້ ຜ່ານການບຸກທະລຸແບບສົມບຸກສົມບັນ ເປັນເວລາສອງວັນ ກໍໄດ້ມາ ພັກຜ່ອນທີ່ໂຮງແຮມ ອິນທິຣາ ເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ໃຫ້ຄວາມອົບອຸ່ນ ມີພະ ນັກງານຮັບຕ້ອນທີ່ມີນ້ຳໃຈ, ໄດ້ນອນຕຽງທີ່ນູ້ມ ແລະ ຊີມລົດອາ ຫານລາວ ແລະ ຝະລັ່ງ ປະສົບປະການທັງຫມົດ ເປັນການສຳພັດ ທີ່ຕຶ່ນເຕັ້ນ ແລະ ເບິກບານມ່ວນຊື່ນ. ຖ້າຫາກ ທ່ານ ຕ້ອງການຄົ້ນ ພົບເມືອງລາວ ທີ່ແທ້ຈິງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຢາກຂໍສະເຫນີ ໃຫ້ທ່ານນຳໃຊ້ ລົດແລ່ນ ສີ່ຕີນ ຂອງບໍລິສັດ ຢູໂຣຄາ ເພື່ອການຄົ້ນພົບປະເທດທີ່ ສົດສວຍງົດງາມແຫ່ງນີ້ ດ້ວຍຕົວທ່ານເອງ.

ປູກຊີວິດ ປູກອານາຄົດ ນັບວ່າເປັນວິໄສທັດ ແລະ ຄວາມສະຫລາດສ່ອງໃສຂອງພັກ ລັດ ຖະບານທີ່ ໄ ດ້ ນ ຳເອົ າ ສອງເຫດການສຳຄັ ນ ມາໄວ້ ມື້ ດ ຽວກັ ນ . ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ວັນປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ແຫ່ງຊາດ ແລະ ວັນເດັກນ້ອຍສາ ກົນທັງສອງຄວາມໝາຍດັ່ງກ່າວແມ່ນສາມາດເຊື່ອມໂຍງເຂົ້າກັນ ເປັນເນື້ອໃນທີ່ມີສ່ວນກ່ຽວພັນກັນຢ່າງກົມກຽວເລິກເຊິ່ງ. ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ວັນປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ແຫ່ງຊາດເປັນວັນແຫ່ງການປູກຈິດ ສຳນຶກທົ່ວປວງຊົນໃຫ້ຮູ້ເຖິງຄວາມສຳຄັນຂອງຕົ້ນໄມ້ ປ່າໄມ້ ທຳ ມະຊາດ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມໂດຍສະເພາະຄຸນປະໂຫຍດຂອງ ປ່ າ ໄມ້ ຊຶ່ ງ ມີ ຄ ວາມສຳຄັ ນ ຕິ ດ ພັ ນ ກັ ບ ການດຳລົ ງ ຊີ ວິ ດ ປະຈຳວັ ນ ການຄົງຕົວ ແລະ ການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວຂອງມວນມະນຸດທົ່ວໂລກ ເປັນຕົ້ນ ປ່າໄມ້ແມ່ນໃຫ້ກຳເນີດຂອງແຫລ່ງນ້ຳ ໃຫ້ກຳເນີດ ແລະ ບ່ອນຢູ່ຂອງຊີວະນາໆພັນ ອັນເປັນແຫລ່ງອາຫານ ພະລັງງານ ຂອງຄົວເຮືອນ ເປັນທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ ແລະ ການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວຂອງຝູງ ສັດປ່າ ເປັນຜູ້ດູດດຶງເມກເຝື້ອໃຫ້ຝົນຕົກມາຕາມລະດູການ ທັງ ປ້ອງກັນການໄຫລຊຸເຊາະເຈື່ອນ ປ້ອງກັນພາຍຸ ແລະ ກາຍເປັນຜູ້ ຟອກອາກາດສົດໃຫ້ແກ່ມະນຸດອີກດ້ວຍ. ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ຍັງເປັນ ວັນປຸກລະດົມທົ່ວປວງຊົນໃຫ້ປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນເນື້ອທີ່ລວມ ຫລື ຂອງສ່ວນບຸກຄົນຢ່າງໜ້ອຍຕ່ຳສຸດຜູ້ລະຕົ້ນເພື່ອຊີວິດ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດຂອງຜູ້ທີ່ຈະເກີດມາພາຍຊ້ອຍ. ປັດຈຸບັນເລັ່ງໃສ່ການແກ້ ໄຂໄພທຳມະຊາດຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ເກີດຈາກຜົນຮ້າຍຂອງບັນຫາໂລກ ຮ້ອນ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ. ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ວັນ ເດັກນ້ອຍສາກົນ ແມ່ນການຈັດຕັ້ງຂະບວນ ການໃຫ້ ເ ດັ ກ ນ້ ອ ຍໄດ້ ສ ະເຫລີ ມ ສະຫລອງວັ ນ ດັ່ ງ ກວ່ າ ຢ່ າ ງເບີ ກ ບານມ່ວນຊື່ນສອດຄ່ອງກັບການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວທາງຊີວະສາດ ແລະ ເກນໄວອາຍຸເຂົາເຈົ້າ. ວັນນີ້ຈະເຫັນເດັກນ້ອຍທີ່ມີຄວາມສາມາດ ສາຍແວວເຖິງການມີພອນສະຫວັນດ້ານຕ່າງໆທີ່ກ້າສະແດງອອກຕໍ່ ໜ້າມວນຊົນເຊັ່ນ: ການຮ້ອງເພງ, ຂັບລຳຟ້ອນ, ສະແດງລະຄອນ ແຕ້ມຮູບ, ການຫລີ້ນກິລາ, ຕອບບັນຫາຮອບຕົວ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ. ພໍ່ແມ່ ຜູ້ປົກຄອງ ຄູ ຈະມອບຂອງຂວັນ ລາງວັນ ແລະ ແຈກເຂົ້າໜົມ ເຂົ້າ ຕົ້ມແກ່ເດັກໆ. ໃນໂອກາດດັ່ງກ່າວ ຄູ ຜູ້ປົກຄອງກໍຈະສຶກສາອົບ ຮົມສັ່ງສອນເດັກໃຫ້ຮັກການຮ່ຳຮຽນ ອອກແຮງງານ ຮັກສາຄວາມ ສະອາດ…. ຕາມຄຳສັ່ງສອນ 6 ຮັກ 3 ຊັງຂອງຜູ້ນຳ ແລະ ປະຕິບັດ

ຕົນເປັນເດັກ 3 ດີ 4 ຮູ້ ໂດຍສະເພາະເປັນລູກຄຳຮູ້ຂອງພໍ່ແມ່ ເປັນ ນັກຮຽນດີຂອງຄູ ເປັນອະນາຄົດກໍຄືຜູ້ສືບທອດທີ່ດີຂອງປະເທດ ຊາດ. ຄຽງຄູ່ນຳກັນນີ້ ກໍໄດ້ມີການປູກຈິດສຳນຶກແກ່ເດັກໆດ້ວຍ ການນຳພາເຄື່ອນໄຫວປູກຕົ້ນໄມ້ໃນຂອບເຂດຂອງໂຮງຮຽນ ແລະ ສຶກສາອົບຮົມໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າຮັກຕົ້ນໄມ້ ຮັກປ່າໄມ້ ຮັກຫ້ວຍນ້ຳ ລຳເຊ ຮັກທຳມະຊາດ ຮັກສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ຮູ້ຈັກການຈັດການກັບສິ່ ງແວດລ້ອມອ້ອມຂ້າງຕົນ ແລະ ເຄື່ອນໄຫວຂະບວນການປູກຈິດ ສຳນຶກປ້ອງກັນໂລກຮ້ອນທີ່ມາຈາກມະນຸດເອງ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ວັນທີ 1 ເດືອນ 6 ຈຶ່ງເປັນວັນສຳຄັນເຄື່ອນໄຫວເພື່ອຊີວິດໃນປັດຈຸບັນ ເພື່ອມວນມະນຸດ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດອັນຮຸ່ງໃສຂອງຂອງປະເທດຊາດ ອີກດ້ວຍ.

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Saving the natural resources for our children

une 1st celebrates two important things that focuses on the future – National Tree Planting and International Children’s Day. These two events, working in harmony are deeply meaningful.

The National Tree Planting Day aims to raise awareness about the significance of trees, natural forests and the environment, in particular the utilization of trees and forest products in daily lives. As the world population continues to grow, its impact on the environment is devastating. This is seen in the increasing numbers of natural disasters such as droughts, flooding, less food production, landslides, pollution, etc. As a way to preserve natural resources, everyone is urged to plant trees in public gardens or family gardens. At the present, tree planting is considered a solution against natural disasters and other negative impacts of global warming. June 1st is also International Children’s Day, an opportunity to focus on children, their health and happiness. This day is usually celebrated by organizing activities for children or showcasing children’s performances with songs and dances, drawings, sports, or quizzes to foster well rounded intellectual and physical development. Also on this day, parents and relatives will show their love through giving gifts and cakes to children. Teachers will teach children about why it’s important to love their studies, work hard and keep clean according to the Party’s directive on the six loves and three hates principle in order to be good children and future leaders of the nation.

Because these two celebrations fall on the same day, children will learn about tree planting as well, especially in school yards. They will be taught to respect trees, forests, streams, and the natural environment as well as to manage their environment to prevent global warming. Therefore, June 1st is an important day to cultivate our natural resources and nurture our children to ensure a brilliant future for the nation.

ໂສມຫນ້າຜູ້ເຂົ້າຮອບ12ຄົນຍັງຢູ່ ໃນເສັ້ນທາງສານຝັນໃຫ້ເປັນດາວ

ໃຜຈະໄດ້ເປັນ ທີ່ 1?

ແຕ່ມີພຽງ12 ຄົນທໍ່ນັ້ນທີ່ໄດ້ຜ່ານເຂົ້າສູ່ຮອບຕໍ່ໄປທີ່ໄດ້ຈັດ ຂຶ້ນໃນ ຄຳ່ຄືນ ວັນເສົາ ທີ 23 ເມສາ ທີ່ໂຮງກີລາຮົ່ມສູນກາງ ຊາວໜຸ່ມ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງ ວຽງຈັນ ທີ່ຜ່ານມາຜົນການໃຫ້ຄ ະແນນຈາກມວນຊົນ ປາກົດວ່າຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຄະແນນຕຳ່ ພາໃຫ້ ເສັ້ນທາງສານຝັນໃຫ້ເປັນດາວຂອງເຂົາສິ້ນສຸດ ລົງ 3 ຄົນ. ຄອນເສີດສານຝັນໃຫ້ເປັນດາວ ຮອບຕໍ່ໄປຈະມີໂຈດເພງ ປະເພດບ້ານນາ (ຄັດເອົາ 9 ຄົນ), ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນ ຈະເປັນ ໂຈດເພັງເພງປະຕິວັດ (ຄັດເອົາ 6 ຄົນ) ແລະ ຮອບສຸດ ທ້າຍໃນຈະໄດ້ມີການຖ່າຍທອດສົດທາງ ໂທລະພາບລາວ ຊ່ອງ 3. ຊື່ງພວກເຮົາຈະນຳມາສະເຫນີໃນສະບັບຫນ້າ.

ຜູ້ຊົມເປັັນຜູ້ຮ່ວມສົ່ງແຮງໃຈເຊຍ

ໂບ້

ຕ໋ອງ

ໃນຄອນເສີດຮອບທີສອງນັ້ນ ມີນັກສະແດງຈຳນວນ 15 ຄົນຂຶ້ນເວທີ ເຂົາເຈົ້າເປັນຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບຄະແນນສູງຈາກຜູ້ ຊົມໃນການສະແດງຄັ້ງທຳອິດ ເມື່ອວັນເສົາທີ 9 ເມສາ ທີ່ຜ່ານມາ. ບົດເພງທີ່ໄດ້ນຳມາສະແດງເທື່ອນີ້ ແມ່ນປະ ເພດເພງປັອບຊຶ່ງເປັນແນວເພງທີ່ໄວໜຸ່ມຊື່ນຊອບ ແລະ ຫຼາຍຄົນສະແດງໄດ້ດີ ໃນຮອບທີ່ຜ່ານມາ.

D10

ແລະໃຫ້ຄະ

D11

ອຸງ

D12 ຕຸ້ຍ

ໂຊ

ໂອ

ແນນຜູ້ທີ່ຕົນມັກໄດ້ດ້ວຍການພິມໝາຍເລກຂອງ

ດາ

ຢູ້ຢີ້

D15

ດາວ

ຜູ້ເຂົ້າປະກວດ ແລ້ວສົ່ງ ຜ່ານລະບົບ SMS ໂທ ລະສັ ບ ມື ຖື ຂ ອງທຸ ກ ເຄື ອ ຂ່ າ ຍໄປຍັ ງ ໝາຍເລກ 2888 1122 ຫຼື ໂທລະສັບໄປລົງຄະແນນໄດ້ທີ່ *1146

ສະເພາະເຄືອຂ່າຍ

ລາວໂທລະຄົມ.

ທຸ ກ ສຽງທຸ ກ ສາຍທີ່ ຮ່ ວ ມໂຫວດມີ ສິ ດ ຮ່ ວ ມສ່ ຽ ງ

ໂຊກເພື່ອຮັບລາງວັນ ລວມມູນຄ່າປະມານ 30.

D13

ຕິຕີ

ລ້ານກີບ

D19

D21 ນິນ

ເທ້

D20

D17

Idolz Won Best New Male Artist

Aluna Tar

May

Lao Music Award 2011 09 April 2011 @ Culture Hall, Vientiane

The Lao Music Awards are presented by the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos for outstanding achievements in the growing music industry. The awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely viewed televised ceremony.

Cells three awards: Won Best Rock Artist, Best Rock Song and Best Group/Duo

Tone Aniluth Won Best Male Pop Song

Mone Morning Girl Won Best Female Pop Song

Sam Intharaphithak won 2 awards: Best R & B Artist and Best R & B Song

Award Winners Summary Tar A’Pacts won Best Male Pop Artist Tik Princess 2 awards: Best Female Pop Artist and Best Music Video Tone Aniluth won Best Male Pop Song Mone Morning Girl won Best Female Pop Song Pull T Club won 2 awards: Best Hip Hop Artist and won Best Hip-Hop Song Sam Intharaphithak won 2 awards: Best R & B Artist and Best R & B Song ”Hot Hot” Idolz won Best New Male Artist Annita won Best New Female Artist Cells 3 awards: Best Rock Artist, Best Rock Song and Best Group/Duo Manoxay Keonakhone won Best Producer Bounkerd Nouhouang won Best Country Song Ajarn Ounkeo Vorachak won Best Country Song Composer Tee Oudalay won Best Pop Song Composer More info: laomusicawards.com

Contemporary Artist Marisa “Pok” Darasavath By Tu Ngonethong

Marisa Darasavath, nicknamed “Pok”, is an up and coming artist who has been thrust onto the international scene. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Laos, in 2000 and has since become an accomplished artist. Her exhibitions include a solo exhibit at Treasure of Asia Gallery in 2004 and the 1st of Women Artists (2007) show at the National School of Fine Arts, both in Vientiane. Pok’s paintings have been seen at KhopChaiDeu Restaurant & Bar in the Namphou area. But to ensure that a dedicated space was available to exhibit high-end and contemporary artworks, she joined forces with four others to open their own gallery called M Gallery, named after the owners whose names all begin with the letter “M”. M Gallery has two locations, in Vientiane and Singapore, specializing in contemporary Laotian paintings.

ນັກສິລະປິນຍຸກໃຫມ່ ມາຣິສາ “ປ໋ອກ” ດາຣາສຫວັດ ໂດຍ ຕູ ນວນທອງ

ຮູບແຕ້ມ ຂອງ ປ໋ອກຍັງເຄີຍໄດ້ນຳ ມາວາງສະແດງ ທີ່ ຮ້ານອາ

ຫານ ຂອບໃຈເດີ. ເປັນບ່ອນກິນດື່ມ ທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ເຂດວົງວຽນນ້ຳພຸ. ແຕ່ວ່າເພື່ອ ຮັບປະກັນ ໃຫ້ມີສາຖານທີ່ເໝາະສົມກັບ ການວາງສະ

ແດງຜົນງານ ແລະ ສິລະປະຍຸກໃຫມ່ ນາງ ແລະ ເພື່ອນຮ່ວມວິຊາ ການ ຈຳນວນສີ່ຄົນ ໄດ້ເປີດ ຮ້ານຂາຍຈຳໜ່າຍຮູບແຕ້ມ ໂດຍໄດ້ ຕັ້ງຊື່ວ່າ

ຮ້ານ ເອັມ ກາເລີຣີ (M Gallery), M ແມ່ນອັກສອນ

ນຳໜ້າ ຂອງຊື່ຜູ້ເປັນເຈົ້າຂອງຮ້ານ ໂດຍໄດ້ເປີດບໍລິການຢູ່ສອງ ແຫ່ງ ຄື ຢູ່ທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ປະເທດສິງກາໂປ. ຮູບທີ່ ນຳໄປວາງຂາຍ

ແມ່ນຮູບພັນລະນາເຖິງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ຂອງຄົນ

ລາວ ໃນຍຸກປັດຈຸບັນ.

ຍ້ອນປ໋ອກມີຄວາມຮັກ ຕໍ່ແມ່ ນາງຈຶ່ງມີແຮງບັນດານໃຈແຕ້ມຮູບ ກ່ຽວກັບແມ່ ແລະ ຍ້ອນຄວາມຮັກມັກວຽກງານສີລະປະ. ປ໋ອກຍັງ ເວົ້າວ່າ “ຄວາມຮັກ ຂອງແມ່ທີ່ມີຕໍ່ລູກ ຮັກທີ່ບໍ່ມີເງື່ອນໄຂ ຫຼື ຂໍ້ຍົກ ເວັ້ນ ໃດ ເພາະມັນເປັນຄວາມຮັກທີ່ບໍ່ຕ້ອງການຫຍັງຕອບແທນ.” ຍ້ອນມົນສະເໜດັ່ງກ່າວ ເຮັດໃຫ້ປ໋ອກສ້າງຜົນງານ ທີ່ມີຊື່ວ່າ ຄວາມ ຜູ້ພັນທີ່ແມ່ມີຕໍ່ລູກ. ຜົນງານນີ້ແລກເລີ່ມ ນາງບໍ່ໄດ້ວາດຄວາມ ຫວັງວ່າ ຮູບຂອງນາງຈະໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມນິຍົມຊົມຊອບ ແຕ່ ຮູບນີ້ໄດ ້ກະຕຸກຊຸກຍູ້ນາງ ໃຊ້ສຸດຄວາມພະຍາຍາມຢ່າງບໍ່ຮູ້ອິດເມື່ອຍ ແລະ ເດີນທາງໄປ ທ່ຽວຊົມເກັບກຳຂໍ້ມູນ ຂອງຄວາມສວຍງາມ ຢູ່ໃນປະ ເທດ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ ຕາມເຈດຕະນາລົມຂອງຕົນ.

Pok’s love for her mother shines through in her collection entitled the Spirit Of Mother. “The love of a mother for her children is unconditional and exceptional. It is the love that asks for nothing in return,” she says. Deeply motivated by this first large purchase and never realizing that her paintings could be worth so much, she continued to pursue tirelessly in her work and travel throughout this beautiful country and abroad for inspiration. Her paintings have been featured in Art Singapore, The Contemporary Asian Art Fair 2008 and several of her masterpieces have been in the Asian Art News Magazine. Among those paintings in 2009, is “Poppy” a large, 165 x 130 cm size oil on canvas. This painting has been collected by the Singapore Art Museum. Pok is a quiet and petite young woman who loves to cover the art lover’s walls with her bigger than life paintings. Two others; “Spirit of Mother, Mother’s Milk” and “Spirit of the Mother – Hmong” were showcased in the biggest art bonanza in 2009 in Kyushu - the Fourth Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale in Japan. Her artworks were selected to be one of the 21 Asian countries represented in this show. Pok has a bright future and a great potential to put Laos on the world stage among contemporary artists.

ຮູບແຕ້ມຂອງນາງ ໄດ້ນຳໄປ ວາງສະແດງ ທີ່ງານມະໂຫລານ ສິລະ ປະ ອາເຊຍ ທີ່ ສີງກາໂປ ໃນປີ 2008 ແລະ ມີຮູບແຕ້ມຂອງນາງ ຈຳນວນ ຫຼາຍພໍຄວນ ທີ່ໄດ້ຖືກນຳໄປພີມລົງ ໃນວະລະສານ ສິລະ ປະອາຊີ. ໃນປີ 2009 ຮູບແຕ້ມສີນ້ຳມັນຂອງ ປ໋ອກ “ດອກຝີ່ນ” ຂະໜາດ 165 x 130 ຊມ ກໍໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມວາງສະແດງ ແລະ ຖືກ ເກັບຮັກສາໄວ້ທີ່ຫໍພິພິດທະພັນ ທີ່ປະເທດສີງກະໂປ. ປ໋ອກ ເປັນ ຍິງສາວ ທີ່ມັກຢູ່ຢ່າງສະຫງົບ ແລະ ມັກ ເອົາຮູບແຕ້ມເອ້ຢູ່ຝາເຮືອນ. ຮູບແຕ້ມ ອີກສອງແຜ່ນ ທີ່ມີຊື່ວ່າ “ ຂັວນໃຈແມ່ ນ້ຳນົມແມ່ ” ແລະ “ຂັວນໃຈແມ່ ຊາວເຜົ່າມົ້ງ” ໄດ້ຖືກນຳໄປວາງສະແດງ ໃນປີ 2009 ທີ່ເມືອງ ກິວຊູ ເປັນງານສີລະປະ ຄັ້ງທີ ສີ່ ທີ່ປະເທດຢີປຸ່ນ ແລະ ຮູບ ແຕ້ມຂອງນາງ ແຜ່ນໜຶ່ງ ໃນຈຳນວນ 21 ປະເທດອາຊີ ໄດ້ຖືກຄັດ ເລືອກເປັນຕົວແທນໃນງານປະກວດຄັ້ງນັ້ນ. ປ໋ອກມີອານາຄົດທີ່ສົດໃສ ແລະ ມີໂອກາດສູງທີ່ຈະນຳປະເທດ ລາວ ເຂົ້າສູ່ເວທີ ສາກົນ ດ້ານງານສິລະປະຮ່ວມກັບເພື່ອນນັກ ແຕ້ມສະໄຫມໃຫມ່.

ບົດສຳພາດພາດໂດຍສັງເຂບ ກັບ ປ໋ອກ ໄດ້ສັງລວມໃຫ້ທ່ານ ຜູ້ອ່ານມີດັ່ງລຸ່ມນີ້:

ຕູ: ເປັນຫຍັງ ເຈົ້າຈຶ່ງ ຕັດສີນໃຈ ເປັນນັກສິລະປິນ? ປ໋ອກ: ຍ້ອນວ່າ ຂ້ອຍມັກ. ຂ້ອຍເລີ່ມແຕ້ມຮູບ ແຕ່ເວລາໄວເດັກ ເມື່ອໃຫຍ່ເຕີບໂຕຂື້ນ. ທຳອິດຂ້ອຍຢາກເປັນນັກສະຖາປະນິກ. ສຳລັບຂ້ອຍແລ້ວ ການແຕ້ມມັນໃຫອິດສະລະ, ສຳລັບດ້ານຄວາມ ຄິດບໍມີຂໍ້ຫ້າມໃດໆ ຫຼື ຕົງປະເດັນ ຄືກັບການຄິດໄລ່ເລກ. ໃນເມື່ອ ກ່ອນນັ້ນ ມີຄົນພຽງແຕ່ຈຳນວນນ້ອຍໜຶ່ງເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ສົນໃຈ ແຕ່ຍ້ອນ ເປັນອາຊີບບໍໍໄດ້ລາຍຮັບດີ. ຕູ: ມີຫຍັງທີ່ບັນດານໃຈໃຫ້ເຈົ້າແຕ້ມຮູບ? ປ່ອກ: ຂ້ອຍມັກແຕ້ມ ແລະ ການແຕ້ມ ແມ່ນມັນຢູ່ໃນສາຍເລືອດ ຂອງຂ້ອຍ ຂ້ອຍຍັງຮູ້ສຶກ ຕ້ອງການແຕ້ມ ແລະ ກໍເພື່ອ ສ້າງສີ່ງ ໃດໜຶ່ງ ຈາກຄວາມຝັນ, ມຸມມອງ ແລະ ຈິນຕະນາການ. ການມີ ໂອກາດໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປ ງານວາງສະແດງ ບຸນມະໂຫລານ ທີ່ ຊຽງ ໄຮ, ສີງກາໂປ, ບາລີ, ຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ປະເທດໄທ ເປັນແຮງດຶງ ດູດໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການແຕ້ມຮູບຫຼາຍຂື້ນ. ພໍ່ ແລະ ເອື້ອຍຂອງຂ້ອຍ ຍາມໃດ ເພີ່ນກໍພູມໃຈໃນວຽກສີລະປະຂອງຂ້ອຍ ແລະໃຫ້ການ ສະໜັບສະໜູນມາແຕ່ຍັງໄວເຍົາ. ອາຈານຂ້ອຍມີຊື່ວ່າ ອະນຸຊາ ແລະ ຂ້ອຍມີຄວາມນິຍົມຊົມຊອບ ວຽກງານດ້ານສິລະປະຂອງ ເພີ່ນຫຼາຍ.

Here is an excerpt from my interview with Pok: TN: Why did you decide to be an artist? MPD: Because I like to paint. I started out drawing and as a young child I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. For me, painting offers freedom in thinking and no restrictions, unlike math. Before, very few people wanted to be painters in Laos and the lack of money in this field made it unattractive. TN: What inspires you to paint? MPD: I love to paint. It is in my blood. I also feel the need to paint, and to create something out of my dream, vision, and imagination. Travels to art exhibitions and fairs in Shanghai, Singapore, Bali, Vietnam, and Thailand makes want to paint even more. My father and sister always like my art and supported me ever since I was young. TN: What are your three favorite paintings and why? MPD: The Spirit of the Mother theme is timeless and very significant for me because I see mothers in Laos, especially in the countryside, nurse and carry their baby with them while working in the farm or in the rice paddies. Currently I am working on a series of paintings of the opium bud and flowers, transcending its beauty and benefits to the ethnic people of Laos. My favorite pieces are: 1) Spirit of Mother - Mother’s Milk, 2008 2) Spirit of Mother – Hmong, 2008 3) Scooping Water (Akha) and Ethnic Girl (Hmong), both in 2010

ຕ່:ູ ສາມຫົວຂໍ້ຮບ ູ ແຕ້ມທີ່ເຈົ້າພໍໃຈທີ່ສດ ູ ແມ່ນຫຍັງ ແລະ ຍ້ອນຫຍັງ? ປ໋ອກ: ຂັວນໃຈແມ່ ເປັນຫົວຂໍ້ ທີ່ບໍ່ສີ້ນສຸດແລະມີຄວາມຫມາຍ ສຳຄັນຫຼາຍ ຕາມການສັງເກດຕົນເອງເຫັນວ່າ ບັນດາຜູ້ເປັນແມ່ ໃນປະເທດລາວ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນແມ່ໃນເຂດຊົນນະບົດ ຫ່າງ ໄກສອກຫຼີກ, ເພິ່ນລ້ຽງດູ ແລະ ເບີ່ງແຍງດູແລ ລູກຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ ກໍ່ຕ້ອງເຮັດວຽກໄປນຳ ເຊັ່ນການປູກຝັງ ຫຼື ດຳນາ, ໄປໄຮ່ໄປສ່ວນ... ເມື່ອບໍ່ນານມານີ້ ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ແຕ້ມຮູບຊຸດ ດອກຝີ່ນ ຊື່ງບັນຍາຍເຖິງຄວາມງາມ, ຜົນປະໂຫຍດທັງດີ ແລະ ຜົນຮ້າຍ ຂອງປະຊາຊົນບັນດາເຜົ່າ ຕ່າງໆໃນປະເທດລາວ ງານທີ່ຂ້ອຍພູມໃຈທີ່ສູດ ມີດັ່ງນີ້ 1. ສາຍໃຈແມ່ - ນ້ຳນົມແມ່ 2008 2. ສາຍໃຈແມ່ ຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງ 2008 3. ການເກັບນ້ຳ (ຂອງ ຊົນເຜົ່າອາຄາ ແລະ ສາວນ້ອຍຊົນເຜົ່າມົ້ງ ຊຶ່ງຮູບທັງສອງນີ້ ໄດ້ແຕ້ມໃນປີ 2010). ຕູ່: ຊີວິດນັກສີລະປິນເປັນຢູ່ແນວໃດ? ເຈົ້າມີລາຍຮັບພຽງພໍ ຫຼື້ບໍ່? ປ໋ອກ: ມັນກໍ່ຄືນັກສິລະປິນທົ່ວໄປ ບາງມື້ກໍມີເງິນ ບາງມື້ກໍບໍມີ, ມັນ ກໍບໍ່ຄືກັບຄົນທີ່ເຮັດວຽກກິນເງິນເດືອນ ແຕ່ຍ້ອນຂ້ອຍມັກວຽກນີ້ ມັນເຮັດໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍມີຄວາມສຸກ. ແຫຼ່ງເງິນຜ່ານມາ ຂ້ອຍກໍໄດ້ຢືມເງິນ ແມ່ເປັນສ່ວນໃຫ່ຍ ເພື່ອຊື້ອຸປະກອນ ເປັນຕົ້ນແມ່ນ ຟອຍແຕ້ມຮູບ ແລະ ສີນ້ຳມັນ ຊື່ງຂ້ອຍມັກທົດລອງສີນຳ້ມັນຢີ້ຫໍ້ຕ່າງໆ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ໄດ້ ຜົນທີ່ພໍໃຈສຳລັບຂ້ອຍ. ມັນເຮັດຂ້ອຍເສຍເງິນໄປຫຼາຍໃນການໄ ດ້ຜົນລັບນີ້ (ນາງຫົວແບບຕະລົກ) ແຕ່ດຽວນີ້ບໍໄດ້ຂໍຢືມເງິນນຳແມ່ ແລ້ວ. ແຕ່ຂ້ອຍ ກໍຊື້ຂອງຂັວນ, ເຂົ້າປາອາຫານ ແລະ ສີ່ງຂອງ ຕ່າງໆທີ່ແມ່ເພີ່ນມັກໄປຕ້ອນເພີ່ນ. ຕູ່: ຮອດປັດຈຸບນ ັ ນີ້ ພາບທັງຫມົດທີ່ເຈົ້າແຕ້ມແລ້ວມີຈຳນວນເທົ່າໃດ? ປ໋ອກ: ມັນກໍຫຼາຍພໍສມ ົ ຄວນ ຈົນຂ້ອຍບໍ່ສາມາດຈົດຈຳໄດ້ທງັ ຫມົດ. ບາງເທື່ ອ ຂ້ ອ ຍກໍ ຮູ້ ສຶ ກ ເສຍໃຈທີ່ ຕ້ ອ ງໄດ້ ຂ າຍຮູ ບ ແຕ້ ມ ຈຳນວນ ໜຶ່ງທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກທີ່ສຸດ. ແຕ່ໃນອີກມຸມມອງນື່ງຂ້ອຍກໍດີໃຈທີ່ໄດ້ຂາຍ ໃຫ້ຄົນທີ່ມັກສີລະປະທີ່ແທ້ຈີງ ແລະ ມັກຜົນງານຂອງຂ້ອຍ. 45

TN: How many paintings have you completed? MPD: Countless, I can’t remember, too many… I started selling my paintings in 2003. It is not over a thousand, probably in the hundreds. The sad thing is that I’ve sold some of my favorite paintings. But the good thing is that I sold them to people that really appreciated art. TN: What advice would you give to aspiring artists? MPD: (Pok is very humble) I am not good enough to teach so I don’t have confidence in giving advice. (After thinking for a bit) Go for your goals, dreams. Draw what you like in your dreams, only then you will become satisfied. I want them to be bold, brave, and to show their ideas and creativity. If you are content, then just do it; it will be all right. Your art won’t please everyone. TN: What do you see yourself doing in five to ten years? MPD: I will remain an artist ‘till my dying day because I love being an artist. And I will keep painting. Maybe I might be able to teach at that stage. My instinct and intuition will let me know when the time comes. Painting is constantly changing for me sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. In the future, I see myself conforming to these changes, at the same time, including the past and contemporary aspects into my paintings. M Gallery 133 Samsenthai Rd. Ban Anou, Vientiane, LPDR (85621) 214765 www.mgallery.com.sg By Tu Ngonethong Freelance Consultant tu@moomdatatech.com

ຕູ່: ເຈົ້າພໍໃຫ້ຄຳແນະນຳ ຫຍັງແດ່ ແກ່ຜູ້ຕ້ອງການຢາກເປັນເປັນ ນັກສິລະປິນ? ປ໋ອກ: (ປ໋ອກ ມີປະກົດການອືດອາດນ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ) ຂ້ອຍຍັງບໍ່ທັນມີ ຄວາມສາມາດດີພໍ ທີ່ຈະສິດສອນ ຍ້ອນວ່າ ຂ້ອຍຍັງບໍ່ທັນເຊື່ອ ໝັ້ນຕົນເອງໃນເລື່ອງນີ້. (ຫຼັງຈາກ ນາງຄິດນ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ) ໄປຕາມ ຈຸດປະສົງເປົ້າໝາຍ ແລະ ຄວາມຝັນຂອງທ່ານ ແຕ້ມສີ່ງທີ່ທ່ານ ຝັນ ຈາກນັ້ນ ທ່ານກໍຈະເຂົ້າໃຈ ແລະ ພູມໃຈ. ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການ ຢາກໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າມີການຕັດສີນໃຈ ກ້າຫານ ແລະ ສະແດງຄວາມ ຄິດເຫັນ ແລະ ປະດິດຄິດສ້າງ. ຖ້າຫາກເຂົາເຈົ້າເຂົ້າໃຈ ແລະ ລົງມືເຮັດ ມັນກໍມີຄວາມອາດເປັນໄປໄດ້ ແຕ່ຕ້ອງຄຳນຶງສະເຫມີ ວ່າ ງານສີລະປະການແຕ້ມນັ້ນຈະບໍ່ຖກ ື ໃຈຂອງຄົນໝົດທຸກຄົນໄດ້. ຕູ່: ເຈົ້າສັງເກດຕົວເຈົ້າເອງ ໃນການເຮັດວຽກ ຫ້າ ປີ ຫາສິບປີ ຄືແນວໃດ? ປ໋ອກ: ຂ້ອຍຈະເປັນນັກສີລະປິນຕະຫຼອດໄປ ຂ້ອຍຮັກອາຊີບ ເປັນນັກສິລະປິນ ແລະ ຂ້ອຍຈະສືບຕໍ່ ແຕ້ມຮູບ ບໍ່ວ່າວັນໃດກໍ ວັນໜຶ່ງ ຂ້ອຍອາດມີຄວາມສາມາດ ທີ່ຈະກ້າວຂື້ນໄປເຖິງຈຸດທີ່ ສາມາດເປັນຜູ້ສິດສອນຄົນອື່ນໄດ້. ຕາມຄວາມປະສົງ ແລະ ສັນຊາດຕະຍານຂອງຂ້ອຍ ທີ່ຈະບອກຂ້ອຍເມື່ອເຖິງເວລາ. ສຳລັບຂ້ອຍການແຕ້ມຮູບແມ່ນມີການປ່ຽນແປງໄປເລື້ອຍໆ ບາງ ເທື່ອ ກໍໜ້ອຍບາງເທື່ອກໍຫຼາຍ ໃນອານາຄົດ ຂ້ອຍເຫັນວ່າຂ້ອຍ ເໝາະສົມກັບຄວາມປ່ຽນແປງເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ໄປພ້ອມກັນນີ້ ຮູບຂອງ ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ສັງລວມເອົາ ທັງເຫດການຂອງຊີວິດທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ແລະ ຊີວິດ ປະຈຸບັນ.

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Visit Luang Prabang

the UNESCO World Heritage Town famous for its Buddhist temples and divers architecture.

Ancient Luang Prabang Hotel Restaurant & Spa The place to relax and in style

Ancient Luangprabang Hotel (PhonHeuang) Khunsoa Rd, Ban Phon Heaung , Luangprabang, Laos Ancient luangprabang Hotel (Pakham) In downtown â&#x20AC;&#x153;night marketâ&#x20AC;? Sisavangvong Rd, Ban Pakham, Luangprabang, Laos Tel: +856-71-212264 Fax: +856-71-212804 Email: info@ancientluangprabang.com

www.ancientluangprabang.com

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Elephant Riding in Luang Prabang with All Lao Service

What is a Mahout?

Mahout means the elephant “driver”, “keeper”, or “handler”.

Visit Mahout Lodge to:

Learn how to ride an elephant on its neck like a mahout. Learn how to take care of an elephant, how to handle it, how to give it verbal and physical commands. Learn how to bathe your elephant

Mahout Lodge

www.alllaoservice.com www.mahoutlodge.com 48

Phon Keng

Vientiane Capital Of Lao PDR Hotel/Guesthouse

Phonxay

Patuxay

Petrol Station

Thepnimit

Ban Fai

Market

Lane Xang

Royal Dokmaidaeng

Bo n

Temple/Chedi

Hospital

Tourist info Tourist Office

Sailo

Monument

lan

Bus Station

Shoping mor Settha Palace

u ulo

Mixay

In Peng

P ng

Inter

ong

Mek

Sithan Neua Fa

Presidential Palace

hao tK

Int'l Clinic

Phiavat

Fa Ngum

Don Chan Palace

iver

Ngu

Mekong

Hua Maung

Tha

Ho Prakeo

Anouvong Monument

Taipan g

Chantasom

Mahasot

100

Novotel

Douang Deuane

Kao Yod

Settha Thirat

Parkview

Mi Xay

Lane Xang

Sisavangvong Monument

Si Maung

rat

Vaykorn

am Pang Kh

Ong Teu a Thi

Asai Pavillion

Sisaket Mahosot

Anou

rab

Khou Vieng

Lane Xang

Sam

Deagon

Vientiane

Phetmanyxay

ane Khounm Chanta

Lovang

Vanna Sinh

Fa Ngum Monument

Khua Din Market

Ekalath

i sentha

Setth

Dongpalan

u Vie

Lao Plazza

Thawee

Lao

Kho

Nam

That Dam Phay

Day Inn

Soradith

Dong Pa

200

300

400

Xiang Vae

Restaurants Vientiane

Vientiane

Luang Prabang

Khop Chai Deu The Place where the world meets. 54 Setthathirat Rd, Namphou Fountain, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel/Fax: (856) 21 -251564 www.khopchaideu.com

La Gondola 101/7 Ban Wat Chane Chao Anou Rd., Chanthabury, P.O.BOX 9198, Vientiane Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 21 -264057 Mob: (856) 20 -5926 232 E-mail: pierluigimarcon@hotmail.com

Blue Lagoon Café Blue Lagoon Café serves an Extensive menu of food, cocktails, Coffees and wines Ban Choumkhong, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 71 -253698 E-mail: info@blue-lagoon-cafe.ch www.blue-lagoon-cafe.com

Sophisticated Fusion Suchi & Japanese Food Open every day Hang Boun Road, Ban Haisok, Tel: +856-21 265 000

ຟຣີໂຄສະນາ ໃສ່ຊື່ທີ່ຢູ່

ລົງ

ຕິດຕໍ່ຫາພວກເຮົາເລີຍ T: 021 223590 M: 020 22464321 info@champaholiday.com

Free Add Your Addressin this page

La Scala Km3, Ban Beungkayong, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 21 -485006 Mob: (856) 20 -2225354 E-mail: lascsla_delishop@yahoo.com L’Adresse de Tinay P 141 Samsenthai Rd, Unit 118, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Mob: (856) 20 -6913434 E-mail: tinay.intha@gmail.com Lao Garden P 131 The Deua Rd, Ban Watnak, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 21 -312930 Le Prevencal P 155 Aucun doute les meilleures Pizzas De Vientiane sa pud est dans votre assiette Namphu Square, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 21 -219689 Mob: (856) 20 -5614092 Camacrafts P 89 Nokeo koummane Rd., Mixay Village, P.O.Box 4556, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel: (856) 21 -241217 E-mail: et@camacrafts.org www.camacrafts.org

Indochina Spirit Ban Vat That 50-51, Opposite the Fountain on the Mainroad, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -253080, 252372 Mob: (856) 20 -5670189 E-mail: indochina2us@yahoo.com Sushi Japanese Retaurant Ban Visoun, Visounnarth Rd, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Mob: (856) 20 -7518300 Rama Hotel Luang Prabang Khmu Restaurant P 52 Tel: (856) 71 -212092 Mob: (856) 20 -5570505 E-mail: malatravelservice@yahoo.com Morning Glory Café Morning Glory Café Sakarine Rd., Ban Wat Sene, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Mob: (856) 20 -7858344 www.mg-restaurant.com

Guest Houses Vientiane

Luang Prabang

Nam Lik Eco Village Vientiane Province, Lao PDR Mob: (856) 20-5508719, 5596724 E-mail: malicafe@hotmail.com www.namlik.com

Bouakham Guest House Ban Pakham, Souvannabanlang Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel/Fax: (856) 71-254991 E-mail: bouakham_gh@yahoo.com www.green_laos.com

Haysok Ban Haysok ChanthabulyDist. Tel: (856) 21 -218844 Mob: (856) 20 -5513779 Naphavong Ban Haysok ChanthabulyDist. Tel: (856) 21 -240888 Mob: (856) 20 -5385175 Nita Ban Sailom ChanthabulyDist. Tel: (856) 21 -213986 Mob: (856) 20 -7762777

Handicrafts Magic Lao Carpets Ban Nongdouang Tai Sikhottabong District, Lao PDR. Tel: +856-21 216 854 Fax: +856-21 215 639 E-mail. lanico@laotel.com www.magiclaocarpets.com

Channuane Guest House p 200 Ban Hoa Siang, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -252078 Mob: (856) 20 -5518815 E-mail: somtcit@channuane.com www.channuane.com Hotel Villa Ban Lao p 229 Thammamikarath Rd., Ban Mano, P.O.BOX: 888, Luang prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -252078 Fax: (856) 71 -212438 E-mail: info@banlaohotel.com www.banlaohotel.com Sokdee Residence P211 Ban vat Nong, Kounxoa Rd, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -252555, E-mail: sokdeeresidence@gmail.com

Pakse Phaythavone Ban PhonsaAt Pakse District. Tel: (030) 213623 Mob: (856) 20 -5432110 Phonesavanh Ban Thalouang Pakse District. Tel: (031) 212842 Mob: (856) 2277277 Sala Ban Thasalakham Pakse District Tel: (031) 212725 Fax: (031) 213110 Thaluang Ban Thalouang Pakse District Tel: (031) 251399 Mob: (856) 5530113 Santisouk Ban Oudomsavanh Tel: (031) 25 2649 Mob: (856) 563 2442 Somvang Vongsouvan Ban KeoOudom Pakse District Tel: (031) 21 3413

Hotels Vientiane

Luang Prabang

Pakse

Aroon Residence Hotel Saylom Rd Ban Hatsady Neua Chanthabuly District. Vientiane Capital Tel: (856) 21 263023 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 Fax: (856) 21 263025 Mob: (856) 20 77777108 Email: booking@aroonresidencehotel.com www.aroonresidencehotel.com

Ancient Luang Prabang Sisavangvong Rd, Ban Bakham, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -212264 Fax: (856) 71 -212840 E-mail: info@ancientluangprabang.com www.ancientluangprabang.com

Inthira Hotel Ban Vat Amard, Champasak District Champasak Province, Lao PDR. Tel/Fax: +856-31 214 059 E-mail: info@inthirahotel.com www.inthirahotel.com

Axay Phatthana Hotel 359 Phonsinuan Rd. Sisattanak District. Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21 454316 Mob: (856) 20 77444472, 22280222, 22222015 Email: Avs_Asxay@hotmail.com Phasouk Residence Ban Xieng Gneun, Wat Xieng Gneun Rd Vientiane Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21 243415, 264158 Fax: (856) 21 243414 Email: info@phasoukresidence.com www.phasoukresidence.com Parkview Executive Suites Souphanouvong Avenue, Sikhotabong Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21-250 888 Fax: (856) 21-250777 Email: parkview@laotel.com www.parkviewexecutive.com Hotel Lao 43/7 Hengboun Rd, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21 -219280-1 Fax: (856) 21 -219282 E-mail: hotellao@laotel.com Lane-Xang Hotel Fa Ngum Rd, P.O BOX: 280, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21 -214 100-7 Fax: (856) 21 -214108 E-mail: hotel-lanexang@yahoo.com Lao Plaza 63, Samsenthai Rd, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 21 -218800-01 Fax: (856) 21 -218800-9 E-mail: sales@laoplazahotel.com www.laoplazahotel.com

Mekong River View Hotel P 192 Mekong Riverside Rd, Xieng Thong Village, P.O.Box 183, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -254900 E-mail: hotel@mekongriverview.com www.mekongriverview.com Le Bel Air Boutique P 199 1 Old Bridge, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -254699 Fax: (856) 71 -410488 Mob: (856) 20 -5-410488 E-mail: info@leblairhotel.com Luang-Prabang River Lodge P 201 Bam Paxom Khomkong Rd, Along Tha Mekong Riverside Tel/Fax: (856) 21 -253314 Mob: (856) 20 -5-405192 E-mail: kllpq@laotel.com Rama Hotel P 217 Ban Visoun, Visounnarath Rd, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 71 -212247, 253255 Fax: (856) 71 -253266 E-mail: reservation@ramahotel.net www.ramahotel.net

Champa Hotel No. 13 Rd, P.O.BOX 504, Pakse Champasak,Lao PDR Tel: (856) 31 -213649 Fax: (856) 31 -212765 E-mail: Champaresidence@yahoo.com Champasak Palace Road No.13, Ban Prabath P.O.BOX: 718 Champasak Province, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 31 -212263, 212777-80 Fax: (856) 31 -212781, 252131 Kingfisher Ecolodge Ban Khiet Ngong (Phou Asa) Champasak Province, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 20 -5726315 E-mail: info@kingfisherecolodge.com www.kingfisherecolodge.com Salal Done Khone 4 000 Islands, Champasak, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 30 -5256390 Fax: (856) 30 -5260701 E-mail: saladonekhone@salalao.com www.saladonekhone@salalao.com

Lao Spirit Resort Nam Khan River 15 km out of Luang Prabang Mobile: +856-20 58553133 E-mail: info@lao-spirit.com

La Folie Lodge Pathoumphone Don Daeng P.O.BOX: 668 Champasak province, Lao PDR Tel: (856) 30 -5347603 Mob: (856) 20 -5532004 Email: reservation@lafolie-laos.com www.lafolie-laos.com

Oudomxay

Khammouane

Vanghai Village, Xay City, Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR Mobile: +856-20 23968111, 23966333 Tel: +856-81 212 881, Fax: +856-81 212882 sales@chrminglaohotel.com reservation@chrminglaohotel.com manager@chrminglaohotel.com www. chrminglaohotel.com

Inthira Hotel No. 079, Unit 4 Anou Road, BanThakhek Kang, Thakhek District Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. Tel/Fax: +856-51 251 237 E-mail: info@inthirahotel.com www.inthirahotel.com

INTERNATIONAL ROUTE Valid from 27 MAR 2011 to 30 OCT 2011

FLT No

STP

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ບາງກອກ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV414 Daily VTE BKK QV415 Daily VTE BKK QV4571 Daily VTE BKK QV4575 Daily VTE BKK QV424 Daily BKK VTE QV425 Daily BKK VTE QV4570 Daily BKK VTE QV4574 Daily BKK VTE

Day

Routing

Dep

Vientiane - Bangkok - Vientiane 07:20 08:40 ` 16:30 17:50 13:50 14:55 21:50 22:55 09:40 11:00 18:50 20:10 11:45 12:55 19:50 21:00

Arr

AT7 AT7 737 737 AT7 AT7 737 737

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV312 1234567 VTE HAN QV840 Daily VTE HAN QV322 1234567 HAN VTE QV841 Daily HAN VTE

Vientiane - Hanoi - Vientiane 14:30 15:50 18:10 19:10 16:30 17:55 08:30 09:35

AT7 320 AT7 320

0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ພະນ ົມເປັນ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV841 Daily VTE PNH QV840 Daily PNH VTE

Vientiane - Phnompenh - Vientiane 10:20 11:50 15:50 17:20

320 320

0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV512 123.5.7 VTE REP QV522 123.5.7 REP VTE

Vientiane - Siemreap - Vientiane 06:30 09:25 10:05 13:00

AT7 AT7

PKZ PKZ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຄຸນມິງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV817 1234567 VTE KMG QV827 1234567 KMG VTE

Vientiane - Kunming - Vientiane 06:40 08:50 09:50 12:10

AT7 AT7

0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ໂຮຈ ິ ນ ິ - ວຽງຈ ັນ ່ ມ QV515 246 VTE SGN QV525 246 SGN VTE

Vientiane - Hochiminh - Vientiane 07:00 10:45 11:45 15:30

MA6 MA6

PKZ PKZ

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຊຽງໃໝ່ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV635 23567 LPQ CNX QV645 23567 CNX LPQ

Luang Prabang - Chieng Mai - Luang Prabang 13:10 14:10 15:00 16:00

AT7 AT7

0 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ບາງກອກ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV633 1234567 LPQ BKK QV643 1234567 BKK LPQ

Luang Prabang - Bangkok - Luang Prabang 07:30 09:10 10:20 12:00

AT7 AT7

0 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV513 146 LPQ REP QV869 12356 LPQ REP QV523 146 REP LPQ QV868 12356 REP LPQ

Luang Prabang - Siemreap - Luang Prabang 10:50 14:20 10:30 12:10 15:00 18:30 12:50 14:30

MA6 F70 MA6 F70

PKZ 0 PKZ 0

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ຮາ່ ໂນຍ ້ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV313 24567 LPQ HAN QV868 12356 LPQ HAN QV323 24567 HAN LPQ QV869 12356 HAN LPQ

Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Luang Prabang 16:40 17:40 15:10 16:00 18:25 19:25 08:55 09:50

AT7 F70 AT7 F70

0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ສຽມຣຽບ - ປາກເຊ QV512 123.5.7 PKZ REP QV513 146 PKZ REP QV522 123.5.7 REP PKZ QV523 146 REP PKZ

Pakse - Siemreap - Pakse 08:25 09:25 13:20 14:20 10:05 11:05 15:00 16:00

AT7 AT7 AT7 AT7

0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ບາງກອກ - ປາກເຊ QV213 357 QV223 357

PKZ BKK BKK PKZ

Pakse - Bangkok - Pakse 09:25 12:10 13:10 15:45

MA6 MA6

ZVK ZVK

ປາກເຊ - ໂຮຈິມນ ິ - ປາກເຊ QV515 246 QV525 246

PKZ SGN SGN PKZ

Pakse - Hochiminh - Pakse 10:50 12:10 13:10 14:30

MA6 MA6

0 0

ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ບາງກອກ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ QV213 357 ZVK BKK QV223 357 BKK ZVK

Savannakhet - Bangkok - Savannakhet 10:50 12:10 13:10 14:30

MA6 MA6

0 0

DOMESTIC ROUTE

Valid from 27 MAR 2011 to 30 OCT 2011 FLT No

Days

Routing

Dep

Arr

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງພະບາງ

QV101 QV103 QV109

1234567 1234567 1234567

VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ

Vientiane - Luang Prabang 11:50 12:30 AT7 16:30 17:10 AT7 09:30 10:10 MA6

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV102 QV104 QV110 QV110

1234567 1234567 146 2357

LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE LPQ VTE

Luang Prabang - Vientiane 1310 13:50 17:50 18:30 19:10 19:50 10:40 11:20

ຫລວງພະບາງ - ປາກເຊ - ຫລວງພະບາງ QV513 QV523

146 146

AT7 AT7 MA6 MA6

..3.5.7 ..3.5.7

VTE ZVK ZVK VTE

..3.5.7 ..3.5.7

PKZ ZVK ZVK PKZ

Vientiane - Savannakhet - Vientiane 07:30 10:00 MA6 15:10 17:40 MA6

PKZ PKZ

Pakse -Savannakhet - Pakse

09:25 15:10

10:00 15:45

MA6 MA6

0 0

Vientiane - Pakse - Vientiane 06:30 07:45 AT7 07:30 08:45 MA6 07:00 08:15 MA6 11:45 13:00 AT7 16:25 17:40 MA6 14:15 15:30 MA6

0 0 0 0 0 0

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ປາກເຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ

QV512 QV201 QV515 QV522 QV202 QV525

123.5.7 357 246 123.5.7 357 246

VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ PKZ VTE PKZ VTE PKZ VTE

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ອຸດ ົມໄຊ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV501 QV502

246 246

VTE ODY ODY VTE

Vientiane - Oudomxay - Vientiane 13:20 14:10 MA6 14:50 15:40 MA6

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫວ ້ ຍຊາຍ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV901 QV902

246 246

VTE HOE HOE VTE

Vientiane - Houeysay - Vientiane 13:10 14:05 MA6 14:45 15:40 MA6

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຫລວງນຳ້ ທາ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV601 QV602

135 135

VTE LXG LXG VTE

Vientiane - Luang Namtha - Vientiane 12:30 13:30 MA6 14:10 15:10 MA6

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ຊຽງຂວາງ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV401 QV402

1357 1357

Remark: All times are local time 1: Monday 2: Tuesday 3: Wednesday 4: Thursday 5: Friday 6: Saturday 7: Sunday

VTE XKH XKH VTE

0 0 0 0 0 0

ປາກເຊ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ປາກເຊ

QV213 QV223

0 0 0

Luang Prabang - Pakse - Luang Prabang 10:50 12:40 MA6 16:40 18:30 MA6

LPQ PKZ PKZ LPQ

ວຽງຈ ັນ - ສະຫວ ັນນະເຂດ - ວຽງຈ ັນ QV201 QV202

STP

Vientiane - Xiengkhuang - Vientiane 13:20 13:50 AT7 14:30 15:00 AT7

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 Pangkham Rd., P.O. Box: 6441 Vientiane Lao P.D.R Tel: 856-21 212057, 856-21 212051-54 Fax: 856-21 2065, 856-21 2056 www.laoairlines.com

LAO AIRLINES OFFICES

VIENTIANE HEAD OFFICE

02 PANGKHAM STREET, P.O BOX 6441 Tel: ( 856- 21 ) 212057 Fax : ( 856 21 ) 212065 www.laoairlines.com TICKET & RESERVATION

Tel: ( 856 – 21 ) 212051-54 Fax : ( 856 – 21 ) 212056 Email: reservation@laoairlines.com, ticketing@laoairlines.com AIRPORT OFFICE

Tel: ( 856-21 ) 512028 ( International Airport ) Tel: ( 856-21 ) 512 000, 512 004 ( Domestic Airport )

AREA LAOS

THAILAND

VIETNAM

LUANGPRABANG ( LPQ ) Tel : ( 856-71 ) 212172 Fax : ( 856-71 ) 212406 Email : addy@laoairlines.com Tel : ( 856-71) 212173 ( Airport ) Fax : ( 856- 71 ) 252264 Email : lpq@laoairlines.com

BANGKOK Town office 491/17 ground Fl, Silom plaza Silom road ,Bangkok 10500 Tel: ( 66-2 ) 236 9822, 2369823, 237 8044 Fax: ( 66-2 ) 236 9821 Email: bkkrrqv@ksc.th.com

HANOI No 40 QUANGTRUNG STR. HANOI VIETNAM Tel: 84-4 942 5362 FAX: 84-4 942 5363 Sita: HANTOQV Email: laoairlines.han@fpt.vn

LUANGNAMTHA ( LXG ) Tel : ( 856-86 ) 212072 FaX : ( 856-86 ) 212073 Email : lxg@laoairlines.com Tel : ( 856-86 ) 312180, 312053 ( Airport ) OUDOMXAY ( ODY ) Tel : ( 856- 81 ) 312047, 312146 Fax : ( 856 -81 ) 212229 Email : ody@laoairlines.com

Airport office 2nd Floor of AOB building Room No. Z010 Tel: (662) 134 2006 to 2008 Fax.: (662) 134 2009 Check in counter No. 7/10 (Opposite of Check-in row “R” Tel: (662) 134 2010 Fax: (662) 134 2011

XIENGKHUANG ( XKH ) Tel : ( 856 – 61) 312027 Fax : ( 856 – 61 ) 312487 Email : xiengkhouang@laoairlines.com Tel : ( 856-61) 312177 ( Airport )

CHIANGMAI 2/107 Rajchapuak,Huaykew Road Amper muang Chiangmai 50300 Tel: ( 66-53 ) 223 401 Fax: ( 66-53 ) 223 400 Sita: CNXRRQV Email: qvcnx@loxinfo.co.th

HOUEISAY ( HOE ) Tel : ( 856 – 84 ) 211026 Fax : ( 856 – 84 ) 211471 Email : hoe@laoairlines.com Tel : ( 856 – 84 ) 211494 ( Airport )

UDON THANI Udon Thani Airport Tel /Fax: 66- 42 931 559 Email : qvuth@laoairlines.com

PAKSE ( PKZ ) Tel : ( 856 – 31) 212252 Fax ( 856 – 31) 212751 Email : pkztoqv@laotel.com Tel: ( 856 – 31 ) 251460 ( Airport ) SAVANNAKHET ( ZVK ) Tel: ( 856-41 ) 212140, Fax: ( 856-41 ) 251060 Email : zvk@laoairlines.com

CAMBODIA PHNOMPENH 58 B Sihanouk Avenue Phnompenh Tel: (855-23 ) 222956 Fax: ( 855-23 ) 216 563 Sita: PNHRRQV laoairline.qvpnh@online.com.kh SIEM REAP 114 Sala Khanseng Village, road no 6 Svay Dongkhom Commune, Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province Tel: ( 855-63 ) 963 283, 963169 Fax: ( 855-63 ) 963283 Email: qvrep@camitel.com CHINA

KUNMING No 96 East Dong Feng Road, Camellia Hotel, Kunming, Yunnan, China 650041 Tel : +86 871 3163000 ext 5166 P.T. Air Cargo Co.,Ltd. ( For Cargo ) Tel/Fax: +86 871 3125748 Building 301, Room 427-428, Mobile: +86 13987182913 Customs Free Zone Suvarnabhumi E-mail : KUNMING@laoairlines.com, Airport, 999 Moo 7, Rachathewa, Bangphli, Samutprakan 10540 Tel : 66-02-1346721 (Auto) Fax : 66-02-1346453-4 E-mail : adulp@ptcargo.com

APG Global Associates in Europe Offices UNITED KINGDOM (UK) Lao Airlines Axis House 242 Bath Road Heathrow Middlesex UB3 5AY United Kingdom Tel : +44 (0) 844 482 2318 Fax : +44 (0) 844 482 1668 E-mail : laoairlines@apg-ga.co.uk

GERMANY Lao Airlines Leonhardstraße 22 61169 Friedberg Tel : + 49 6031 737630 Fax : + 49 6031 725081 E-mail : laoairlines@gpgermany.com

FRANCE Lao Airlines c/o APG - 66 avenue des Champs Elysées - 75008 Paris Tel : + 33 1 53 77 13 13 Fax : + 33 1 53 77 13 05 E-mail : laoairlines@apg.fr

SPAIN Gran Via Corts Catalanes 617 08009 BARCELONA Tel : + 34 933188443 Fax : + 34 934813833 E-mail : laoairlines@bcnair.com

SWEDEN Lao Airlines Europe Box 22308 Kungsholmsgatan 10 104 22 Stockholm, Sweden Tel : + 46 8 545 91 668 Fax : + 46 8 612 05 92 E-mail : sales.europe@lao-airlines.com

MALAYSIA MAPLE AVIATION PTE, LTD CP57 SUITE 1705 17th floor CENTRAL PLAZA JALAN SULTAN ISMAIL 50250 KUALA LUMPUR TEL : ( 60 ) 321443101 / 3077 FAX : ( 60 ) 321429392 Email : maple_kl@tm.net.my

ISRAEL Euromart, 29 Ben Yehuda St. Tel Aviv Israel P.O.Box - 3254 Tel Aviv Israel, Tel +972 3 7952127 Mobil tel nbr is +972 52 5442354 Fax : +972 3 6005919 Email : euromart@netvision.net.il JAPAN ATB., Ltd 6F WANAMI BLDG, 1-4-5 NIHOMBASHI KAYABA-CHO, CHUO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN 103-0025 TEL : ( 81-3 ) 5623 3858 FAX: ( 81-3 ) 5623 3859 E-mail : qv@lao-airlines.jp , res@lao-airlines.jp KOREA GLOBAL AIR SYSTEM Rm 902, Kwang Hwa Mun Bldg, 211, Sejongno Chongno-Ku, seoul , Korea Tel : ( 822 ) 3708 8524 Fax : ( 822 ) 3708 8520 Email : kashar@globalair21.com MYANMAR ASIA Tourex Travel Service Ltd. 3 (B), Myaynigone Plaza, Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) Tel: (951) 538 596, 501 112, 534 773 Fax: (951) 513 432 Email: khakha@mtourex.com.mm

SINGAPORE MAPLE AVIATION PTE,LTD 133 NEW BRIDGE ROAD # 14-05 CHINA TOWN POINT SINGAPORE 059413 TEL: ( 65 ) 65383787, 65385515 FAX: ( 65 ) 65383183 maplessin@singnet.com.sg SITA : SINGSCO TAIWAN Taiwan Orchid Express Inc. 11F, No25, Chang An E Rd., Sec1, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-25682121, Fax: 886-2-25213991 E-mail: info@toe.com.tw U S A ( PSA ) GOOD LUCK TOUR AND TRAVEL 2021 THE ALANMEDA SUIT 199 SAN JOSE CA 95126 TEL: 408-243 7628 Fax: 408-243 8168 Email: goodlucktour@gmail.com UNIVERSAL TRAVEL 4400 47th AVENUE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95824 Tel: ( 916 ) 429- 2711 Fax: ( 916 ) 429-1910 Email : univerasltvl@aol.com

EXCELTRAVEL 4885E, Kings canyon, Fresno CA 93727, USA Tel ( 559 ) 455 19159 Fax ( 559 ) 455 1965 exceltravelus@yahoo.com S N T TOURS & TRAVEL 1151 N EUCLID ST # B ANAHEIM CA 92801 Tel : 714-991-7801 Fax : 714-991-7808 Mobile: 714-313-2356 Email : snttravels@yahoo.com US GATEWAY TRAVEL 4100 Spring Valley Road, suite 202 Dallas, TX 75244 Tel : 972-503-7888 Fax: 972-934-4612 Email : gttdfw@gtttravel.com; US GATEWAY TRAVEL ( GTT International ) 1300 Godward St. N.E. Suite 3120 Minneapolis, MN 55413 Tel: 612-872-4931 Fax: 612-872-4932 hanna.msp@gtttravel.com

AVIATION GSA CO. 1065 Budapest Nagymezo utca47 Tel:(361)3022484, 3541849 Fax:(361)354 1848 mobile:(36)306977353 rsardi@t-online.hu

Vientiane Capital of Lao PDR Vientiane is Southeast Asia’s most laid-back capital. This city boasts outstanding French colonial architecture and low level buildings that are spread out in the city, enhancing a cultural and relaxed atmosphere. Life in this pleasant capital is slow-paced and there is always only a light flow of traffic, even during rush hour! We explore this little, peaceful capital at a leisurely pace visiting some of the finest and most important historical sites in Laos

Vientiane

How to reach Vientiane ? You should take Lao Airlines flight from Bangkok with 02 daily flights. from Hanoi/ Kunming / Siemreap daily flights, from Hochimin 3 flights a week ( Tue, Thu & Sat ).

Vientiane Free & Easy stay 3 days

Vientiane stop over 3 days

Code: CPH71

Code:CPH72

Enjoy the Free & Easy stay package to Vientiane the capital of Laos, which includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, 02 nights accommodation a hotel room of your choice with daily breakfast, round trip Airport transfer and half day tour.

Vientiane stop over tour is included round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, Transportation in private car, Accommodation in twin shared room, English speaking guide, Admission fee to indicated sights, daily breakfast at hotel, Gov’t tax and service charge and tour program as belows:

Program Day1. Arrival Vientiane On arrival in the Laos capital of Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national icon, the precious and sacred structure of

That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The Mekong riverside is the perfect place to end the day and admire the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day2. Vientiane – Nam Ngum Lake After breakfast, we head out of the city and make our way to Nam Ngum, a huge reservoir created by damming the Nam Ngum River. We stop over at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey. On arrival at Nam Ngum Lake, we embark on a long tail boat visiting fishing villages in the various islets. We take a short walk to explore the lifestyle of the local fishermen. On return, [if time permits], perhaps you might want to experience gambling at the legal Lao casino located in the valley where you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the lake. We return to Vientiane by late evening. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day3. Vientiane - Departure After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market (if time permits). The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure (B)

For more information please contact Champa holidays tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile:2413161 , 2224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Pakse city ( Champasak ) Pakse stop over 3 Days Code : Champa3.2

Progam Day1. Arrival – Pakse – Don Khone On arrival at Pakse, drive out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to explore the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. We continue our journey by motorboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong (L/D)

Day2. Khong Island- Done Khone-Pakse Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long tail boat tour of the Don Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is a really impressive near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterwards we drive back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse (B/L/D)

Pakse Free & Easy stay3 Days

Pakse Splendid

Code : Champa3.1

We explore the beautiful region of Pakse, located in the southern part of Laos, also home to the famous Ancient Khmer ruins of Wat Phou from the 5th century and the awe-inspiring Khone Pabeng waterfall, the biggest in Southeast Asia! The surrounding forests teem with flourishing vegetation and you will be greeted by the friendly, waving locals as we visit a few villages. You will take a trip to the Boloven Plateau, which will provide you with a refreshing break from the heat and allow you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea and crops on our way.

Enjoy the free & easy stay package in Pakse the southern city of Laos . You may connect Lao Airlines flight from Bangkok, Hochiminh, Luangprbang and Vientiane. Program: Day1 : Meet at Pakse Airport meet and transfer to hotel for check in and relaxation.

Day3. Pakse - Departure

Day2 : Enjoy breakfast at hotel and free leisure or you may contact hotel counter for city tour yourself.

After breakfast, free at leisure for shopping, then transfer airport. (B)

Day3 : After breakfast, free leisure and

Package includes

transfer to Airport for check in and fly back

- Roundtrip Air ticket of Lao Airlines - Two nights accommodation in hotel in twin sharing room - Transportation in private car - English speaking guide. - Daily breakfast at hotel - Admission fee to indicated sights

Package includes - Roundtrip Lao Airlines - Two nights accommodation in hotel room - Daily breakfast - Round trip Airport transfer

You can reach Pakse by Lao Airlines flights from Vientiane, Luangprabang, Siemreap, Bangkok and Hochiminh

Flight Schedule from Hochiminh Hochiminh-Pakse Tue, Thu, Sat Dep/11.45 Arr/13.45

Pakse-Hochiminh Tue, Thu, Sat Dep/09.15 Arr/10.45

Luang Prabang World Heritage City Luang Prabang is a beautiful and tranquil dream-like setting with a fusion of foreign influences and splendid landscape and scenery, making this an idyllic, unspoiled and charming destination for visitors. It is no wonder this amazing city has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The ancient city was the former capital of Laos, with a reign of more than 63 kings over 600 years. Luang Prabang is known as the ‘Thousand Pagoda City’, and there are countless intriguing architectural highlights in this sleepy and once royal capital.

How to reach Luang Prabang ? You can take Lao Airlines direct flight from Bangkok, Chiangmai and Hanoi with dailythree times a week from Siemreap 3 daily flights from Vientiane. Luang Prabang Free & Easy 3 Days Code: CPH11 Enjoy the free & Easy stay package in the World Heritage city of Laos which includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, 2 nights accommodationin a hotel room of your choice with daily breakfast , round trip airport transfer and half day city tour.

Luang Prabang stop over 3 Days Code : CPH12 Luangprbang stop over tour includes a round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, Transportation in private car, Accommodation in twin shared room, English speaking guide, Admission fee to indicated sights, daily breakfast at hotel, Gov’t tax and service charge and tour program as below.

Program Day1. Arrival – Luang Prabang Arrival at Luang Prabang airport , you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hilltribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day2. Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave

On this today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to another small village Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day3. Luang Prabang - Departure

Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure (B)

For more information please contact Champa Holidays Tour or Lao Airlines offices Tel: ( 856-21 ) 219932, Fax: ( 856-21 ) 212058, Mobile:2413161 , 2224884 Email: info@laoairlines.com, sales@champaholidays.com, www.champaholidays.com

Luang Prabang World Heritage City

Luang Prabang Wonder 4 Days

Day2. Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave

Code: CPH13 Enjoy with Luang Prabang Wonder 4 days 3 nights which includes Round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, Transportation in private car and Accommodation in twin shared room. Boat trip as stated in above sights, English speaking guide, Admission fee to indicated sights, daily breakfast at hotel, Gov’t tax and service charge and tour program as bellow:

Program Day1. Arrival – Luang Prabang Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’. During our time here, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day3. Luang Prabang–Khouangsi Waterfall An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. From there you will visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as

dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Lao Oum Village and Ban Thapene, all Khmu villages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. After returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day4. Luang Prabang - Departure Today we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure (B)

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam

Formerly known as Saigon ... How to reach Ho Chi Minh city ? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse to Hochiminh on Tue, Thu & Sat.

Ho Chi Minh Free & Easy stay 3 days Code: CPH61 Enjoy the Free & Easy stay Package in the historical Ho Chi Minh city which includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, two nights accommodation in three star hotel with daily breakfast, round trip Airport transfer and half day tour in Ho Chi Minh city.

Ho Chi Minh-Mekong Delta 3 Days Code: CPH62 The Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta 3 days 2 nights includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines , 2 nights accommodation in twin sharing room, Daily breakfast & 1 Lunch at hotel, transportation in private car, Entrance fee to tourist sight seeing and one day tour to Mekong delta including tour guide as program bellows:

Day1 : Meet on arrival at Tan San Airport and transfer to hotel for check in and free leisure or shopping.

Day2: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh ( Meals: B/L ) After breakfast , departure at 8:00 am, driving to Mekong Delta, the large rice basket of Vietnam. Visiting Vinh Trang pagoda. Cruising on Mekong river to the Island for sight seeing the daily activities of the local people (having coconut juice on the boat). Taking a paddle boat to go along the small canal, visiting bee farm, orchards, enjoying tea, honey, seasonal fruits, sweets, amateur traditional music performance, seeing coconut candy mill - Lunch on the island.On the way back, stopsover at the workshop for shopping.

Day3: Depart Ho Chi Minh ( Meals: B ) After breakfast at Hotel , Free leisure or free shopping and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for the departure flight.

Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 Days Code: CPH63 Ho Chi Minh Vung Tau 3 days 2 nights which includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines , 2 nights accommodation in twin sharing room, full board meals , transportation in private car, Entrance fee to tourist sight seeing , tour guide and tour program as bellows:

Day 1: ARRIVE HO CHI Minh – CITY TOUR (L,D) Arrive Ho Chi Minh by QV515 at 10.45. Welcome by friendly guide then transfer to Hotel. Buffet lunch at leisure. PM: City tour: visit China Town - Thien Hau Pagoda - Remnant War Museum - Reunification Hall (Formerly Presidential Palace) - Opera House - City Hall - Drop at Main Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral for taking pictures - On the way going back to the Hotel, stop at Lacquewares factory for shopping. Back to hotel. Set dinner at Sapphire Hotel.

Day 2: HCMC – VUNG TAU – HCMC (L, D) Morning depart for Vung Tau, a famous tourist spot. Free for swimming and sea bathing at Mariana Club. Set lunch at the local seafood restaurant. Visit memorial statue of Saint George (30m high) on Small Mountain - the highest Saint statue in Viet Nam, visit Niet Ban Tinh Xa, the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau on a hill-slope facing the sea. Back HCM City on the way stop at LongThanh to buy fruit of the season. Arrival HCMC, set dinner on Saigon floating restaurant. Transfer back to hotel for leisure time.

Day 3: HO CHI Minh – VIENTIANE Free time until transfer to Airport Free time until for a flight 11.45am. End of service.

Amazing Angkor , Siem Reap - Cambodia How to reach Angkor wat ? You may take Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane or Pakse with daily service or depart from Luangprabang on Mon, Thu & Sat.

Angkor Wat CPH41 : Free & Easy stay 3 Days 2 Nights Enjoy the Free & Easy stay Package in the Siem reap city which includes - Round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines - Two nights accommodation in three/ four star hotel with daily breakfast. - Round trip Airport transfer.

Angkor Wat Amazing CPH42 : Full Package 3 Days 2 nights Visit the Amazing Angkor city 3 days 2 nights with Champa holidays which includes Roundtrip Air ticket of Lao Airlines. - Two night accommodation in hotel on twin sharing room. - Full board meals, Transportation (car, van or bus). - Entrance fee to tourist sight seeing.English / Thai speaking guide and tour program as following :

Day 01: Arrive – Siem Reap ( L/D) Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to hotel for Check in and visit the National Museum and have lunch . Afternoon visit the Wat Thmei Artisan Angkor, Old Market , dinner at Koulen II Restaurant with Apsara Dance, visit Night Market back to Hotel.

Day 2 : Angkor Thom ( B/L/D ) Atfer breakfast at hotel visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temples, Bapuon, Phimenakas, Terrace of Elephant and Leper King. In the afternoon, visit Ta Prum temple, Takeo, Angkor Wat temple and Sunset On Bakheng Hill , dinner and back to hotel. Day3 : Siem reap – Pakse/ Vientiane ( B ) Breakfast at Hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to fly back.

Angkor Wat - Phnom Penh Sihanoukville

Day 3: City tour Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville ( B/L/D ) At 8.00am Guide and Van pick up customers to visit Royal Palace, Museum , Killing field , And have lunch at Tonle Basac restaurant and 1.00pm start to Sihanoukville atand check in to Hotel Golden Sand and have dinner at Beach Restaurant.

Day 4: Sihanoukville At 8.00am guide and van will pick up and take to Ream Beach. Lunch at Beach Restaurant and afternoon visit to the Ochheuteal beach with dinner at a beach restaurant.

CPH42 : Full Package 6 Days 5 Nights

Day 5 : Sihanoukville – Siem reap ( B/L/D )

Day 01: Arriving Siem Reap ( L/D)

At 8.00am visit Sihanoukville Market and start back to have lunch at TonleBasac Restaurant , and back to check into the Hotel and have dinner at Sophea AngkorPich Restaurant .

Arrive at Siem Reap International airport and transfer to hotel for Check in lunch at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant then visit South Gate of AngkorThom , Terrace of Elephant, Angkor Wat and Sunset bakheng , diner at Kolen II Restaurant, Day2: Tonlesab – Phnom Penh ( B/L/D ) At 7.30am Guide and Van pick up customers to visit the Tonlesab, and have lunch at Kolen II restaurant 12.00pm start to Phnom Penh and check in to 3 Star hotel and have dinner at the Tonle Basac restaurant.

Day 6 : Siem reap – Pakse/ VTE ( B ) Breakfast at Hotel, visit old market and transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to fly back.

Jinghong -China Visit Jinghong , Xishuang Banna

Located in the south of Yunnan Province, Jinghong is the political, economic and cultural center of Xishuang Banna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which is a supernatural oasis in southwest China, while Jinghong is just a bright pearl in the oasis. Attractive Xishuang Banna The tropical flowers and plants Garden, Meng tropical Botanical garden, Tropical rain forest valley, Menggle great Buddhist monastery, mengle cultural park, Manting park, Dai ethnic garden, Wild elephant ravine, South medicinal Plants garden, the virgin forest park and mengjinglai village etc..

How to reach Jinghong Travel with Lao Airlines direct flight from Luang Prabang on Friday and Sunday, Also you could connect flight from Vientiane.

Jinghong Free & Easy stay 3 days 2 Nights Code: CPH51 Enjoy & relax with the free & Easy stay package in Jinghong Xishuang Banna which includes round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines , 2 Nights accommodation in four star hotel with daily breakfast and Airport transfer.

Day1 : Take Lao Airlines flight QV818 to Jinghong , meet in the airport and transfer and visit Bage Temple( Head Temple in Xishuangbanna), check in and have a rest in the hotel. Overnight at Jinghong

Day2 : After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Virgin forest Park, than transfer to Ganlanba in the after lunch, and sightseeing Code: CPH52 in the local bazaar and the villages of Dai people and visit the Dai Garden, take part Spend your holidays with Jinghong stop in the water splashing, and have dinner over 3 days 2 nights which include Round- with sing and dance show.Overnight at trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines,Two night ac- Jinghong commodation in three star hotel on twin sharing room, Full board meals ( Chinese Day3 : Breakfast & check out from hotel food ), Transportation(car, van or bus)., En- , tour in the Flower Garden, after lunch, trance fee to tourist sight seeing.Lao / eng- transfer to the airport to fly back to Lulish speaking guide and tour program as angprabang or Vientiane. bellows : Jinghong stop over 3 Days 2 nights

Kunming, China Attraction Stone Forest

The Stone Forest is a national 4A scenic spot 86 kilometers from Kunming. A karst landform 200 million years old, known in Yunnann as the “First Wonder under the Sun”. The Stone Forest and Imperial palace in Beijing, the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an and the mountains and rivers in Guilin have been generally recognized as four main scenic spots in China.

Yuantong Temple

It is situated at the foot of Yuantong Hill. It is the largest Buddhist temple in downtown Kunming, with a history of around 1,200 years. It combines both the Buddhist and Daoism architectural styles because it was once rebuilt as a Daoism temple.

Western Hills(Xishan) & Dragon Gate

scenic spot. It boasts a dense foest and ancient temples such as Sanqingge, Taihua and Huating built in the Yuan Dynasty built in the Yuan Dynasty, as well as Dragon Gate carved into the cliff over 72 years ago.

Dianchi Lake

CPH21 : Kunming Free & Easy stay 3 Days 2 Nights.

Renowned as the “pearl on the plateau”, with many natural historic historic and cultural attractions around the lake, it is the largest lake in Yunnann.

Enjoy the free & easy stay 3 days 2 nights which include round Air ticket , 2 nights accommodation in hotel room with daily breakfast and round trip Airport transfer.

Yunnann Ethnic Villages

CPH22:

A national 4A scenic spot and a window on the ethnic culture of Yunnann, where you may see traditional buildings of different ethnic groups in Yunnann and enjoy various ethnic customs and culture.

Jiu Xiang Karst Cave

The area is 100 km away from Kunming, 30 km from Stone Forest tourism spot. The total area of Jiu Xiang landscape area 278 square km. There are vivid natural landscapes imposing underground pes, and archaic cultural and special folk custom. It is a unique international sightseeing geological park.

Bamboo Temple

It was initially built in the early Yuan Dynasty and has been the largest Buddhist temple in Yunnan since the introduction of Dhyana to Yunnann from the Central Plains. It is famous for the five hundred Buddhist saint caricatures, a masterpiece of Chinese folk statuary.

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple was constructed by Wu Sangui in 1671 A. D.. The temple is made of copper and reflects the reflects the excellent metallurgical and casting technology more than 300 years ago in Yunnann. The temple weighs 250 tons and is 6.7 meters high. It is the largest and heaviest as well as the best preserved copper temple in China.

Kunming stop over 3 days 2 nights Spend your holidays in with a stop over 3 days 2 nights which include round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, Two nights accommodation in hotel in twin sharing room, Full board meals , private transportation, entrance fee to tourist sight seeing, tour guide and tour program as follows:

D1 VTE/KMG ( Western Hills & Jiu Xiang Caves) (L / D) Take flight QV817 (06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from the downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake, we will visit the Dragon Gate consisting of of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. In the afternoon, transfer to Jiu Xiang, and tour in Jiu Xiang Limestone Caves. Transfer to the Stone Forest, check in the hotel. Overnight at the Stone Forest.

D2 Stone Forest/Kunming ( B / L / D ) Tour in the Stone Forest in thewhich consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by mind and water erosion more than 200 million years ago. Then return back to Kunming in the afternoon.

D3 Departure ( B ) Breakfast at hotel, free leisure and transfer to the airport for departure at 10:45

Kunming, China CPH23 :

Kunming Attraction 4 Days 3 Nights Choose the Kunming attraction 4 days 3 nights tour which includes a round trip Air ticket of Lao Airlines, Three night accommodation in hotel in a twin sharing room, Full board meals , private transportation, entrance fee to tourist sight seeing, tour guide and tour program as follows::

D1 VTE/KMG ( Western Hills & Golden Temple) (L / D) Take flight QV817(06:30-09:40) to Kunming Airport, meet and transfer to the Forest Park of the Western Hills, 26 km away from the downtown and is located on the edge of Dianchi Lake. We will visit the Dragon Gate which consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. Then we will visit the Golden Temple reputed to be built in 1871 with 250 tons of solid bronze, largest bronze hall in China. Overnight Kunming.

D2 Jiuxiang Cave & Stone Forest ( B / L / D ) Transfer to Jiuxiang in the morning, and tour in Jiuxiang Limestone Caves. Than transfer to the Stone Forest in the afternoon, check in at the hotel and overnight at the Stone Forest.

D3 Stone Forest/Kunming ( B / L /D ) Tour the Stone Forest in the morning, a massive collection of grey limestone pillars formed about 270 million years ago which were split by rain water and eroded to their present fanciful forms. In the Stone Forest, the stone peaks rise abruptly, stalagmites crowd together like sharp swords piercing toward the sky and the group of stones look much like a mighty forest. Return back to Kunming in the afternoon.Overnight in Kunming.

D4 Departure ( B ) Transfer to the airport for departure in the morning (QV827 10:45-12:00).

Muangthong Hotel is the latest impressive complex boutique hotel of 7 two storey buildings with 32 deluxe rooms built around a central courtyard and swimming pool. The building with large wooden pillars is modern Lao design with French colonial flavor and traditional Lao roofs.

Hotel service & Facility

Coffee shop, restaurant, swimming pool, laundry service, internet wireless, meeting room, free round trip airport transfer, air ticket/reservation & tour, Lao Airlines flight pre-check in at the hotel counter.

For more info: Tel (856-71) 254976 | Fax: (856-71) 2529 74 Email: mthotel@laotel.com | mthotel@laoairlines.com wwww.muangthonglpb.com | www.laoairlines.com