Laos Local Customs

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to bring back lost spirits

by picek

Anything has a spirit or few of them; human body is home of many whom dwell in different parts of body. Belief into spirits didn't change despite Buddhism being adopted as 'the main' religion - and it stems from Animism which is still widely present in many places of SEA, especially rural, traditional areas within conservative societies. Therefore Buddhism and Animism cohabit and are both tolerated and used in rituals, often together.Lao as majority keep few Animist traditions as important and integral part of the society but these things may be less evident in cities - and since they happen in intimacy of homes, they are not very obvious to passer by.One of the most important Lao traditions is 'basi' ceremony; at ideal circumstances executed by monk, but if not by him, then there is a person, ajarn, whom know a lot about Buddhism related things and will lead through the ceremony reading...

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if you need good luck

by picek

You should make friends with geckos - it is believed they bring good luck, so they shouldn't be chased away. They become active by night when they feed on mosquitos and small insects, but also they may be as well eaten by some trained domestic cat. You'll notice their distinguishing voice - upon which they got their Lao name - sounds very similar (in a way, but you should record it rather than try to describe it with words) like - kop ke.You'd hear them and see them in many homes, restaurants, also hotels and guesthouses... but yes, most certainly at homes ... I yet have to see a house without single gecko, would they believe in its fortunate properties or not.Competely harmless they are, clean and very symphaetic animals... you'll spot them some time for sure, so let them not scare you if you don't know them yet.Many species are known and can be distinguished by experts - but for those...

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Lao hospitality

by picek

When a family member whom has been long time away makes a trip, a visit, to his or hers village where she was born, there's a great reason for feast - and special food will be prepared, usually that persons favourite. IF there are more people comming, the feast will be bigger and other villagers may join, pig of cow will be slaughtered, fish will be fried and great souces and desserts will be prepared specially for that occasion; they haven's seen her for long and are genuinly curious, people always come to the home and want to see him; note that it doesn't happen often for those living in cities (or in other areas) to go home - it's time consuming and expensvie thing to do, so it's not uncommon to pay a visit to relatives once a year, sometimes twice - usually for holidays.Sometimes, by tradition - a 'basi' ceremony will be held for the member - without doubt, the single most important...

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'greeting' boards

by picek

It's common sight to see when visiting Laos: in towns and cities the boards with 'well-meaning' or welcoming messages, at times cliched, are installed by roads, so everyone can read. Well, mostly they are for Lao population, but here and there you'll see English translated ones, too. Some are quite an artwork of local artist, hand painted and unique. Some beaten by time, other like painted yesterday.Artwork 1: the ideal, 'balanced' socitey: soldier in Lao uniform, construction worker, teacher, folk musician with 'khene', and a woman in Lao traditional attire, moving as in Lao dance. The script in red could read soemting as: 'United to protect eternal state, to build prosperous economy, to develop the society under Lao Revolutionary Party (Pak Pasason Pativat Lao)'.Artwork 2: three male soldiers, two minority women in thier traditional attire - in middle Lao woman. The cript in red reads:...

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You won't find this in Starbucks

by stamporama

If you're a coffee addict like me, you never allow a day to pass without drinking at least a cup of your favorite brew. And since you also happen to be a traveler then part of the travel experience is to try out new tastes, not just with food (that's a given) but also with coffee.So while in Laos, try out their home-grown Laocoffee for breakfast. Nothing really special about it except that it is served warm (not steaming hot) and in a small glass as pictured.

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great fruits

by picek

This country has excellent natural conditions to grow variety of fruits throughout the year and it is the best to buy fresh from the market or farmer directly. Most common fruit you will see are banana, mango (both green and yellow, the best I've eaten ever), jackfruit, orange, lime (except for lime juice it is often by the plate to eat it with soups and snacks), tamarind (excellent both sour and brown), sugar cane (very refreshing) and pineapple. Then mangosteen (my favourite and sweetest), starfruit (most interesting), dragon fruit, longan, lychee, soursup (amazing fruits all of them but especially latter) and lamut (it's brown skinned fruit that taste like pear and cocholate and grows in floodplains near Vientiane, the taste is real interesting and lovely when ready).Apples, pears and peaches are considered exotic here, and are mostly imported from other countries (China) and so are...

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more on food - meats

by picek

When walking the streets and bus stations or food markets (such as night or day markets) meat will be often sold grilled on stick and as well just certain parts, usually selected and on display from the plate like that on the picture. Normally covered by net to prevent flies landing on it or in glass box where everyone can see it. Not every shop has fridge to store food, and when they do they often keep cold drinks in it or just fresh uncooked food ready to be prepared. Most popular meat is chicken and pork, usually fresh kill and grilled (or cooked) before sell from their own supply. Every part of the animal body is used (except feather and unprocessed food from the gut); head, beak of chicken are usually cooked. Guts are cleaned and filled with vegetable to become tiny chicken sausage. Pork is preffered to be eaten grilled over cooked, and most precious are young piglets. Then there is...

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good coffee is always welcome

by picek

Once when you're in Laos you should try Lao coffee. It is addicitve. Normally coffee is drink with fair amount of condensed milk and it is therefore very sweet and thick, and also the pure coffee has much more distinctive taste than any brew which was introduced here from foriegn companies (Nescafe, just to name one) which taste like water comparing to local varieties. It is best to drink coffee from vendors by the roadside or small shops, restaurants ... you will see when they have coffee, it will look like here on this picture. May I add that it is best to have it with ice (from ice factory, but if you're supicious where they supply if from don't drink it if you worry over your health) and you get it in big glass, not small cups like in european cafeterias.Even when you drink without milk, the coffee is served hot and in smaller glass (app. 1 dcl), or if you don't want ice but milk...

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Laao Khao or rice whiskey or laao lao

by picek

This is the local alcohol drink that will be most often drink alone (not mixed with anything, but not to be drank by yourself only, hehe). Made of rice which is brewed upon fire after it was fermented in large jar couple of months - see the picture. It will taste similar to 'schnaps' or plum whiskey (drank in Europe), and doesn't really taste any rice in it.The best laao khao (note - laao word doesn't mean the same like 'Lao', so you cannot really say Lao khao, because Lao is word for Lao or Laotian, when laao means 'alcohol' and khao means 'rice') is locally produced and believe me, you won't have problem to buy/find it anywhere. All you need to do is to ask the local or head straight to the market and point to the bottle with transparent liquid, yep, that's nothing else than it! Most people will sell it between 5000 KIP - 10000 KIP, which is less than a Euro for a bottle.Now, the...

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riverweed ... tasty snack

by picek

This black river weed (also known as Khong river weed) can be bought at Luang Prabang markets and bus stations and it is known as speciality of that region, so it's not so often seen elsewhere in that form. One can buy them in package of paper size and larger, price begins at 10 000 KIP. It seems that this tasty snack has been overlooked by visitors to Laos. Pity, because it is really good.Waterweed comes with variety of condiments and best ones are those sprinkled with sesam seeds. It will take a lot of them to get full, buy hey, that's snack and it helps you keep busy at long bus travels.Variety of water weeds are commonly used in Lao diet and cooked in different ways, most often as a sauce which will be eaten with sticky rice. Best are those from deep forest, where they are hand picked and fresh. Their taste won't be too strong yet somehow unique.

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Local traditions and culture in Laos

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Local Customs: Cities in Laos
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  2. Vientiane Local Customs
  3. Vang Vieng Local Customs
  4. Don Khong Local Customs
  5. Ban Pak Beng Local Customs
  6. Xam Nua Local Customs
  7. Muang Hongsa Local Customs
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Questions and Answers

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Q:  do any VT have any experience with the VIP overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang??? is it reasonably... 

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A: I took the VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vientienne in 2010. There is a toilet on the bus. I was on the upper deck and the airconditioner was very weak. So it was a VHB... 

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