The 16th was the first day of Buddhist Lent, so we were invited to go to a nearby temple with my Mom’s co-workers Phoutone and K’tae. We woke up early in the morning to get our things for the temple all ready. We then went to Phoutone’s house and added the cookies and fruit we had brought to the bowls they had prepared for us. The bowls contain incense, flowers, sticky rice, and other food (like candy or fruit). The food is for giving alms to the monks.
We then drove to the temple and found a place amongst the many people to sit down. We sat for a while as the monk chanted and then went up to give alms. We then took part in a ceremony that the Lao people do to respect their family members who have already passed. This ceremony consists of pouring water into your bowl and then going over to a special tree to dump it out. Overall it was a very special experience, I am always so amazed when I get to experience a completely different culture and religion firsthand like this.
Me at the Temple 
Mom and I
The Temple 
People at the Temple
After we were finished at the temple we went back to Phoutone’s house. We didn’t get to stay long though because we had promised our neighbour “Cat” we would go with her to her friend’s house for lunch. We rode behind Cat and her husband on our motorcycle for quite a little while through a few villages and through a rubber tree farm before we reached the house. Around the house it was absolutely beautiful, there were the vibrant green rice fields and a bunch of other plants all around us. Living at the house there was a mother, father, and their two daughters.
The oldest daughter 
The house
While Cat cooked, the oldest daughter showed us around the little farm that they had. We also got to look at the rubber trees and feel the rubber! Which was very cool. Here are some pictures that Mom took:
Rubber trees 
How the rubber is collected (the rubber is the white stuff)
After our tour we ate lunch. We had sticky rice, boiled chicken soup (tom gai), and papaya salad (tam mak houng). It was a very delicious Lao lunch.
*Word of the Day: Tom Gai (Pronounced how it looks). It translates to “boiled chicken” the “tom” part meaning “boil” and the “gai” meaning “chicken”.
Taya's Laos Blog 
Sa-baai-dii Taya ….. Wonderful learning experiences – so much to process – you are one very fortunate person to be experiencing so many different ways – expanding your mind ….. actual rubber trees – AWESOME ….. and to travel, as you do, through so many villages and ways of life ….. I LOVE the big beautiful faces of everyone !!! Love and Hugs, Auntie Tricia xoxoxoxoxoxo
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I agree about the experiences I am having! I feel so fortunate. The rubber trees were also super cool. Sending love xoxo ❤
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Sounds, and looks, like a great day and what a wonderful ceremony to be a part of! I really like the outfits you and your Mom are wearing. You are so lucky to have connected with so many people and are able to experience a different culture.
Everything is so lush- it’s just beautiful.
Thanks for the post.
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