Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x@800
Recycled spinning wheel. Houaphan province and Sam Tai district in particular are famed in Laos for high-quality, intricate weavings.

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x@800
Measuring the amount of thread needed for a sinh (sarong). Houaphan province and Sam Tai district in particular are famed in Laos for high-quality, intricate weavings.

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x@800
Girls start learning to weave (after school hours, of course) at about 10 years old. Houaphan province and Sam Tai district in particular are famed in Laos for high-quality, intricate weavings.

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x@800
Smoothing out washed silk. I was told that it's "ok" for men to dye silk and run a weaving business, but that men do not weave. Houaphan province and Sam Tai district in particular are famed in Laos for high-quality, intricate weavings.

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Not a bad situation, despite the chill.

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
This was a meeting room for the Pathet Lao leaders.

Limestone caves where the Pathet Lao was based during the war, where local people also hid from bombs. The extensive network of caves included offices, a hospital, a school, and a theatre. The tour--very well done with information-rich audio guide as well as live guide--was pretty long so I never reached the theatre cave.

The caves opened in 2006, and my guide (in corner) has been with the project since the beginning--researching, cataloging and developing the audio.

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
Another day, another bus breakdown.

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 1600
Da Chang survived a UXO blast to the stomach while farming, and crawled back to his village for help while losing over a liter of blood. The UXO Survivors' Centre in Phonsavan helped him continue his education while he volunteered at the centre, and in March 2011 hired him full-time.

The UXO Survivors' Centre provides a great deal of information about the effects of the US bombing in Xieng Khouang province, and displays many examples of defused bombs. It's also the most tourist-central place to get a traditional Lao massage, by a woman who entered the business after her husband was blinded by bomb shrapnel. 25% of her massage fee is donated to the centre.

UXO Survivors' Centre: www.laos.worlded.org/donations.htm

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Mulberries is an organic silk farm in Phonsavan. Free tours are available on Monday - Saturday, but I was in town on a Sunday. It's still open and possible to visit, although no one's really working that day.

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 1600
Daughter of family owning a fabulous Indian restaurant in Phonsavan.

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
Xoryang grew up in Ban Tha Jok, the Hmong "bomb village." With a university education in Vientiane, he speaks excellent English and now works with an NGO training villagers all around the Xieng Khouang province in bomb recognition and safety.

He also guides on weekends and is highly recommended! See some photos and his contact info here: www.facebook.com/pages/Xoryang-Jars-Tours/177137485717744...

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 1600

Posted on Feb 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0)