Life in rural Laos

street in a typical village, all houses are on stilts, the richer people have concrete houses, the poor use bamboo

there are many villages along the Mekong, all on high ground as the river's water level rises dramatically in the rainy season.  It deposits silt along the river bank where the locals grow vegetables in the dry season

Early morning fishing on the misty Mekong

Two fisherman taking a break

89 yo lady who does not even need glasses, no teeth though

the children are so friendly, you are always greeted with a smile and hello

village school, the monks sometime attend the village school, if the temple is small, if it is large, it has its own school.  A large number of boys in Laos are a monk for some part of their life, often so they can get an education

fishing or resting?

monks are everywhere, they are not hard to spot with their bright orange robes

:pottery factory, she is turning the wheel by hand

ladies roasting pumpkin seeds, they are taking it easy as its the dry season and they do not have to work in the rice fields

men weaving baskets for a festival (instead of drinking beer)

We spent a day cruising the Mekong in a small boat, we visited several villages and met some of the villagers.  The Laos are very laid back and spend the day sitting and relaxing when its not planting and rice season.  The women work and then men sit around and drink beer.