The dubious honour of writing the letter from Laos this week has been granted to the Banwell family. Whether we will be able to live up to Alan’s highly amusing standard is a matter to be seen and for others to judge!
You find us sitting on the balcony of our hotel overlooking the Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang exhausted but satisfied following the usual chaos of a week in Laos but where to start...Hmm
Well we have had the opportunity to meet Isabelle and can confirm that she does indeed think that she is a turkey. Whether her will view remain the same on the 25th December is a matter of speculation.
Our stay has not including the usual tourist sites of Laos but a combination of visits to building sites, schools ,remote villages and many bars. Indeed on many occasions we in ourselves were the tourist attraction as the sight of a falang woman climbing in an ungainly fashion between bamboo scaffolding poles certainly provokes confusion and amusement within the Laos community.
You won’t believe it but Alan has even worn a tie during our visit! A picture for prosperity of this great event can be found below. No we did not manage to drag him into a falang restaurant but rather to the local Law School.
You will be pleased to know that the Director of the Law School has informed us that if we wish to pay for the building of a new library for the school they will name it after us. Our alternative offer of assistance in obtaining donations for some new books did not meet with such enthusiasm.
As a female Solicitor in the UK I asked the Director of the Law School how they were encouraging females to join the law college. The response was clear that they did not and curiously that men made better lawyers in any event as they could walk further. Not sure what this has to do with the practice of Law myself but maybe something was lost in translation.
You will be glad to know that during my stay I even found a new job when on visiting a local English School I was asked to take a class. The room was hot and sticky but the students were attentive and alert. Not something you could say of the average class in England. Apparently they wanted to practice their diction so when you next visit Laos and someone talks to you in a Buckinghamshire accent you know who to blame.
All WI members will be pleased to know that the woollen jumpers that were provided to us to hand out on our tours have been gratefully received. Even whilst we were dripping with sweat we were informed that the locals were cold and many of the children who received one put them on straight away so keep on knitting! Of the many items that were given to us to distribute the one that was fought over the most was children knickers which are clearly in short supply.
All Manchester United supporters will also be pleased to know that there are 10 news fans in the outlining villages around Luang Prabang. For any of those who believe we have corrupted the children please provide appropriate shirts for our next visit.
See you in Luang Prabang soon ……………………………..Claire
I’m not sure why I like Laos so much. Perhaps it’s the saffron robed monks or the majestic Mekong more likely the beer Lao dispensed at Joys bar. Alan’s local in Luang Prabang.
Claire has told you of the joys of being in Laos. In my view it’s much simpler than than that. The people are a joy despite the difficulties of daily life.
We have met many people in our short stay and have enjoyed the experience of meeting not only LEOT students but villagers from many different ethnic tribes. All have made us very welcome.
It’s past 12 o’clock at night and I’m sitting on the balcony of a small hotel on the Nam Khan on the edge of Luang Prabang. The crickets and night life are making majestic music. It’s the time to go to bed.
Sleep tight …….night night
Peter
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