Sa Bai Dee from Vientiane, Laos

For those of you who have followed our travels you will have noticed that it seems that we have forgotten to share about our 2 weeks in Thailand. We enjoyed ourselves so much in Bangkok and Pai that I entirely forgot to take any video. I have a few photos... but the rest will live on in our memories. To recap: We have traveled from Singapore to Kahang, Malaysia to Bangkok, Thailand then to Pai, Thailand. From Pai, to Vientiane, Laos and now I am currently writing from Hanoi, Vietnam. 

We will be Vlogging out of order because this video is about our time in Vientiane, Laos. I think you are all aware of how beackwards we can be sometimes.

While we were in Malaysia, Kent arranged for us to volunteer at Sunshine School in Vientiane, Laos, the capitol of Laos. From northern Thailand, in a town very near to Myannmar, we took a minivan ride to Laos. 12 hours later, we passed through immigration and landed ourselves a room for sweet deal. Didi, the Buddhist sister who Kent had been coordinaitng with, suggested the place. $56 USD/ month. Less than $2 a day! We decided we would stay for only 2 weeks but $4 is still a bargain. After a week of sleeping in a teak covered, sauna-like room we decided to slurge. We changed to a $7/ night room that had a private bathroom, 2 fans, a fridge and a kitchen sink. We were living the American dream, in Laos.

Simlutaneouly, I was asked to teach my ơwn class of 8th graders at the school, so I was feeling a little stressed out. After that first week, something clicked and we found a groove at the school and in the new apartment. The mural Kent came up with was a huge hit. He chose to incorporate endangered animals of Laos; the sun bear, the painted leopard, the touc (monkey one), the saola (the deer one) and the red panda. Students and volunteers worked on it and in the end, I think its awesomeness even surprised Kent.

As a super-bonus, we spent some good time learning about Buddhism and yoga as a life practice. We went from feeling very uncomfortable to refreshingly free. One of our last meals followed a group meditation session a Didi's (a sister) home. We were with 2 volunteer friends, 2 'sisters' and Filipino teachers who were apart of the practice as well. It was one the of most delicious vegetarian meals we've ever had and we will work diligently to re-create it once we're stateside. It was memorable for many reasons.  

Over the weeks we were there, we got to know the teachers and other volunteers, who all have incredible stories that inspired us. There was also a full moon festival at a temple, That Luang. It's the móst revered temple in the country and the stupa is said to contain Buddha's ashes. In November, on the full moon and the week leading up to it, there ís festival with food and music. I went the mổrning of the full moon to seeing the alms giving to the monks, which in turn are for the gods of Laos' Buddhism. Wherever there are giant groups òf people who are practicing a faith in something, it feels like a whole lotta power. We are very grateful for the whole experience. We continue to learn hơw to be the kind travelers we want to be.

Fun Facts:
Laos population 6.288.000
Wisconsin population 5.711.000
Laos surface area 236.800 km2
Wisconsin surface area 170.000 km2
Vientiane capitol population 210.000
Madison, WI capitol population 237.000

Begin the mural

There was an England project and for a few lessons,
the students made models of Nessie.

Nessie project

Babies on bikes EVERYWHERE! This is not special to Laos.
This tranportation practice is common throughout SE Asia

New friends from Madagascar. They speak French and
we speak Spanish so our friendship is only inevitable, no.

Alms giving around the That Luang stupa

Completed mural

Teacher room

Us and Didi Lee

Kent and Jock Teacher