Laos is the most overlooked destination that we work with and while it may not make the news and travel magazines as often as neighboring Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam do, our guests routinely tell us that Laos is the highlight of their trips. I was there myself last November and I can certainly see why. Laos certainly has an alluring peaceful atmosphere all its own.
Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
One of the best examples of this spirit may be found in the beautiful and sleepy town of Luang Prabang, nestled on the banks of the Mighty Mekong River, carving its way through the steep hillsides covered in dense green jungle. Our Laos Country Director, Onkeo or ‘Keo’ for short, offered me a spur of the moment invitation to join him, and his young sons, Anan and James, on a sunset boat ride with his friend Pet (who also goes by ‘Johnny’). I am always up for an adventure and I love boats, so I was naturally thrilled.
Keo and his sons, Anan and James – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelPet, the Ferryman – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
I don’t speak Laotian, but I could tell that as we made our way down one of the many steep staircases to the water’s edge, Keo did his best to discourage his energetic boys from sprinting full tilt down the steep stairs at the river’s edge. Here on the other side of the world, it was a strangely familiar scene that reminded me of my own childhood (the boys had also apparently rebelled earlier that afternoon, refusing to wear shoes, and were merrily skipping along barefoot). As sunset approaches, and the water began to glow with the golden light of evening, and I could see other travelers gathering at the water’s edge to snap photos.
Travelers gathering along the riverbanks to photograph the sunset – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelAnan and James watching the Mekong flow past – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
We were fortunate enough to have Pet cruise smoothly up to the dock and welcome us aboard, and his wife offered us cold beers and chips. (James and Anan quickly attacked the bowl of chips.) As we set off upriver, taking in the stunning views of the setting sun, Pet recounted me with the story of his life. He is from a remote village far upriver and became severely ill as a child. His parents, fearing for his life, brought him to Luang Prabang to receive medical care. He pulled through his illness and his parents enrolled him in one of the many monasteries in Luang Prabang, to both give thanks for his life and to ensure that he would get an education as they feared that he may not have the constitution for the hard labor that accompanies farm life in rural Laos. He learned English during his time as a monk and later went on to work at some of the high end hotel properties around Luang Prabang. He saved up enough money to purchase the boat we were sitting on and went into business for himself, ferrying travelers and locals on the river, and living on his boat with his wife.
Keo pointing out the sights to his sons – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelPhoto Credit: Courtney RidgelPhoto Credit: Courtney Ridgel
As we cruised along, Keo and Pet regaled me with tales about life on the river, local legends and interesting facts about nearby villages and temples. This was James’s first river cruise and both boys were quite excited, pointing out interesting sights as we cruised along, in between munching handfuls of chips. As the sun went down, Pet steered us to where the local boatmen spend the night, tied to the bank, and his wife hopped on to the next boat over to say hello to a friend. The boats are tied side by side, creating a strange temporary floating neighborhood each evening.
Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelPhoto Credit: Courtney Ridgel
As twilight set in, we bid farewell to Pet, and headed up the riverbank to a local BBQ place. Laotian BBQ, much like Khmer BBQ, involves sizzling a variety of ingredients selected from a buffet in hot oil in a strange pot & grill combination set into the center of the table over hot coals. I was amused to notice that although Anan and James selected lots of shrimp and mushrooms which they kindly spooned onto my plate, they also favored something that looked suspiciously like French fries and mini hot dogs. As we all grew sleepy and full (after a minor mishap where James stepped on an anthill with his bare feet and was soothed with desert), we bid each other goodnight and headed home for the evening. All in all, it was a stunningly beautiful evening spent with new friends and delicious food, and I would highly recommend this experience to any traveler heading to Laos, especially those looking for personal connections that are meaningful, memorable and unique.
Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelLuang Prabang from the river – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelOnkeo turning over the meat and vegetables on the BBQ – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
The daily procession of monks Collecting Alms in Luang Prabang – Photo credit: Courtney Ridgel
By Courtney Ridgel
Many travelers to Laos and Thailand choose to get up early at some point to partake in the daily alms-giving to the monks, otherwise known as ‘Tak Batt’. ‘Tak’ comes from the act of giving food directly from your plate or bowl to the monk’s “batt” or alms bowl. . Most of our travelers experience this in either Laos or Thailand or both, so we wanted to give a brief overview of what to expect, how this practice is different between the two countries, and the proper etiquette to use when joining in these experiences.
To begin with, throughout Southeast Asia, monks should be treated with the highest respect and women in particular should never touch monks, their robes or hand anything directly to them. Many young men will spend a period of time as a monk for a number of reasons. For poor families, sending their sons to the monkhood allows them to receive an education and skills that will serve them later in life. Spending time as a monk is also thought to bring ‘merit’ to yourself and your family, and is thought to help round you out spiritually as a person. One aspect of monkhood, in Laos and Thailand at least, is that you are meant to live piously off of ‘alms’ or donations from the local community. For the locals, giving alms to the monks brings them ‘merit’.
A young monk in Luang Prabang – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
In Laos, particularly in Luang Prabang, there are large numbers of monks and multiple monasteries, with monks ranging from the very young to the very old. At the first sight of dawn each morning, the temple bells ring and the monks line up single file, usually with the eldest monk in front, and walk down the streets near their temple. The local people gather on the edges of the street to give alms – donations of food – to each monk that passes by. To give alms, the locals will kneel on a mat laid out on the street, with their shoes removed, and a sash wrapped over one shoulder.
Me giving alms in Luang Prabang – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel (and the local lady who sold me the offerings)
As each monk passes, he will lift the lid on his alms bowl (a large metal bowl hung slung over his shoulder with a sash) and the townspeople will drop in a handful of food – usually fruit or rice. There is no verbal communication between the monks and the townspeople. Back at the temple the food is collected into a communal pile and evenly distributed. If you choose to partake in this ritual, be sure to be properly dressed with your shoulders and knees covered and sash in place.
Only the elderly may sit in a chair; otherwise, you should kneel when presenting alms – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
If you choose to simply observe and photograph this spiritual practice, please be respectful. You may notice other travelers jumping right in front of monks and jamming a camera lens right in their faces, and we respectfully request that you don’t do this. Giving alms is a sacred practice for the local people, and monks are the most revered members of society. Additionally, you may notice that people do this in particular to younger (child) monks. While iconic, please keep in mind that these young monks are still sacred societal figures, and what’s more, they are also still children – please take care to respect and protect their rights.
The daily procession of monks in Luang Prabang – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
In Thailand, smaller groups of monks, usually around 1- 6 at a time, will set forth from their temples in the early morning. You will spot vendors with small booths offering to sell food or lotus flowers which you may present as an offering. When the monks come past, you’ll once again kneel at the edge of the road, with your shoes removed, and place the offering (if it is food) into their begging bowls. In Thailand, the food is usually pre-packed in plastic or Styrofoam containers. If presenting a lotus flower, you’ll set it on top of the bowl and the monk will then pick it up (don’t hand it directly to the monk.) Once you present your offering, the monks will pour water on the ground in front of you, and chant a blessing for you, before moving on down the street.
A local vendor selling alms offerings in Chiang Mai – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
You can certainly partake in alms-giving on your own, but we recommend using our Journeys Within guides to improve the experience. Our guides can help explain the proper technique to each step, help you purchase and prepare your offerings, and explain the significance of each ritual and translate for you as needed. I’ve experienced it both ways – in Thailand, my guide Tien walked me through the process, explained everything, and made it a wonderful and enriching experience, and took photos for me.
Monks blessing alms-givers in Chiang Mai – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
In Laos, I walked out of my hotel with the intention of simply watching and taking a few photos, and a local woman approached me and offered to sell me a few offerings for a very cheap price. Figuring that I was here and might as well join in the moment, I agreed. She helped me wrap a scarf properly, offered a place for me to kneel and kept bringing me more offerings to hand the monks, and took a rather blurry photo of me giving alms with my cell phone, before proceeding to demand extra money, which fortunately I happened to have in my pocket – all in all quite a skillful hussle, but I chalked it up as being part of the experience, and noted it as something that wouldn’t happen under the watchful eye of a Journeys Within guide.
Me giving alms in Chiang Mai – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel (and my guide Tien)
Other tips about visiting sacred sites in Southeast Asia and partaking in religious ceremonies:
Dress properly when visiting active temples. Be sure to remove your hat and shoes before entering a temple.
In many Asian cultures the feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body while the head is considered the highest and most sacred part of the body. Do not sit with your feet towards the Buddha or another person– sit with your feet tucked behind you and don’t use your foot to point or motion “kicking”. Try not to cross your legs while sitting, especially in the presence of a monk. This applies whether you are sitting on the floor or in a chair. When sitting in a chair, keep your feet on the ground.
There are many sacred sites and items in Southeast Asia – please don’t touch sacred items, sites or statues without permission. Don’t sit with your back against a Buddhist image or statue. If you purchase mementos, don’t keep Buddhist images or sacred objects in inappropriate places.
You may notice contribution boxes – although not required, it is appropriate to drop a small contribution into a donation box at a monastery or pagoda, especially if there is no entry fee for visiting the site. These donations help maintain the sites and are considered to help create good karma.
Many temples or historical sites will post signs that state that photography is not allowed. Even if there is no sign, please be respectful and consider not using the flash in places of worship.
Speak softly when in a temple. Even more so if monks or locals are present worshiping! When handing something to someone, or receiving something, use both hands. When you pay for something, hold the money in both hands when passing it to the receiver.
Morning alms in Luang Prabang – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
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The elephants enjoying their evening bath – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
By: Courtney Ridgel
Day 1: The Sayaboury Elephant Conservation Center, located in rural Sayaboury, Laos, was hands-down one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. My journey there began when I piled in the Center’s van at the Post Office in Luang Prabang, and met the other travelers who would also be visiting. Coffee and croissant in hand (which are phenomenal in Laos), I sat comfortably and watched for 2-3 hours as the stunning countryside rolled past – steep verdant hillsides with wild jungle interspersed with teak and rubber tree plantations, rugged cliffs, rice terraces snaking up riverbeds, small wooden villages and large brown rivers. When we arrived in Sayaboury, we were greeted by several local villagers who helped us with our bags onto a small ferry, which carried across Nam Tien Lake.
A small local village floating on the lake – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelNam Tien Lake – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
When we arrived, we were met by Lar, our guide for the duration of our stay, and he took us to check into our traditional Laotian stilted bungalows, before we all sat down together for a traditional Laotian lunch. The Center is really a small village – the mahouts, guides, gardeners, farmers, cooks, veterinarians, biologists, cleaning staff and boat drivers all have the option of staying in their own small bungalows at the center, or of living in the town of Sayaboury and commuting by motorbike.
Looking up at the bungalows from the lake – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelOne of the traditional bungalows overlooking the lake – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelTraditional Laotian dishes – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
After lunch, Lar led my fellow travelers and I to see Annabelle, the resident biologist at the Elephant Hospital where she explained about caring for elephants, elephant health, and the plight of the Asian Elephant in great detail. There are currently around 400 wild elephants in Laos and around 450 domesticated elephants. However, logging with elephants was recently banned by the Laotian government. While this move was made to protect elephants from the hard labor and potential abuse, many of the mahouts who own the elephants now find themselves in a position where they cannot afford to keep caring for them properly. The elephant hospital at the center is open to any mahout to bring in their elephants, and the center actively works to promote elephant breeding in an effort to protect the aging and dwindling population. We also had the opportunity to visit the Elephant Museum to learn about the history of elephants in Laos, and their symbolic and economic significance.
Annabelle, explaining elephant healthcare – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelMy fellow travelers heading to the Elephant museum – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelInside the elephant museum – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
In the late afternoon, the resident mahouts and elephants came down to the edge of the lake for their evening bath and we were able to simply be present in the moment and soak in the beauty of it all. I was amazed that there were no boundaries or fences – between myself and these very large and beautiful creatures, and was quite surprised when one of them came directly out of the water and walked up to greet me.
Evening bath – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelEvening bath – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelEvening bath – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
After their bath, we were introduced to each of the elephants and their mahouts, and listened to their life stories – all of the adult elephants had worked hard in careers like logging before arriving at the center. We learned that elephants are traditionally paired with a single mahout for life, and as such, would almost be considered a member of the family. Being a traditional mahout is a dying profession and their skills and wisdom are traditionally passed down orally father to son, with years of training. Mahout children are traditionally raised among elephants. As Laos modernizes and there are fewer and fewer men (never women) choosing to pursue this path in life, many domestic elephants are not being as well-treated.
Lar introduced us to each of the elephants and their mahouts – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
Clambering up a tall feeding platform, we had the opportunity to feed the elephants sugar cane as a treat. As evening advanced, the mahouts led the elephants back into the jungle for the night, and we settled down for another home-cooked Laotian meal and chatted amongst ourselves. Jozef, the Center’s Sales & Marketing Manager, ate with us and answered our many questions.
One of my fellow travelers feeding the elephants sugarcane. Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelFeeding the elephants sugarcane – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
There are kayaks available for guests who would like to paddle out on the lake, but I enjoyed meandering about the center and taking in the stunning views, before settling into my hammock with a book on the porch of my bungalow.
Nam Tien Lake is very peaceful, especially in the evenings – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelRelaxing at my bungalow -Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
Day 2: After breakfast the next morning, we headed into the jungle, hiking up and down the steep and muddy trail to reach a different area of the lake where the elephants bathe in the morning. They splashed themselves with the water, so that it would seep into the creases in their skin and keep them cool through the hottest part of the day as they forage in the jungle. After the elephants felt satisfied, they meandered out of the water to interact with us. (I kept forgetting to duck out of the way of the flapping ears!)
A young elephant and his mahout making their way to the lake – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelMy fellow travelers and I headed for the lake to see the morning bath – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelThe elephants enjoying their morning bath – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelWe had the opportunity to simply spend time with the elephants in the calm of the morning after their bath – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
Some of the elephants head to ‘Enrichment’ where they solve puzzles and are rewarded with treats to keep their minds sharp and inquisitive, as elephants can grow unhappy and depressed when bored. The rest were led to ‘Socialization’ – a large paddock of natural jungle where the elephants are allowed to roam freely and forage as a herd. We hiked up the hill to watch from above from a series of observation platforms, and Annabelle joined us to explain the various elephant behaviors we observed. She also explained the importance of elephants to the Laotian ecosystem – elephants are naturally quite destructive, clearing paths through the forest which allows for new growth, and they have inefficient digestive systems, so as they forage and travel, their feces replants the seeds of many native plants.
My fellow travelers observing the elephants in the valley below from one of the viewing platforms – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelThe elephants foraging naturally in the jungle as a herd – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelA mother elephant teaching her juvenile calf about foraging in the jungle – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
With reluctance that we eventually headed back to the water’s edge, but were rewarded when we had the chance to watch the mothers with young babies come for a bath. The little ones splashed and played in the mud before their mothers and their mahouts led them back into the forest. We settled down for a delicious Laotian picnic lunch, before the ferry carried us back around the peninsula to the Center where we checked out of our bungalows (some travelers stay longer…), bid Lar farewell, and rode the ferry back to the road for the scenic drive back to Luang Prabang.
A mother elephant and her baby – Photo Credit: Courtney RidgelBaby elephants must practice and learn to use their trunks to drink – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
Spending time with elephants in their natural habitat, watching them interact and nurture their babies is an incredible experience all by itself, but learning about their importance in the local ecosystem, and their tenuous hold on long-term survival as a species, was eye-opening. Equally meaningful to me, was getting to learn about the vast knowledge the mahouts have and to witness their unique bond with these beautiful beasts. Elephants are sacred creatures in Laos and I can certainly see why. Visiting the Elephant Conservation Center felt like getting to star in my own Discovery Channel adventure, and my time in Sayaboury will always hold a special place in my heart.
A mahout quietly observing the lake – Photo Credit: Courtney Ridgel
You too can visit the elephants in their natural jungle home! Click this link to see the two day Elephant Conservation Center Discovery Tour, which can be combined with any larger itinerary.
As Luang Prabang has a small airport and is nestled in the mountains, aircraft with props are common
By Courtney Ridgel
Most travelers will need a visa for Laos, and visas are issued on arrival.
Coming in to land in Luang Prabang, above the stunning landscape and mighty Mekong River
On your flight in, the flight attendants will give you the Immigration forms. Luang Prabang has a small airport, so you will disembark outside and walk around the exterior of the airport until you get to Immigration, which is located just inside and around the corner.
In Luang Prabang, you’ll disembark out on the tarmac and will walk around the exterior of the airport to get to Immigration
You’ll first pass through the visa application line, and you will need to turn in your Immigration forms, a passport photo (a clear 2×2 inch headshot with a blank background) and cash for the visa fee.
The visa application line will be the first thing you see inside the door.
The visa fee for US citizens is officially US$35.00, but there is a sign taped to the booth which indicates that US citizens must pay an additional dollar. We’ve been told that if you arrive at the airport outside of the Lao Immigration hours (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm) you may be charged an additional $1.00 overtime fee, but more often than not, regardless of the hour, you will be charged the additional dollar, so it is best to plan on having $36 in US dollars when you arrive.
Be sure to bring cash with you when you arrive in Luang Prabang
Just to your right are the Immigration counters, and once the visa label has been inserted into your passport, you’ll pass through one of these booths. The Immigration official will take your photo and stamp your passport, and you’ll proceed through to the baggage claim.
The Immigration officials will stamp your passport, once you have your visa
Collect your luggage and head outside to meet your guide who will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it. Your guide will lead you to the car and will help you stow your luggage. Time permitting, you will be taken for a quick orientation tour around town to help you get your bearings before being taken to check in. If you need to exchange money, let your guide know, and they can help you do this in town.
The baggage claim is just behind the Immigration desks.
Welcome to beautiful Laos, otherwise known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic!
A view of Luang Prabang from on high. Everything is green, vibrant and fresh after a rainstorm.
Makara and Sina Ou during a wedding photo shoot at Angkor Wat in traditional dress – Photo Credit: The Events
By Courtney Ridgel
We wanted to congratulate Sone, Makara and Sokunna on their weddings in this past year!! We also took the chance to ask Sone and Makara about wedding traditions in Cambodia and Laos. Sokunna was not available for questioning as she is enjoying her maternity leave with her beautiful new baby!
Sokunna and her husband,Samnang Ing, during their wedding photo shootSone and her husband, Good, dancing at their wedding
What are weddings like in Laos and Cambodia?
Sone: In Laos the wedding is held at the bride’s house. In the evening before the wedding day we would have small party and dinner at the bride’s house as pre-wedding night. On the wedding day groom and bride will wear Lao traditional dress. There will be a procession of the groom’s parents along the way to the bride’s house, and the parade is lead by the groom and his parents, followed by the elders, cousins and friend. After the parade arrives, a baci ceremony which already set up at the bride’s house will start, and people will join the baci to bless the new family. After that everyone will depart for home to prepare and dress up for the wedding party at night time. The party can held at any place such as a hotel, village hall, school yard, stadium, etc depending on how big the wedding is.
Sone surrounded by friends and family
Makara: For my wedding, we celebrated for two days! On the first day all of the closer friends and relatives came together in the morning and discussed who will be responsible for which tasks. And at noon the makeup team came to dress the bride and groom. There are three groom-mates and three bride-mates who joined us these two days and they are symbols of servants. Starting from 3pm, the first ceremony is called Khart sork (hair cut) where both parents and the elderly relatives pretended to cut our hair to chase away bad luck and bring in the good luck and happiness. On this first day, most of wedding involved traditional ceremonies, but sometimes there is also another celebration called Khat Khanslar, where the bride and groom lay on their parents’ thighs and the head of the Master Ceremony (MC) will do a speech about how hard it was when our parents raising us since we were starting a life until now. We did this ceremony at my wedding too.
The Hair Cutting Ceremony in Makara’s wedding
On the second day, we needed to wake up early at around 4am, and the makeup team came to help dress us up. This is a big day of celebration, with many ceremonies. The first one is only the groom dressed traditional clothes, and the MC speaks some Pali which the groom repeats, which takes about 20 minutes. After that, the bride comes to join with traditional clothes to celebrate the Sunrise Blessing, which symbolizes the new couple starting a bright life like the sun. The next ceremony is Gifts Parade, where the groom travels to the bride’s house with a lot of gifts and fruits. The MC will do a few different ceremonies in order to ask the Road Keeper, the Steps Keeper and the Door Keeper to allow for the groom to enter the bride’s house safely and with happiness. After that, the monks come to chant and bless the couple and the families for good luck and success. After the monks finished, there was another celebration called Chorng Dai (tying hands) where the groom and bride sit next to each other and all of the relatives tied us with the red yarn and put some money in our hands, before everyone took a break for lunch. In Cambodia, mostly we host the party at home, but some of us have it at restaurants. We had our wedding at a restaurant, and it started at 5pm, but we started to prepare at 3pm.
The Gifts Parade in Makara’s weddingThe Gifts Parade in Makara’s wedding
How long do they last?
Sone: There are about 3 days of celebrations, but the real wedding day is only one day – on second day. For the first day, at night, there is a small party and dinner at the bride’s house, and on the third day after the party, is the day for cleaning the bride’s house and there is a small party for cousins and friends who come to help. It takes about one and half hours to do the baci ceremony and the party lasts the whole day or whole night (depending on the time the baci/wedding starts). For the day time the party will start at lunch time and goes until late night, and for night parties they start at 7 O’clock and go until midnight.
Makara: Weddings in Cambodia traditionally take 3 days and there are a lot of steps. Now mostly we do it for two days, while some people will do a very short one day celebration.
Sone, her mother and Good during their wedding photo shoot.
What traditions does everyone follow?
Sone: The tradition that we have to follow is the wedding is not supposed to take place during the three months of Buddhist Lent between July – September. And the wedding date has to be on a good day in lunar calendar. Weddings mostly happen before and after Buddhist Lent as during the Buddhist lent is rainy season so it quite difficult to have the wedding during this time. But people still can have the weddings all year long depending on convenience.
Makara: We check for an auspicious date before making the arrangements.
Sone and Good visiting a local temple in Luang PrabangSone during the Bacci Ceremony at her weddingThe Khat Khanslar Ceremony in Makara’s wedding
Who is invited – how big are the weddings and how many people come?
Sone: One month before the wedding day, we will busy with preparing the wedding and list the number pf people for invitation cards. Normally we’ll invite our entire family – cousins, friends, colleagues, neighbors and people in the village. Some people prefer bigger or smaller wedding parties. For the small party we would do the invitation card at least 100 cards. For the big party we would from 500 – 2,000 cards. And for each invitation card guests can come alone, as a couple or with family.
Makara: Our party was medium – we invited about 700 friends and family to join.
Makara and Sina Ou’s After PartySone and Good arriving for the After Party
What ceremonies are there and what happens during the ceremonies?
Sone: In the morning, the elders will come to the house and help preparing the things for baci. The ceremony is quite the same as another baci, the difference for a wedding baci being that there are more steps for blessing so it takes a longer time than a normal baci. During the ceremony there will be blessings, chanting and Pook kwan. At the end part of the baci everyone will come by the line and tie the white baci threads on each of our wrists with blessing, wishing all the good things for our new family.
Sone and Good during the Baci Ceremony at their weddingSokunna and Samnang Ing visiting a templeMonks chanting at Makara & Sina Ou’s wedding
What do you wear?
Sone: We wear a Lao traditional wedding gown. I dressed with a Lao traditional silk sinh, silk blouse with gold necklace, bracelets and earring, my hair tied up with gold decoration. For the groom he wears silk shirt and traditional silk salong( baggy pants ) with traditional shoes.
Makara: The bride and groom wear a lot of different traditional outfits, and are prepared by the makeup team.
Sone and Good posing in traditional clothing for their wedding photosSina Ou during a ceremony with a traditional dress – Photo Credit: Narla PhaySokunna in her Western-style wedding gown at Kralanh Petite Villa
Are there any special kinds of food that people eat at weddings?
Sone: No, we are not specific about the food in the wedding. The food is depend on the host will prepare. But we have the rule that the food should be 5 or 7 things such as: rice, food, fruit, sweets…
Makara: There is no specific food has been noted for the wedding – it depends on discussions within families who decide what to cook.
Makara and Sina Ou greeting guests at their wedding – Photo Credit: Narla PhaySokunna in a traditional dress at her wedding
What should guests bring? (What is expected of guests?)
Sone: In some areas the guest and cousins will bring some money, rice, food, vegetables to the bride’s house to help, but in some areas (people in town) they just bring their invitation card and money that they put into the card. For some cousins and friends they just come to help the work during the wedding days with things like cleaning and cooking.
Makara: All of the guests are expected to bring money gifts as a kind of donation from the guests to help the new couple to cover the expenses.
Leak in the Gifts Parade in Makara’s wedding – Photo Credit: Anna BaldwinSome of the JW Team as guests at Makara’s wedding – Photo Credit: Anna BaldwinSome of the JW team at Makara’s wedding – Photo Credit: Narla PhayGood, Nicole and Sone with friends at the After Party at Sone’s wedding
What was your favorite moment?
Sone: My favorite moment of my wedding was the wedding party. I was so happy to see all of our friends, family and cousins enjoying the Lao dances on the stage. All of us shared a wonderful time together.
Makara: In general, weddings are interesting. My favorite moment is when they did Chorng Dai, because all of the relatives said different words to us and those are meant to wish us health, wealth and happiness.
Sone and Good with one of their traditional outfitsSokunna and Samnang Ing in traditional clothingMakara and Sina Ou during their wedding photo shoot at Angkor Wat – Photo Credit: The Events
