A Traditional Lao Party - and LOUD Music

4 November 2007 Sunday

The most important thing about today is that it is K’s eighth birthday. It was probably the excitement of that, that kept them up and rowdy last night - until about 3 am when their parents returned from night-clubbing. You guessed it - that was just about an hour before the rooster crowed!

On the back of a ute to the farm - delicious food - LOUD music

Anyway we set off this morning in search of an internet place to check for news and emails. Two of us for a half hour each cost 80 cents. Jim then went into town while I went back to the house. Those of us there went out for lunch to a local café for pho as the preparations for tonight’s party were in full swing and there was no time for preparing lunch at the house.

Tonight’s party is to celebrate K’s birthday and also to farewell two of our families as they begin their journey back to Australia tomorrow. The ladies of the house, sat cross-legged on the floor preparing fruit by the ton. I counted 80 bananas and stopped, and many, many, many dragon fruits, mandarins, papaya and bunches of grapes. These were all attractively arranged on 18-inch high bamboo tables that were covered with Glad Wrap and put aside for transporting to the farm, some 7 kms up the road.

While they worked and chatted, I had a sleep... I needed it!

Later:

Now I’m going to take the easy way out again by reproducing the hurried notes I wrote at the party:

Back of Ute to the farm, which is in a rural area; little community has a temple, of course, and saffron robed monks; the kids of the area playing soccer. The party was held in a walled in area around a new house one of the Australian Lao has built for himself. He plans to split his time between Australia and Laos – I think there is a lady involved. There was a spit roasting vealer (which we found out later cost between $120 -140). Next came a thanksgiving ceremony, which took place on the verandah of the new house. Some chanting, singing and prayers accompanied with white threads, which were blessed and tied around our wrists. Stephen and the new WWF guy in town were also there. Fluorescent tubes tied to posts and tree trunks; two LARGE banks of speakers; table after table all neatly set with enough seats for about 80 people; the music begins, with keyboard player and up to 4 singers; LOUD music; food, food, food; salads; absolutely delicious fresh spring rolls; pork larp (shredded pork salad); peanut sauce; Beerlao; Black Label; LOUD music; sticky rice; LOUD music; all the fruit previously mentioned plus some extra for good measure; LOUD music; heaps of food left over; LOUD music; humidity; trickles of sweat running down my back – will my shirt last tomorrow too?, LOUD music, LOUD music...

We danced until 9.30 when the band thankfully packed up and we all piled into the back of the pick-up to go home - via Steve’s hotel first. It was well after 11 before I fell into bed and slept soundly.