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Boun Khao Phansaa
Khao Phansaa , marks the beginning of "Buddhist Lent." According to legend, there was once a group of six monks walking about during the rainy season. They were careless about where they put their feet, stepping on frogs and crushing new rice plants. This angered the farmers who complained to the Buddha. The Buddha made the rule for the sangha, the community of monks, to observe Khao Phansaa , which means "entering the rainy season."
The rule is that for three months during the rainy season the monks must vow not to stay overnight away from their temple, unless they have permission for special circumstances such as visiting sick parents, going to deliver sermons. In any case, they can never be gone more than seven days.
On the full-moon day of the eighth lunar month people go to the temple with incense sticks, candles, and pha ab nam fon (a yellow robe for bathing) and offer them to the Buddha statue in the temple. After that, they perform the prayer/chanting ceremony, vow to follow the precepts (five rules of conduct), and listen to a sermon.
On the first day of the waning moon, lay people tak baat (give offerings) , take the precepts, and listen to a sermon. After the evening prayers, the novices and monks make their vows to stay in their wat and kuti , residence, for the three rainy months. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
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Getting To and From Vientiane Transportation to and from Vientiane is most often by air via Bangkok, with Thai Airways, Air Vietnam and Lao Aviation providing regular service to Vientiane. Direct flights are also available to Hanoi and Kunming.
Recently, budget airline Nok Air has introduced daily return flights to Bangkok from Udon Thani, the closest (60km from the border) regional Thai city. Nok Air also operate direct flights to and from Chiang Mai through the week.
Private as well as local buses are also options for travel. While there is no rail system in Laos, many people travel to Bangkok and throughout Thailand by train, boarding in Nong Khai.
Getting Around Town Getting around Vientiane is relatively easy, but requires some patience and caution. Roads have been steadily improving over the past several years, so many people drive motorcycles and cars.
The number of cars and trucks, and therefore traffic and pollution, is increasing rapidly within Vientiane. Unfortunately, the road system has not been designed to cope with the larger numbers of large vehicles and traffic jams are becoming more and more of a problem. Tuktuks and jumbos (3-wheeled taxis) are popular for getting just about anywhere and are fairly inexpensive.
A bicycle is very useful in Vientiane; many people own them. You can purchase a Thai or Chinese bike locally for about US$80-$140. Chinese mountain bikes, of reasonable quality, are available. If you own a very good bike you may want to consider bringing it along for the quality and comfort.
Mountain bikes or "crossover" bikes are ideal. A French-run bicycle store has been operating for the last few years, selling top quality american and european brand mountain and road bikes at very good prices, with excellent after-care service. All accessories are available or can be ordered within two or three days. As already mentioned, prices are very good, often much cheaper than the same items in home countries.
Many people choose motorbikes as their preferred mode of transport, with Chinese, Japanese and Korean brand motorcycles available starting from around US$400.
For those interested in owning a car, there is a healthy trade in second-hand vehicles and an ever increasing number of new car showrooms around town. Look for advertisements for second-hand vehicles posted at the local mini-marts and restaurants. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
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Sports facilities in Vientiane include a few tennis courts; bring your own racket. There are two Hash House Harriers running groups. Most Saturday afternoons a group gets together to play softball.
Groups also get together to play basketball, volleyball, touch and tackle rugby (men's and women's), court hockey, even Ultimate Frisbee on the sandbanks of the Mekong. These activities (and future activities) depend on people initiating and organizing them according to their own interests.
There are also health clubs at several hotels and a number of Gyms around town. An international community drama group and choir also perform. There is an evening bridge group, a reading group, and who-knows-what-other interest groups have formed . . . all definitely the "do it yourself" variety.
A public swimming pool is centrally located, and several hotels and gyms offer health club memberships. There are two golf courses, one 14 km south of town and another smaller course (9 shorter holes) 6 kilometers north of town.
The Women's International Group (WIG) publishes the Vientiane Guide, a valuable source for general Vientiane information. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
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Many expatriates employ people to do cooking and/or cleaning and to work as a gardener/night guard for their homes.
Household help in Lao do not live in. An average monthly salary for cook/cleaner is US$80-140, for gardener/guard US$80-120 per month depending on hours of work and duties required. (It is not necessary to employ a cook/cleaner full-time; guards usually work 6 nights a week.) |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
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Food Fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are available in open markets everywhere, and Vientiane has many mini-marts for additional shopping. Bargaining for prices is a common practice in markets when making large purchases.
Average food/soap/paper expenses for two people can run about US$40-100 per week. Restaurant meals range from 3,500-80,000 kip (US50c-$8). Most restaurants cater for vegetarians with a wide range of vegetarian fare available from the local markets. Money The currency in Lao is the kip, although American dollars and Thai baht are often used for large purchases, and in some restaurants. As of January 2008, the US dollar was officially worth around 9,300 kip. Visa, American Express, and Mastercard credit cards are accepted in a few places, with a small number of ATM's available for small withdrawals, but basically there is mostly a "cash economy" in Laos.
Banks offer the best rates for US dollar travelers checks but it is advisable to bring cash rather than travelers checks as changing checks can take quite a bit of time.
Official money changing offices are conveniently located for hard currency exchange. Money can also be very easily changed at "mini-marts" and some of the bigger markets. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
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