|
One thing that does not
change is the magic the old culture including the way of living of Lao
people is the thing that the world tourists wish to see...
LAO'S HOME
A Traditional Lao Home
The unique characteristic of a traditional Lao home has a direct
impression on the Lao people and their live hoods that is different
from the present mixed architecture of tradition and modernism. A
traditional Lao home is built high off the ground with hardwood stilts
embedded either into the ground or on stones. Wooden planks are used
for flooring. Wood boards or bamboo are used for siding and either
grass or shingle can be used for roofing depending on what the home
owner can find at the moment.
There are two types of traditional Lao home. Sier and Faed. A Sier
home or sometimes called Keuy is more popular than that of a Faed
home, considering that only a family of good statues can build one. A
Fade home is basically two structures built side by side which uses
more materials than a Sier and is less popular. A Sire or sometimes
called Keuy home is a single structure with an addition of a terrace
that has a lower roof and floor than the main structure. The terrace
is used to have meals and greet visitors. There is also a wooden bench
on the terrace, which is used for resting. Next to the terrace is the
kitchen and Sahn used for washing and bathing. Sometimes the kitchen
is built connected to the house separately with the Sahn approximately
one third by size of the kitchen.
A Faed home consist of two connecting structures, one structure
includes the bedroom and the other for greeting guest. The bedroom in
both a Faed and Sier home are divided for the parent, male and female
siblings and a room called Hong Beung. This room is used as a guest
room ; besides guest only the male member of the family may sleep here
because it is also used as a worshipping room where family Buddha
images are kept. The home mentioned above are previously difficult to
find now that a combination of more modernism than tradition are used
in building new homes.
SPEAK LAO WITH
US
At the custom's office
|
Language |
Meaning in English |
|
Dan phasy yoo
sai ? |
Where is the
custom's office ? |
|
Khoy pen nak
thong thiov |
I am a
tourist. |
|
Khoy pen nak
thulakid |
I am a
business man. |
|
Nee man kapau
dern thang khong phai ? |
Whose is this
luggage ? |
|
Nee man kapau
dern thang khong khoy |
Here is my
luggage. |
|
Khoy tong peud
man bor ? |
Must I open it
? |
|
Khoy bor mee
gnang cheng |
I've nothing
to declare. |
|
Nee man nang
sue dern thang khong chao bor ? |
Is this your
passport ? |
|
Nee man nang
sue dern thang khong khoy |
Here is my
passport. |
|
Number bad
phan den |
Passport
number. |
|
Dan thee ork
der thang |
Port of
departure. |
|
Chud pasong
khong kan dern thang. |
Purpose of
visit. |
|
Khuang sai
suan tua |
Personal
effects. |
|
Khong khuan
hai pheun |
The gift for
friend. |
|
Khong thee
laluek |
A souvenir |
|
Sing khong lau
nee thon sai phasi bor |
Are these
things dutiable ? |
|
Khoy tong chai
thau dai |
How much must
I pay ? |
|
Khoy mee thang
mod thau nee |
This is all I
have. |
|
Than kuad ka
laev bor |
Have you
finished ? |
|
Mue uen sau ped mong
khoy cha ork dern thang. |
I'll leave at
8 a.m tomorrow. |
|
Khoy cha
chaeng ork yoo sai ? |
where am I
checking out ? |
|
khor bill dae. |
my bill ,
please. |
|
Chao ouw check
dern thang bor ? |
Do you take
traveller's checks ? |
|
Khoy phak
saduak sabai dee. |
I've enjoy my
stay. |
|
Eun lod taxi
hai khoy dae. |
Please call a
taxi for me. |
|
Luam kha ahan
sau nam. |
Breakfast
included. |
|
Luam kha ahan
song khab. |
Two meals
included. |
|
Hong kin ahan
yoo sai ? |
Where is the
dinning room ? |
|
Hong kin duem
yoo sai ? |
Where is the
snak bar ? |
|
Han kafe yoo
sai ? |
Where is the
coffee shop ? |
|
Khoy khor
number tho ra sab chao dae ! |
Give me your
telephone number. |
LAO KHAO NAXOU
Traditionally , The host should taste the first drink , If it has any
poisons. The first drinker will die before me
This part of poetry for drinking party runs from my tongue, while
Madame Ba's daughter serves us new alcohol for tasting. 70 Km from
Vientiane, Siri and I safely arrived in Bane Naxou, the village for
alcohol products. Usually at lunch time, alcohol drinking is not good
for the health. However, to visit the alcohol distiller, we have to
accept their good will. After the first cup our fatigue went away.
After greeting, she asked permission from us to help her parents wash
the steamed rice and stirred with alcohol powder which will be kept in
4-5 days before distilling. Equipment for alcohol distilling is big
tank of about 200 litres of water, a big bowl filled with cold water
to be used as its cover. When distilling, while the hot water
evaporate to the bottom of the cover it will become cold and the
evaporated water running out of the pipe to the gallon that installed
beside the big tank.
Alcohol powder is made with garlic and other roots of spices such as
Kha and Sikay to make the alcohol with good taste and nice foams. That
is the reason that when people drink, the words Kha! Kha! and Kha is
said....because of the mixture off Kha said Siri.
Naxou alcohol has been a popular product for many generation. All are
made by natural components and do no damage the health like chemical
powders. These practices have been miantained since early times. The
provision of fire to the pot is not too hot. If very hot fire is
provided, the taste is like the burnt smell. When we drink this low
quality product, we get drunk easily.
" When drunk
Go home by an ox cart.
If a little drink
One returns on his own foot"
Bane Naxou is names after Ban Naxou in Moungkhoune district,
Xiengkhouang province. More than one hundred from Xiengkhouang to the
West of the Mekong river to establish their new villages. Along the
way Phonehong, so some of the refugees decide to establish their
villages in Phoning district in order to keeo their family name and
their race. Here is humidity, flat terrain, a high yield of production. |
Information provided by Laos National Tourism Authority.
