Lao New Year 2549
My cousin in Laos sent this picture to me. Happy Lao New Year 2549!
Lao New Year is derived from the lunar calendar. The Lao, Thai, Khmers and Myanmarese, who believe in the lunar system, celebrate New Year during this time. There is also a water festival that happens in Buddhist "Therevada" countries, like the ones mentioned. (The Therevada school of Buddhism, is arguably closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism.) This year is 2549, which is a reference point to Buddha’s birth, 543 years before Christ.

Happy lao new year. Too bad there isn’t a wat here in country where I can get a supper soaker and torture little kids with it! HAHAHA Well, on second thought, with as many Thai 3D workers there are up here in the songtan area there should be a wat close by.
They’ve at least opened up 2 thai stores and a third will be open soon. I freak them out when Linda and I go in there and I’ll snap up all the nam in the fridge to make yummy nam cau.
No Thais around these parts. I would love to have some good Thai food. Or even just mango on top of sweet, sticky rice.
You need to talk to my wife and come on up to songtan. get papaya (thom a houn), nam pa, I’ll grow mak keung ham ma ( or buy it at the store). we buy peppers at the commisary ( i’ll grow some too, the good thai mak pet). you know, no big whoop.
Linda makes killer Pho, qua Pho, nam cau, what ever… and she needs to keep speaking Lao! she’s studdering on the phone when she calls her mom and sister.
laos new years was fun because my dance class got to up on stage and dance. we had practise for 2 month. i got lucky because miss. meow won the beaty pagent.