June 1 was Children and Planting Tree Day. It is one of national holiday in Laos for every family spends activity with their children. I still remembered when I was a little boy, and I studied at the primary school, when the children day came, we felt very excited because at school; we had many activities to do together such as dancing in traditional Lao, singing, drama…eventually, the children ceremony ended by having delicious breakfast together and got a lot of candy form teachers. To say in other word, in the past, I was given, but now, I must give back.

So, nothing special for the children day yesterday at my house because we didn’t have much money to take all children to the park, market or even natural tourist sites. Things that I did with my grand children were plant the trees surround the pond, cooked noodles, and watched cartoon” Tom & Gerry”. Unlike us, other family who next to me, they took their children to downtown and water fall. Something that I saw and noticed from my grand children, they felt sad. Suddenly, the asked me” why didn’t their parents take them go traveling?” I smiled and took 7 children to my house to watch traveling DVD.

The traveling DVD took them to the north of Laos, which was called Borkeo Province.
On that, they took us to some of historical sites in the past such as temple on the mountain, which was burned by Siamese and Burmese. Next, they took us touched of the nature on “Poo Geun” Geun Mountain, where we can breed in the fresh air and where we can see the view of Mekong River. Besides, we also saw and worshipped the real Buddha foot prints and heard short of Buddha history on Geun Mountain. Next, they took us to ride the bicycles around Borkeo city and up to the high road, eventually; they finished the destination by crossing the boat to left side” Thailand”, Leuy Province, where we can see the beautiful view of big mountain on the right side, which was Laos. After we finished watched he DVD, children were satisfied with story on DVD and they were very happy on the things that they saw, although they didn’t see the real place.

To conclude, I am so happy that I can share their feelings by taking them to the place that we don’t have pay a lot of money, but we can feel on it as we see by our real eyes. That is not the point, the point is how much I can increase their rights as other children who have more opportunity.

On Buddhist day, which was May 23, I went to That Luang temple, which is was one of the most famous historical sites in Laos that tourist must visit. Before, I describe my feeling about the hot day at That Luang. I will tell you brief history of it.

That Luang was built for forth time, first it was built during the first Vientiane governor call” Chanthabouly Pasithisak”, 3 century for keeping the Buddha lord from India after the death of Buddha At that time, it was a rise of Buddhism speeded in South East Asia on the same time of King Asoka reign. That Luang at that time was very small made of stone.

After that, during King Xaysetha reign, he rebuilt the That Luang in 1560 and finish in 1566 ( 16 Century)after he moved Capital from Luang Phabang Province to Vientiane. That Luang is golden gold, height 45 M, and has 30 small stupas surround the big one. Later, in1880. During the reign of King Anouvong, the last king of Lan Xang Kingdom was invaded by Siamese. Siamese destroyed every temple, burn the palace and also destroyed the big stupa, they took value things from it and burned, which made Vientiane become the place where no one live for many years.

In 1910, there were group of architecture rebuilt That Luang, and in 1975 after the Laos government declared the independent, it was rebuilt and painted in gold as we see today.
Today, That Luang become the symbol of Laos, if you come to Laos, but you didn’t visit it, it means you are not reached Laos. All pictures that you will see was taken by me, every corner that you will not see from other websites. All pics was taken during 2 P.M, which was very hot.

To conclude, when I walked around the stupa, I felt I walk to history where I can see my greatest king and many Lao people were building it. Those pictures occurred in my brain and I will take all detail that I know to teach next generation about Lao root.

Did you watch this movie? Do you interested in it? This movie is talking about a family who move to a new house in Connecticut. Unfortunately, instead of having good memory, they have to face with something that unknown and horror experience; something that scientific cannot proof, which I call Super natural.

Based o discovery channel, which is always show in every Saturday night from 10 PM to 11PM, the program call “A Haunting”. This program shock me because I don’t think that western country like America will have something that call “ghost” happen in there. In South East Asia such China, Laos, Thailand…have strongly believe in super natural, and we believe they exist the same us, but different world.

I remembered when I was studied in high school, about 5 years ago, I had stay with my friend who has a house near school, and his house is look old and simple, which had second floor, made of wood. Between the right and left close to very olds Villa houses. At that time, I didn’t feel any suspect. When I fist enter, I felt cold and colder deep to my heart, but I tried not to show any feeling, I observed inside and found that there were three bedrooms in first floor with one big toilet beside the house, next to the kitchen, which was surrounded by mango trees and coconut trees outside.

Second floor had two big bed rooms with old set of wood table. I sleep in the big bed room, which had three windows to look and absorb fresh air in the night. That night While I was sleeping in the living room and watched TV; suddenly, I felt asleep. Next, about 30 minute left, I felt I awoke and cannot to move my body. I felt there was someone looked at me next to the television, I opened my eyes slowly to look on it. Unbelievably, I saw an old man in soldier dress. At first, I though maybe he might be my friend’s relative, but I noticed quickly, he had strange reaction, which was very strange from human.

His face had no feeling and have a little smile to me, his eye don’t have black eyelids, which means his eyes was white, and his skin was very pale. Later he walked to me closer and closer, I tried to be conscious and fight with something that super natural. I Remember until now, his laugh still have in my memory. I cannot move anything; he was very close to me and his face change to scary face. I was sure that I am not dream or happen from my imagination because I saw many people walked pass me. Therefore, I asked for a help, but no one heard me. I wanted to close my eyes, but it didn’t work. It happened about 20 minutes. Luckily, my friend’s father walked to the living room and turn off TV. So, the ghost looked at him and walked to the soldier photos, which hung on the wall in front of me; eventually I woke up and felt very tired.

I kept it secretly and not tell to other because I don’t want to scare them, except my friends. Other wise, my friends told me about his house history. He said that once it was a soldier camp during the war and there were many soldier died during the war and now it change to his house. However,” he continued to tell me” everyone face the action the same I saw, but they thought it simple.

Up until now, that memory of the old soldier man still keep in my memory, and I will not go back to this house again because of haunting.

On May 8 of 2009, it is Visakabousa, one of the most important ceremonies of the Buddhist religion; because it is Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death in the same day. To commemorate his gratitude that Buddha find the way to help all living things, in every temples in all part of Laos had religious to celebrate on this day, which was held on the May 8 from day to night. During the ceremony, there were many activities that lay people did together with monks and nuns. Most of them were listening to the Buddhist life including his birth, his enlightenment and his death.

Me, I am also one of the Lao people who really love to study about rule of Buddhism and his life. On this day, I went to one temple name Chomtai on the north of Vientiane capital with my friend; we went there about five people. The ceremony started from the night of May 7. At the temple, about 7 P.M in the evening, we went out of the care and walked the yard of the temple, which was prepared for all lay people already. Everyone dressed in white clothes and sat in circle. At that time, I noticed that most of them, took a stainless sand silver bows with Buddha images, candles and other good luck flowers insides.

Next, after we sat, I heard the announcement from the head of the monks inside the hall to started ceremony at 8 P.M while the full moon rising above our head. First, we worshipped the Buddha, his teaching and his pupils, which called in Lao Pha poot, Pha tam, Pha song. After that, monks started speech in Bali Sanskrit about 1 hour and ended by taking meditation. We done it for 8 times until the new morning came. Finally, we finished by giving alms.

To conclude, I think that this day is very important to all Lao people and all people who believe in Buddhism. Besides, it is also show me that although we face the financial crisis, but for Lao people, there is not affection because we do merit making by pure hearts and minds, not things. Further more, it shows that Lao people sill have a firm solidarity to each other to commemorate our Buddha and religious to stainable forever.

I remember when I was 7 years old, I like to watch cartoon. My favorite cartoon movies were Sailor moon and Dragon ball. After I finished watching them, I like to play with my friends who live next to me as hero in cartoon and acted like the way they did in the movies. That is the beginning of being the Artist.

Later, art is obtained to my brain more and more; I begin acting in school drama. Then, I learn to dance in Lao traditional styles. From Lao to Western such Hip hop, B-boy, Latin…After that, I had win the number 1 best boy band group in 2004.

The art was not stopped, I become curious about it. After dancing and acting, I learned to sing by myself. I began to sing a song on 9 year old. I sang from Lao song to Western song, and I become successful from singing, which shown by wining a singing contest in 2005. Later, I began to paint some pictures based on my imagination and real situation. I able to do it, when my paintings were shown in Exhibition, many people complimented me on my ability and bought my paintings and satisfied with it. They are not only acting, painting, singing and dancing, but I also good in composing story, novel and song.

Today, one thing that I still doing about the art, is taking photos, I love to take photos everywhere I go, I think that one photo can describe many different feeling and emotion to people who look though them. Besides, they also take us to their world at the same time, which is why art still exist in this world for a long time.

To conclude, Art is one part of me, it can make clam and peace at the same time when I touch it. In addition, one thing that the best describe us to others is the art because it can explain human feelings deeper than other things we use to show ourselves. Therefore, it must be support from every society and government because it one thing that can make people be the one and share the feeling as humanity.

Some pictures that I post, I want you to guess feeling though these picture, what I want you to know?

The Lao New Year in this year is very special and big celebration among Lao people, it is not only celebrate within the country, but it also celebrated by Lao people who live around the world. Besides, there are two countries both share the same festival are Cambodia and Thailand.

In Thai they will call this festival as “Song kran”, but in Lao, we will call “Boun Pi Mai”. Those names are translated from Bali Sanskrit language.

The Lao New Year festival in this year is different form the last year because most of people are travel to north province and south provinces. Most of popular provinces that they go to celebrate during Pi Mai are Luang Phabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, and Pakse. However, the most popular place, which was crowded by million of people is Luang Phabang.

The reasons of million people go to Lunag Phabang because it is small city with many historical sites. Moreover, they have big parades of Miss Lao New Year and other traditional activities shown in April 15 or the middle day of New Year.

Me, I didn’t go anywhere because I don’t have any money to travel and my father was not allowing me to travel long distance. Therefore, I went to celebrate with my friends in downtown near Mekong River and Wattay International Airport. We cooked and ate variety foods such as papaya salad and meat ball. We splashed water to each other and we dance in many styles.

Along two sides of streets, I noticed that they many people did like us, but it was different because most of them were very young. Some people wore strange clothes and colorful, some wore as a gang and some wore in traditional clothes. But, things that still be the same, people still keep good hospitality behavior to older and tourists, which mean no fighting and any conflict, occurred in Laos, which was different from our neighbor countries.

On April 4, 2009, I have plan for my special day, which is my birthday coming again. Now, I get older and older, I sometimes sad when someone call me ‘brother” in the first greeting. However, it is just number, but I think I still young. That was just my thought before I went out for my special trip.

I walked out from my house hurriedly and drove my motorbike to the country side temple; my goal was to donate 20,000 kip to the temple in order to make me feel happy. That temple name Dongshang him temple, which was far my house about 4 km to the South, I reached there, donated money and took a little time to worship monks and Buddha images. Next, I continued to the South Street.

My destination was Pha Bart Phonsan Temple, which located in Borlikhamsay Province to the southern of Laos. It is far from Vientiane Capital 90 km. First, I thought that I wanted to go there by bus, but it was too late because I had already drive motorbike. Anyway, I decided to go there by my motorbike although it too far, I won’t give up.

I went there alone with my motorbike, during the way that I passed, I saw many interesting things. In between two sides of the street, there were flowers, which were blossomed in yellow and red, brought me fragrant smell along the road. Besides, I saw many buffalos and cows ate grass in the rice field. Further more, I also saw many kids went to school and smile to me in friendly manner.

The sun rose above my head, but I didn’t felt hot because of windy, I still waited for unknown things, which would appear during the street. I sang a song and drove slowly, which eventually crossed the Namgrem brides about 11 A.M. I stopped in the middle of the bridge and took some photos and then kept going.

The time passed, but I still drove my motorbike at the street, I passed many villages and mountain; however, I didn’t still reach my destination, I drove long and longer, I noticed that I got deeper. There were no village, no people and no car passing, which mean everything gone. I felt worry and nervous because I scared to get my flat tries and no one help me. Two sides of the street were jungle and mountains. At that time I hope to reach Pha Bart Phonsan temple as soon as possible. Otherwise, I won’t give up. I had to catch the door of successful in front of me.

I drove faster and faster and finally, I reached “Tar Pah Bart” village and saw that temple, dank water. Later, I went to worshipped real and sacred Buddha foot print for short time. Next, I went out to take some photos and continued to Phonsan near Mekong River. Phabart and Phonsan are two temples that share the same history and was built at the same time, which far from each other about 2 Km.

Based on history, two temples in the past call” Phengarn Kingdom”, which share the same time of Sikothabong Kingdom before Lanxang Kingdom. At there, was ruled by the greatest Naga called” Soukahaty”. Once the Buddha together with two monks came
Spread Buddhist religious at “Souvanaphoom” region, they came to Laos and went to the south. They felt tired and sat for relax for short time. At that time, it was about 11A.M, which was time for Buddha and two monks had lunch.” Soukahaty” the greatest Naga who lived under Mekong River, went out and came to worshipped Buddha group by change his head in to Elephant together caught couple of lotus to worship Buddha. Moreover, use his power by making high land like mountain for Buddha sat and had lunch, which was why we call the place of Buddha have lunch or in Lao “ Phonsan” up until now; Buddha gave him foot print as his representative. Naga sat down and worship a Buddha. Then, the group of Buddha left. Then, the place where Buddha foot print, we call Pha Bart temple up until now.

After I finished worshipped two temples, I took some photos and went back to Vientiane immediately because I sacred it would be dark soon. My birthday, I didn’t get present, but I get adventurous experience instead. To conclude, I am very satisfied with present that get inside my heart not the things that we can touch.

For two months that I had finished the College, during those periods, I never stop and relax; I look for jobs from newspapers and magazines. Next, I go to school everyday to write my personal documents, apply for jobs.

I had applied from one organization to many organizations, and waiting for reply from them. One week later, no one call me back.

Because of financial crisis and economic problems, make depress and feeling down to the earth. At that time, something that I have and encourage me are my mother, my brother, my dream and my belief. All of those reasons cheer me up and make better to fight against the obstacles that make me down.

Instead of waiting for reply from other organizations, I kill the time by coming back to simple life and do whatever I like. Every morning, I wake up early, clean my house, walk for a while and take some dance for one hour. Besides, I also listen to country music” Isarn”. All of the song that I listen is to make me relax and encourage me to survive. What is more, I will go to the outside and plant natural flowers in the yard with my grand children.

If we have more time, we will go to the forest to find natural foods together by hunting the birds, digging to find bamboo and fishing. Those activities are not only making me happy, but also help me think positively because there are many things; waiting me to experience them. On the other hand, every afternoon, we also cook lunch and eat lunch together.

At my house, it is so silent and surrounded by high trees and ponds, where there are no air pollution, noise and not crowd. If I have a little time, I will drive my motorbike to internet café around my house and send some e-mail or play hi5.

Up until now, I have to stop for waiting reply because there are three companies that called me back, but I refuse because it is too late and I have another one job that suitable for me. The job is soldier, I will be a soldier soon and I hope that I can gain more experience from this job when is come. However, that job is not coming yet; the special event that will come soon is The Lao New Year Festival or “Pi Mai Lao”.

The festival that brings good luck and full of happiness to Lao people in all part of Laos, it is just only one week that New Year will come. I hope I have much money to spend on this special event and meet my friends when the New Year comes.

I have added some new links on this page for my Favorite web sites. Most of those are about Laos. Please click the link to visit these interesting web sites.

People who believe in Buddhism will know about Himmapan forest or might not know, but I will write and let you know some information base on true story that I made a research for twenty years. Some people might think that Himmapan is not the true story and it is just the story that mentions on the “Pavetsandon Sardok” one life of the Buddha. However, many things that I will let you know on this story all have real and still exist, which normal people cannot find and see by our real eyes.

Himmapan forest is located between the border of Himalayas Mountain and Nepal, in the middle of the Himalyas hill, which was cover by the ice. This place has different time and different people also animals.

Normal people cannot live there because it is too cold, which means is only place where the land and heaven hit each other, the place where the deity, half angle half human live.
Based on the Buddhism and the book of buddha’s life or” Phatai Peedok”.

The time will be faster than our time, which is one day, is four hundreds years compare to our time. Most animals live there are nagas, garudas, human fruits.

Himamapan happen because of the power from the King ion the heaven call” In tha thirat” build it by his magic and gives to Pavatesandon and his family to live when he was banish from the palace during 5000 B.C. After Pavetsandon become the Buddha, Himmapan still existing and not allow human to go there accept the old monk who follow the Buddha rule strictly and reach nirvana, can see and go to Himmapan forest.

Himmapan forest is the secret palace, where you can see wondering and amazing creatures. For example, first Kinaree and Kinnaron is the people who half bird and half human. They stay in the himmapan forest and eat natural fruits for meals.

Second, Woman fruits, is the woman who has everything similar to human, but wears different clothes and has gold skin. They are the most beautiful woman, which was happening by the magic of the” Inthairat”. When the fruit grow up will have beautiful body; but when it older, the fruit will get small and smaller eventually fall down to the floor.

The others are Payanak (naga), Payakpout (garuda), Hong; lion…live the same place call” Himmapan”. They live in peaceful life; they are no war, no fighting, no conflict.

To conclude, I think Himmapan still existing, but we cannot see because we have different life styles, but I think who always make meditation and follow the Buddha rule strictly. Those people who have five paths or” Sin 5” inside their hearts and their minds, can find their own answer.

The five paths in Buddhism are:

1) do not kill animals or hurt other

2) do not still things and say bad thing other

3) do not drink alcoholism

4) do not sex with other married couple

5) do not depend on things like normal people have such as gold, house, car