All posts filed under: Expatriots

Vientiane: Like You Bor Hu!

Greetings, readers! I’m Jason, a Texan based in Laos for over a decade, working in various aspects of tourism. In a sense, I’m the reverse from most of you; perhaps an American-Lao? In any case, I have been here long enough to have fallen long out of that “honeymoon” phase that foreigners on short-term contracts to Laos often have. They’re the ones responsible for the generic superficial articles you typically see on Laos, enchanted by lines of monks at almsgiving, savory food, marvelous waterfalls, and the slow pace of life. Those things are all great, but there’s much more to Laos than that. I like to look at unusual places; the neglected history, what makes the country tick, and where it may go from here. I make no claims to be an expert on anything, but am simply curious to learn more and show you what I’ve found. I’ll aim to present the things I find, to the best of my understanding, though others may likely know more or find my thoughts completely off track. …

Lao Life: Food is the Ultimate Social Experience

It is a blessing to be able to appreciate youth at a young age. It is a blessing to be able to taste good food while your taste buds are still fully functional (assuming you have stellar ones to begin with). I spent my wonderful teen years in Laos; living the life of a poor vagabond, rich in experiences. I knew a life where happiness came from the company of good friends and a table decked with good food. Everything was cheap and simple because we were all broke and bumming off of our parents, anyways.  We were truly happy. In 2017, $10 could feed a group of at least five! We did not have shopping malls filled with brand name shops or the money to spend in “hi-so” (expensive/luxurious) restaurants but we had sunsets on a river’s bend and heaven at a roadside food stall. My friends were an eclectic bunch: from humble farm boys to business owners, from the very young to the very old; my requirements were not age or background specific, …