Hmong Village 

We stopped at a village of Hmong minority people who had been relocated from the hills to the Mekong shore, so the government could provide them services (such as one water tap). We were met at the beach by women selling silks, imported for the new tourist trade, but they didn't smile or understand "Sabaidee" (Hello, in Lao). We tried to be respectful but essentially we were gawking at a scene right out of National Geographic. I got back on the boat and cried.
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transpixel Typical housing, not just in this village but in more accessible parts of Laos. transpixel
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transpixel These three women are grinding beans, using just their muscle power, this machine, a baby's cries and a tourist's video camera. transpixel
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transpixel I was still excited by seeing the chickens underfoot. transpixel
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transpixel Roosters too.  In Laos, you will be reliably woken up quite early in the morning. transpixel
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Typical housing, not just in this village but in more accessible parts of Laos.
Viewed: 285 times.
These three women are grinding beans, using just their muscle power, this machine, a baby's cries and a tourist's video camera.
Viewed: 287 times.
I was still excited by seeing the chickens underfoot.
Viewed: 279 times.
Roosters too. In Laos, you will be reliably woken up quite early in the morning.
Viewed: 299 times.
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transpixel I hope these people agreed to be photographed.  (Some animists in these areas believe that cameras steal their spirits.  Or so it is oversimplified for us.)  Communication was weak since our guide didn't speak Hmong. transpixel
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transpixel What's wrong with this picture?  The only electricity in the village was the generator for this sattelite dish.  The pig belongs here more than CNN and HBO. transpixel
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transpixel We got outta there.  Jackie, Umesh, Callum, Hanna and a bunch of village kids.  Hopefully you can't see the signs of malnutrition that Christie noticed. transpixel
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I hope these people agreed to be photographed. (Some animists in these areas believe that cameras steal their spirits. Or so it is oversimplified for us.) Communication was weak since our guide didn't speak Hmong.
Viewed: 264 times.
What's wrong with this picture? The only electricity in the village was the generator for this sattelite dish. The pig belongs here more than CNN and HBO.
Viewed: 296 times.
We got outta there. Jackie, Umesh, Callum, Hanna and a bunch of village kids. Hopefully you can't see the signs of malnutrition that Christie noticed.
Viewed: 303 times.
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