Ben Cheung

Laos

Laos	Picture Description
	Map of Laos Population : 6,217,141 (2005) Median age: 18.74 years Fertility rate: 4.77 children/woman(04) Currency: Kip (LAK) GDP per capita: PPP $1,900 (2005) Population below poverty line: 40% , 9.4% inflation Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture 80%, Source : CIA Factbook
	The National Flag of Laos Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closly aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
	Countryside Location: Loas This is a village in Laos that we visited.
	outside Vientiane Location: Loas Some children playing by the roadside.
	outside Vientiane Location: Loas A typical residence. This is outside of the capital.
	outside Vientiane Location: Loas Another residence.
	outside Vientiane Location: Loas A typical market.
	outside Vientiane Location: Loas My friend Dennis Hilgenburg and myself perusing some food at the market.
	Village Location: Loas This is one of the poorest countries I have visited. You will see, later, pictures of immaculate temples and public buildings. But the typical resident is very poor. We saw almost no tourists on our trip there.
	Village Location: Loas More resident photos. This is a closer view of the photo from above. In my travels, I have found that many 3rd world countries use scooters/mopeds/motorcycles/bicycle, as they are cheaper to maintain and operate.
	Restaurant Kitchen Location: Loas This is the kitchen of a restaurant. I took this when I went to their bathroom (which was through the kitchen). You can see the tables in the doorway. The cooking conditions require no explanation.
	Farm Location: Loas Rice Farm. 80% of the 6 million inhabitants of Laos are engaged in farming. That's 4.8 million farmers.
	Farm Location: Loas Rice farm. Most of Laos farming is subsistence farming. Consider that the typical Laos person make USD$1,900.0 equivalent per YEAR. How do you live on $1,900 per year?! Well the answer involves living off the land.
	Village Location: Loas Some residents fishing
	Village Location: Loas very nearby from where I took this picture, children are bathing naked in this muddy stream. I considered it rather impolite (and possibly dangerous) to take a photo of them.
	Village Location: Loas Note the bicycle and the wooden cart. I also find many third world countries employ pack animals to move goods around.
	Parliament Building Location: Loas Parliament building. Laos is communist, and the tour books say it can be dangerous to take pictures of anything vaguely considered military. For example you can go to jail for taking a picture of a bridge.
	Pataxuay Location: Loas This is Pataxuay, or "The victory gate" built by Americans.
	Pataxuay Location: Loas The social cage. This was the first time in my adult life I had visited a communist country. There was a curfew of 11PM. Everyone had to be in their homes by then. If you were caught outside past that hour you would be forcibly returned to your place of residence. I didn't test this theory. There was a notice in my hotel room stating this.
	Pataxuay Location: Loas Views from the top of Pataxuay For a very modest price you can go up to the top of Pataxuay.
	That Luong Location: Loas That Luong is a national symbolic building. It is a building that is on their currency.
	That Luong Location: Loas A temple at the That Luong site.
	That Luong Location: Loas Portal shot of the entrance gate to That Luong.
	That Luong Location: Loas Another view of That Luong.
	That Luong Location: Loas More views of the grounds
	Haw Pha Kaew Location: Loas The Haw Pha Kaew temple.
	Tuoy (Tour Guide) Location: Loas Tuoy was a tour guide that we hired. For about $20 USD he took us around and accompanied us for the whole day. He gave us valuable insight into the country because he spoke good english. He told us what it was like to live under communist rule (not very pleasant). He needed permission to do just about anything.