Going out in style: The wet look is IN!

I'll work on some pics soon!!!

I would like to introduce you to Lao New Year. Perhaps you have heard of the Thai Songkran Festival or the Cambodian Khmer New Year, but unless you have brushed up on Lao traditions, you probably haven’t heard of Pi Mai Lao. The New Year is celebrated in a similar fashion in these countries. They all take place in the middle of April and all of them involve watering your neighbors. The water is tossed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on those both suspecting and unsuspecting. This is done to bring blessing on to the other person and also to welcome the rainy season.


The parties started two weeks ago. Here is the evolution of a Pi Mai Lao Party: In the beginning of the party it is nice and quiet. Well, other than the loud music… Anyways, the food is served and the teachers are seated at something that resembles the table of honor. Everyone is drinking beer (except us ELICers) and people are having a good old time. Then comes the water followed shortly by the baby powder (or vice versa). After that, some more water and nice words then some dancing to both Lao traditional and pop music.


Today is the first day of the actual New Year. People stand in the street waiting to douse people and ride in backs of trucks with blue water in buckets tossing at walkers and motor-bikers. I made the mistake of leaving my house (ok, it was fun). We rode down to get some soup, and by the time we (Berkeley and I) got a block away we were drenched. We went down to a friend’s house and visited for a while, almost dried off and then his sister came home… and all you can say is thank you. Walked home and became smurfs via dyed water. What a fun experience


Personally I think I would have MORE fun if it were me out there sitting with buckets full of water waiting for my next prey… on that thought I could do that tomorrow. It’s only just begun!