Buddhist Lent (Boun Awk Phansa) Ends

October 7-8, 2025

The last day of Buddhist Lent usually falls in October, marking the end of the three month annual retreat for monks, this year it fell on October 8. Some of the roads in downtown Vientiane are closed for a few days for something like a carnival. There are many food stalls, carnival games where you can win prizes, VERY loud music, and people with loudspeakers selling things. It is seriously so loud it can affect your hearing. Craig's watch kept telling him the sound was dangerously loud, but you cannot get away unless you go home. Our apartment is close to the area and we could hear partying going on until about 1am. Most Lao people get up very early, so this is very late for them to stay up.

These are fertilized chicken eggs

Some food stalls were open during the day, but it did not get crowded until it started getting dark. Because we are near the equator, the sun goes down around the same time every day of the year, about 6:30pm. This is when it cools down and people come out. Around sunset, when the big crowds come, high school children are positioned across the roads where people walk in to the carnival area. They are there to pat you down so that no one will bring anything dangerous to the festivities. 

Craig and I had no idea, we thought they were going to be a part of a parade and waiting for it to begin, so we smiled and waved as we walked around them. They smiled and waved back and did not try to stop us. I guess we don't look to dangerous 😂 The following evening they recognized us and laughed as we let them "frisk" us. 

The girls checked women and the boys the men. There is no way these sweet people would have been able to tell if I had anything dangerous on me as their hands never touched my body 😄

After sunset, people from Laos gather along the Mekong river to set banana leaves decorated with flowers and candles afloat. This is called Lai Heua Fai. (It is very similar to a Thai holiday, Loy Krathong, where they float "krathongs" on the rivers in November.) These "boats" are set afloat on rivers, particularly the Mekong, as an offering to Buddha and the river spirits. Some believe this ritual helps to float away bad luck and usher in good fortune. 

A young family made and sold these beautiful floats. This one had a cool dragon made from banana leaf. I hope it made all our bad luck float away. Most of the time I buy something because of the person selling it, not necessarily for the best product or price, but although I purchased this because it was a cute family, it was also the most beautiful one I saw that night. 

Some have made a business of making money of standing in the river to help your float into the water

People here love to dance, this is in front of a boat that has been donated by a village. I am sure the dancers are from that village.

There’s a local belief that mythical water dragons, called Nagas, live in the Mekong and they shoot fireballs on the last night of Buddhist Lent. Visitors from all over Laos come to the river banks to watch. We did not see any fire spewing dragons - maybe we went home too early 😲 Perhaps something else to look for next year.

Long boat races are held on the river starting in the morning the last day. The teams are from different regions in Laos, and they all come to Vientiane to race. There are races in other parts of the country, but the one in Vientiane is the most important one. Good thing we live here! They are not your normal long boats, they are almost as long as the river is wide. It makes it difficult to turn around, so there is a lot of time in between the races. 

There are areas in the river that sometimes are very shallow, and some that have a lot of growth, so the race starts and ends in different places each year depending on what the river is like at the time of the race. No one knows exactly where the race will begin and end until flags have been put into the water, and a structure been built by the finish point for the VIPs.

Family stands close to the river to cheer on their team

The boat stretches almost all the way across the  Mekong

The entertainment

The race

Buddhist Lent (Boun Khao Phansa) Begins

11 July, 2025

Buddhist Lent is a three-month-long annual retreat which starts on the full moon in the eleventh lunar month, this year on July 11, and ends on the full moon in October. It is celebrated in South-East Asia, including Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Its origin dates back to the fifth century. Monks take a vow to stay in a specific wat (temple or monastery) for the three months. This is the rainy season with monsoons, flooding, and mudslides, and the temple is where the monks take shelter from these storms. It is also a time for temporary ordinations. Young men take on the monk's life for a time, some for a few weeks, others months. There they learn spiritual teachings that lead to happiness and a better life for them and their parents.

According to an ancient legend, monks did not stop their wandering even during the rainy season which caused complaints about people trampling rice fields and damaging seedlings. As a result, Buddha forbade monks to wander during this time and instead made them stay in their temples. During this period, monks are meant to study the Buddhist doctrines and in turn, preach them to commoners. They are forbidden to leave the premises or spend the night at a different location. I don't know that all monks follow this rule, however. I believe I saw a few monks outside the temples during that time.

Every year a festival marks its beginning and both monks and local people follow ancient traditions. Early in the morning on the first day of Boun Khao Phansa, people offer donations and gifts of food for the monks - rice, bananas, and some necessities like soap and toothpaste. This practice is a gesture of gratitude and respect for the monks' dedication during the Lent period. While at the temple, they listen to Buddhist teachings, and receive blessings as a reward. Buddhist followers are also expected to refrain from drinking alcohol or taking drugs during this period.

In the evening, monks and their novices carry flowers and candles around the central temple three times. Also, on this day, there are other rituals, for example, the blessing of “holy water,” when monks pour water on the ground, and "drummer competitions." We did not know about all the rituals, so were only there in the morning for the delivery of the food for the monks. Something to look forward to next year!

Craig's pictures -

A couple bringing alms to their local temple

We were not certain where the temple was located, so followed the couple

There are many temples near us, this is one of them

This young woman is making sure her traditional outfit is perfect. They all look beautiful.

A monk taking a picture of a family member or friend with his offering in front of the big Buddha, and women praying

A place for meditation and quiet contemplation . . .

. . . as well as picture taking

The giving of alms - the rice bowls are one of the few belongings the monks have. This is where they collect their food and other offerings for the day.

Many help organize the offerings, while dressed in their finest traditional clothing

A young monk 

A Lao home between our apartment and the temple

Another home

Are these stuffed animals here to dry? Or did a child forget them after they were done playing?

English Class Graduation 2025!

Our English students are all government workers who knew very little or no English before they started. We met Monday through Friday one and one hour every week, then they stayed for another one and one half hour learning with a Lao teacher. They worked very hard and progressed quickly. We are very proud of them! Speaking English can help them tremendously in their jobs and lives overall, and we hope they will all experience much success. 

In our group were teachers, police officers, soldiers, and an electrician. They are all different, but everyone is fantastic! Our Lao counterparts are also wonderful. These professional teachers, Ajarn (meaning teacher) Noi and Ajarn Phai, teach grammar and reading while we mainly work on listening and speaking skills. It is a great partnership. 

We gave our students framed copies of this picture as a keepsake, and we all signed our names under our faces. Craig made this with AI and had them dressed like their professions. We kept one for us and it will be placed on a wall in our home in Idaho. I love it!

Top row: the Lao teacher Phai, Phetxay (Tom), Teevanh, Happy, Ammy (she is 12 years old and joined us late in the semester when her school year was finished)

Middle row: Suzanne, Bounkom, Kongjai (Jai), Bounthanome (Nome), Phoutsavang (Lor-it means handsome)

Bottom row: Craig (doesn't he look like Glenn Beck here 😄), Somphone (Phone), Davanh, Khamla

All ceremonies in Lao have a banner, tables for the "official" people, and chairs or benches for everyone else. One of the speakers is at the podium. The director of Deseret International Charities Lao (DIC, this is what we are called here), Tiengsack, is sitting on the right at the table in the middle of the picture, the man on the left, Mr. Kia Young, is the person responsible for the classes at the school, and the woman in the middle is Mr. Kia's boss. I got caught trying to open a water bottle 😰 

I was asked to speak for the foreign teachers. It was difficult as we have learned to love the students who have become good friends. We miss them very much already. Our students and the Lao teachers later commented on how they could tell I was on the verge of crying. They were not wrong 😢

💖

The obligatory group picture at the end of the ceremony

Another picture of us outside the main building

Some of our goofy students at the lunch after the ceremony 😁

Mini hearts! I need to learn how to not look goofy in pictures from these beautiful people 😜

The Swedish frog song in English  

Our class song, because THEY ARE CHAMPIONS! We sung this at the end of each class. At the end of the semester everyone knew all the words except the short part where there are a lot of words that you have to sing very fast - "you brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it."

Prayers - Miracles - God's Timing - Our Will vs The Lord's

We had two difficult but testimony building experiences the past few weeks. A few weeks ago we attended a funeral for a dear friend, Noi Wisanbannawit, who had passed away from cancer at the age of 63. It was a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that went from stage 0 to 4 in less than two years. She and her husband, Wisan, had been married 35 years, It was difficult for him to see his wife suffer, but also to lose her. She was a busy, happy, and overall amazing woman. 

Noi's funeral where hundreds of friends gathered to say goodbye

Last week we were able to see another dear friend, Cherry Thongmee, who has had three strokes since August 2023. She cannot speak, but her husband, Arun, has figured out a way for them to communicate, so he was her mouthpiece when we were talking with her. She is bed bound as she has only recently been able to move the fingers on her right hand, as well as bend her right leg a little. She too, is an amazing woman, happy, busy, and full of life like Noi.

Because Cherry is not able to breathe well on her own, the doctor has performed a tracheostomy. Condensation from the breathing tube settles on her face, so Arun, or the nurse, put up her hair to keep her more comfortable. It looks cute on her!

Many have prayed for miracles for these two women, but the kinds of miracles we have asked for have not happened. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need while we ask for what we want. I do not know why these two marvelous women and their families have had such difficulties, but I do know that God gives us the kind of trials that we need to learn and grow.

In the series The Chosen, Jesus' disciple, James the lesser, has a physical disability. Even with a cane he has difficulty walking. He tells Jesus that he knows He can heal him, and asks why He is not doing it. Jesus tells James that he has great faith and that those around him will benefit more greatly from seeing him exercise this faith while going through difficulties. His suffering serves a greater purpose, allowing him to inspire others through his faith.

This is how I view what our friends are going through. Noi, Wisan, Cherry, and Arun are all great examples of faith and strength through struggles. Noi was pleasant and loving through the end. Even though she was weak and could not communicate well towards the end she apologized that she was not responding to messages. Her faith was enormous and we all saw it in the way she lived her life.

Wisan's faith matches his wife's. After Noi got seriously ill his normally happy demeanor changed. He became more serious and it was clear he was concerned for Noi. It did not change his giving nature however. He was not only making sure the beautiful funeral ran smoothly, but did what he could to make sure those who attended were comfortable. After the funeral he said that Noi would not want him to be sad, so he was working on being happy again. He is a great example in how faith and perseverance can help you in your life.

Wisanbannawits, Khanakhams, and Mackleys in our home in Bangkok in the 2010s

Noi and Wisan 💖

Wisanbannawits, Khanakhams, and Mackleys in our home in Bangkok in the 2010s

It was difficult to see Cherry. We know her as a vibrant happy woman with a lot of energy. She is no longer able to go anywhere or communicate without the help of her husband. It is exciting that she is now able to move the fingers and the leg a little on her right side, and she has the sweetest crooked smile. Despite her not being able to do much on her own, there is still a light shining from her. It is clear she still has so much love and is happy when friends visit. She truly brightened the room, and we are better for having spent time with her. We cannot wait to be able to go back to see her again.

At one of the Thongmee son's baptism

Cherry and Arun 💖

A chance encounter on an escalator in one of the many shopping malls in Bangkok

Cherry's loving husband, Arun, is an amazing man as well. He has not only figured out how to communicate with his sweetheart, but is helping her exercise so that she will hopefully gain more movement before their son's wedding in December. Because he has to work, he has installed a camera in Cherry's room so that he can see her on his phone when he is at the office or away from home. It also helps him keep contact with the nurse who is at their home during the day. Arun tells you the good and the bad, but does not complain. It is clear the deep love he had for her before the strokes is still there. He still looks at her with the same love and affection. When asked how he is doing, he says this is the situation they have been given, and they are trying to figure it out. 

These friends are beautiful examples of Christlike love. They are people we should all strive to be like. I am grateful to my wonderful friends for inspiring me and others. Their faith and perseverance through very difficult times strengthen my faith and resolve to become better and more faithful. They are beautiful examples of enduring to the end.

Buddha Park With Friends

There are so many wonderful people in the world. I wish everyone could meet everyone we know. They are all fantastic! YOU are all fantastic! We are so blessed to have crossed paths with friends who have taught, and continue to teach, us how to be better humans. This particular Saturday Somphone (Phone), her husband Thipphongphat (Thip), and their son kindly took us to Buddha Park and the Naga Temple. It was a beautiful day with beautiful Lao and Buddhist culture, but most of all a fun time spent with three wonderful people who are kind and generous. Phone and Thip both teach sports, Phone is also a national volleyball referee, and Thip is currently working on his PhD in sports management in Vietnam. Their son is going to school and is also interested in sports. However, he does not want to follow in his mother's footsteps and compete in boxing. Yes, Phone was a boxer. No wonder we get along so well 😄 Although she competed and I did not. 

  The tall structure in the background is from the bottom up - hell, our earthly existence, and heaven. You can go inside and look around. It has tight walkways, small and steep steps, and small entrances to different areas. There is a sign outside cautioning those over 50 years old to not go inside. That of course only served as a challenge to someone like me 😜 Craig did not try to squeeze himself through the final little hole to get to heaven, but I was determined and handed my backpack to Phone so I would make it through.

A little closer to the structure. It's nice there are "windows" so it is not so dark inside.

By the entrance, the first squeeze to get in. It is much larger than the one on top 😓

Some of the many scenes inside the structure: if I remember the Hindu story correctly, these figures show the interplay between gods and demons as they create the world. The gods, seeking the nectar of immortality, collaborated with the demons to churn the ocean using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope.

If I am wrong, or you have more information, please let me know.

The last squeeze to get to heaven. The hole looks larger than it is. Also, the opening is smaller inside than it is on this side.

Thip found an easier way to get up to heaven. We went down this way. SO much easier!

The beautiful, but scary, view from the top.

I made it down! Hugs needed 💞

This is the Mekong river. What is seen on the opposite side is Nong Khai, Thailand. 

A picture of what the Buddha Park looked like one year ago during the rainy season. It was filled with water. We are hoping this will not happen again this year.

Leaving Buddha Park for the Naga Temple.

In front of the big seven headed snake (naga).

We all took turns hitting the gongs for luck. 

Craig's Pictures and Commentary -

[New friends, Phone, Thip, and their son took us to Buddha Park. It is a beautiful park with many different kinds of Buddhas and other statues, lots of plants, and right next to the Mekong river.]

A favorite photo of the day!

[Buddha Park is] next to a famous Naga [snake] Temple. If you run your hand along the scales you get extra luck!

Beautiful, almost haunting music from only two strings.

Nine gongs by Thip.

Three gongs on this one. It is very loud 😵