Road No. 1: highway to progress

Road No.1 officially opened this month, bringing both economic and health benefits to Vientiane residents; it is also a symbol of the cooperation between Laos and Japan .

Road users enjoy travelling in comfort on the new road financed by Japan .
The upgrade of the road includes a drainage system that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport believes will prevent flooding in the rainy season.

The installation of streetlights has also made a great difference to driving conditions in the city...more

The Lao government and people, especially Vientiane residents, are thankful the road has finally been completed, and travel around the city is now more comfortable and safer.

This project was of great importance, said the Project Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr Dedsongkham Thammavong.

He said the reconstruction of the road with Japanese assistance was a significant contribution to the improvement of communication and transportation in Vientiane and in the region.

Mr Dedsongkham said the new road would provide both direct and indirect benefits to Laos . It would certainly improve conditions for people operating businesses along the road.

The road is 29 kilometres long and runs from the Sikhay junction to the Thanalaeng warehouse. Its reconstruction cost more than US$366 billion kip (about 4.645 billion yen).

The smooth, black-topped road has helped to improve the capital's image, especially as it is such a central part of the city, Mr Dedsongkham said.

It will enable Laos to become a more efficient transit country and provide more opportunities for people in the sub-region to engage in trade and tourism.

“As you know, the road will also support our efforts to reduce poverty. Better road access is central to realising the government's goal to eradicate basic poverty by 2010. With more roads, people living in the rural areas will be better able to improve their standard of living,” he said.

Japan has been a major donor to the development of road and bridge infrastructure in Laos .

Before the road was rebuilt, it regularly flooded outside Ongteu and Inpeng temples during the wet season.

“I am confident we will not have to suffer from flooding any more now that engineers have installed drains on either side of the road, leading to Hongxaeng and Hongpasak canals,” Mr Dedsongkham said.

It is anticipated that business along the road will boom and contribute to the country's socio-economic development.

According to Ministry of Public Works and Transport statistics for 2004, Laos has 31,209 km of roads, 8.6 percent more than in 2001.

The data shows that in 2005 there were 4,497 km of tarred roads, an increase of 4 percent. There were also 10,097 km of gravel roads, up 8.8 percent up, and 16,616 km of dirt roads, 11 percent less than previously.

The expansion of the road network has boosted the economy and helped to improve people's living conditions all around the country.

Roads enable the transport of farmers' crops and other goods to markets, and in this respect Road No. 13 is considered to be the backbone of the country.

All corners of the country are now being linked, with Roads 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18 and others becoming a part of this network.

All provinces have road access and there are now 125 roads accessing districts nationwide.

River communication has also improved, with the building of ports and embankments along the Mekong River in the north of the country, to facilitate river transportation through Laos , Thailand , Myanmar and China .

Vientiane residents believe that the good condition of the newly-finished road will also bring health benefits.

A resident of Saphanthong village in Sisattanak district, Mr Khamsone, said he was pleased to be able to travel on a smooth and clean road. He believed it would bring an end to flooding and would reduce the amount of dust blowing around.

The Deputy Director of the Ophthalmology Centre, Dr Siphetthavong Sisaleumsak, said that dust was a significant contributing factor to respiratory problems and eye diseases each year, especially conjunctivitis.

“Now that the road is properly surfaced, it should help to alleviate the problem,” he said.


By Xayxana Leukai
Vientianetimes

France to grant 1m euro for Vat Phou project

The government of France has announced a grant totalling 1 million euros for a three-year project starting next year on the site of the ancient, Khmer-built Vat Phou, according to a government official on Tuesday.

The head of the Vat Phou World Heritage Site Office, which was established last month, Mr Khankham Kaenboutta, said that the agreement is under preparation and is expected to be signed later this month...more

He said that the many activities covered by the agreement would continue on the plans of the Lao government.

The project will have numerous functions, including architectural restoration, cultural activities and information management, according to the Head of Heritage Architecture of the Solidarity Priority Fund for Vat Phou, Mr Laurent Delfour.

“We are sending Lao architects and engineers to receive training at a new school in Cambodia , which runs a course on cultural heritage,” he said.

This year, two Lao architects have already attended the course, and the project plans to continue sending architects to Cambodia every year, according to Mr Delfour.

Also, this year, one Lao official will be sent to France to be trained as an information specialist and to see how this work is done in France , he said.

“We hope that after this three-year project, the office's Lao staff will be able to work unassisted,” he added.

During this time, the project will involve making the site more secure and beautifying the surroundings, as well as producing a handbook for tourists explaining what they can see, and special activities such as the baci ceremony to encourage them to spend more time at the site.

“Everything should be realised with harmony and manners, because UNESCO's plan gives us much to do but we still have to respect the site,” Mr Delfour said.

So far, many countries have provided preservation assistance, including support from the government of Italy worth more than US$150,000.

Vat Phou was built at the end of the 5 th century during the early period of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia , and is one of the oldest historic sites in Laos .

T he site was listed as a world heritage site on December 16, 2001 by UNESCO, and covers 390 square kilometres of three districts - Champassak, Pathoumphon and Phonthong.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes

China Southern to launch Guangzhou-Vientiane flight

China Southern Airlines will launch direct flight service between Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, and Vientiane of Laos from November 6.

This will be the only flight linking Guangzhou and Laos.

With the flight dubbed CZ3057, Airbus A319 aircraft will take off from Guangzhou at 8:50 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday, and reach Vientiane at 10:20 a.m. The returning flight CZ3058 will take off at 11:20 a.m. from Vientiane and arrive in Guangzhou at 14:40.

China Southern is one of the top three airlines in China. The other two are Air China and China Eastern Airlines.

Xinhua

Asia Sounds announces song contest

Lao singers and songwriters who have been harbouring dreams of becoming a star may have a chance for their big break soon, through a new television talent quest.

A team from Asia Sounds, an Australia-based music and media company, is currently touring Southeast Asian countries to promote its 2008 Asian Song Contest.

The team, led by the company's Executive Vice President of Marketing, Ms Adrienne Smith, met Lao Information and Culture officials in Vientiane on Monday to discuss the contest.

“We're in Laos to seek permission to invite musicians here to enter our competition,” Ms Smith said during an interview...more info>>

“We want to invite everybody to apply for the contest, which is open to all,” another member of the team, Mr Biag Occhino, said. “I hope that maybe someone in Laos wins it.”

As part of the music project, entitled Sutasi , which stands for “Sources of Unsigned Talents in Asia”, the team is looking for exceptional musicians and artists from throughout Asia .


According to the organisation's press release, Sutasi is an “Asian-level platform for discovering quality music and talent, with the aim of launching new-found talent to the Asian market and beyond.”

Winners will receive more than US$1 million in cash and prizes.

“We cannot say who will be the winner. Maybe they'll like the Lao music style, and we might win the hearts of the judging panel,” said Lao graphic designer Mr Praseuth Banchongphakdy, who is coordinating the competition in Vientiane .

“This competition is a good opportunity for Lao songwriters and singers.”

Songs to be entered in the competition can be written in the contestant's native language or can be a mix of languages, including English. The important thing is that the lyrics and melody are modern and appealing to listeners, Mr Praseuth said.

The company will choose 12 singers and 12 performers from the 11 countries in Southeast Asia , but those chosen will not be distributed evenly across the region.

“We might end up with five contestants from Laos or two from Singapore ,” Ms Smith said, adding that “the main criterion for success is quality,” and that she wanted as many people as possible to apply for the contest.

“It is not too late, and it's not important to us which country the contestants come from. It's more about the quality of singing and the performance,” she said.

The contest will begin in February in Southeast Asia, followed by East Asia in April and South Asia in August.

The contest is divided into two sections: a talent show in search of a star performer, and a song contest, to find an outstanding songwriter. For the final performance, songs written by songwriters who are not themselves singers will be given to skilled vocalists to perform.

According to the news release, the grand finale, scheduled for October next year will bring together the winning songwriter and singer from each region. The winners will be judged by a new panel of music professionals and via public votes throughout Asia .

Applications have been open since September 14; more people can apply by downloading the forms from www.sutasi.com. The closing date is November 1, but places are limited.

By MK. Vongsam-ang
Vientianetimes

Ms Tunee Lasasombath from Vientiane was crowned the winner of this year's Miss Apone Lao pageant on Saturday night, delighting her local fans.

The 18-year-old finalist received a crown worth 14 million kip, cash worth 30 million kip and other gifts after being named the winner...more info

In choosing the winner, the judging panel considered the attitude of the contestants, looking to see if they were true Lao women, how well they answered the questions put to them and how they had behaved in the run-up to the contest.

The 169-cm-tall Ms Tunee gave what the judges considered to be the best answers to the final question of what the ideal Miss Apone Lao winner should be - that real Lao women should be polite, well-behaved, but by no means weak.

“When they called my name, I kept asking myself whether this was really happening,” she told Vientiane Times yesterday.

“I was so happy just to be one of the 18 finalists, and this is just so much more than I had expected!”

“I plan to keep my crown, so that I can wear it on special occasions, and the money I've won will go towards my education,” she said.

The runner-up was Khoutthavon Akkhalath, 19, from Vientiane province, who received 15 million kip in cash, as well as a cash and other gifts.

Four finalists shared second place as runners-up - Manivan Phomsavath, 19, from Luang Prabang province, Souphavadee Phongsavanh, 18, from Savannakhet province, Anoulack Vongsoulee, 20, from Vientiane , and Sithameena Bouapha, 18, from Savannakhet province.

Ms Sithameena was also voted the most beautiful contestant by the local media, and received a separate prize worth 5 million kip.

Miss Souphavadee was voted by the public as the most beautiful contestant, with the highest number of votes received via SMS on a system set up by mobile phone company tigo.

Originally, 18 finalists were chosen to take part in Saturday's contest, but one of them, Ms Phoulatsamee Lattanavong, withdrew from the event.

Ms Tunee, as the 2007 Miss Apone Lao, will be considered a representative of Laos, and will act as an ambassador for Lao culture and traditions, both locally and internationally.

This is the largest beauty contest in the country, and the first that the government has been involved in.

The hosts, the Lao Women's Union and K&C Company Ltd, selected nine out of 350 Vientiane applicants for the final round. In Savannakhet and Champassak provinces, about 140 women applied and three from each province were selected to compete in the final. In Luang Prabang province, 55 women applied, and three were chosen.

The Lao Women's Union and K&C Company Ltd plan to hold this contest each year until 2010.

Source: vientianetimes newspaper via laosmile

Planeta.com announces the winner of the 2007 Ecotourism Spotlight Award: Ecotourism Laos funded by the Laos National Tourism Administration.

The award is announced in advance of World Tourism Day (September 27) as way of pointing out best practice in sustainable travel and ecotourism...more info

There were two other nominees for the Ecotourism Spotlight Award. Runners-up were Quito Visitors' Bureau and US Agency for International Development / FRAME Program.

LAOS
The original nomination for the Ecotourism Laos gave kudos to this " clearinghouse for just about every local tourism related business and ecotourism product in the country." Planeta.com readers agreed, casting the majority of votes for this nominee.

Supporters called attention to the ecotourism resources section with its maps, manuals and brochures.

ACCEPTANCE
Mr. Sounh Manivong, Director-General of the Lao National Tourism Administration's Department of Planning and Cooperation said, "We are very happy and proud to receive Planeta.com's Ecotourism Spotlight Award in recognition of the Lao Government's effort to promote sustainable ecotourism in the Lao PDR.."

Mr. Soun added, "I would like to extend a special thanks to the team responsible for creating and maintaining Ecotourism Laos and also thank Planeta.com for acknowledging the role government websites can play in promoting sustainable ecotourism products and services."

TESTIMONIALS
Comments from the voters:

The site focuses on the importance of including local communities and ethnic groups.

I liked the dos and don'ts!

This site makes it very easy to do research on ecotourism in Laos.

This site stresses the cultural diversity of the country and how travelers can visit in a responsible manner.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Nominations for the next Ecotourism Spotlight Award will be accepted at the start of 2008. Financial sponsorship is welcome in the development of this initiative.

KUDOS
Thanks in to everyone for assistance in developing this award. Special kudos to Green-travel, Travelmole, DestiNet, Tony Charter, Practical Environmentalist and StepUp Travel.


Q&A: ECOTOURISM SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Q - What is the objective of the Ecotourism Spotlight Award?
A - Simply put, we wanted to create an incentive for improved communication from government portals. This award allows us to highlight best practices and hopefully show other managers of government websites how to showcase operations striving toward sustainability and ecotourism.

Q - What is the origin of this award?
A - We suggested the award during the 2007 Communication and Sustainable Tourism E-Conference: "there could be an award for National Tourism Boards websites that illustrate a country's sustainable tourism practices. National tourism portals could be rated not only by what they have online, but also by how they participate in independent groups (ECOCLUB, green-travel, and Planeta) and whether or not they link to independent sites, including blogs (internet logbooks) and flickr galleries."

Q - Who voted?
A - Voting was open to the public. We asked that individuals review the finalists and make one vote in each category.

Q - What is story behind Planeta.com?
A - Planeta.com is an award-winning website that conducts seminars and features tips for all stakeholders about eco-friendly, people-friendly travel. Our fortee is linking environmental conservation and tourism, particularly the development of ecotourism which is highlighted in the popular Exploring Ecotourism Resource Guide.

Q - What other awards has Planeta.com created?
A - We have created two other awards. The Colibri Ecotourism Award was launched in 2000 and highlights the leaders developing ecotourism in Mexico. We also have established a 'readers' choice' award to select the book of the year.

Q - Can I link to the award from my blog/website?
A - Yes! Please add a link to the Ecotourism Spotlight Award page. You can use the logo.

Q - Why does this award spotlight government websites?
A - There are many tourism awards for individuals, places and operations. That said, there are no awards for government portals. If we want to create incentives for communication from government officials, an award is a sound place to start!

Source: http://www.planeta.com/planeta/07/0709spotlightaward.html

CITIZENS of Mongolia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic can now travel to each other’s country without a visa. This was among the decisions taken during the three-day visit by President Choummaly Sayasone to Mongolia.

The Lao President arrived in Ulaanbaatar on Monday. His visit marks 45 years of bilateral diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Laos.

The two countries signed cooperation protocols on education, culture, science, technology and sports. Side protocols on cooperation between the two countries’ Presidential Offices, foreign ministries and chambers of commerce were also signed.

Source: ubpost.mongolnews.mn

The Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, Pelochelys cantorii , a relatively rare aquatic turtle, is commonly found in the Xekong River in Attapeu and Xekong provinces, according to a press release from the Vientiane office of the World Wildlife Fund.
Villagers in this area were unaware of the endangered status of the turtle because it is still frequently observed throughout this basin and well-known to local people living along the river...more

The species is one of the world's largest turtles, and is said to be on the brink of extinction.

“In Vietnam and Thailand , the turtle is nearly extinct, but we are not sure of its status in Laos and Cambodia ,” said the WWF coordinator on species, habitat and ecosystems, Mr Mark Benuijen yesterday.

He said that although the species can breed at least twice a year and lays many eggs, both animals and humans like to eat the eggs, resulting in the turtle's rarity. “If you remove this hindrance to its reproduction, the species population will likely rebound rapidly,” he added.

The press adds that the rare species of soft-shelled turtle was recently also rediscovered in Cambodia , with the identification of an individual weighing 11kg.

Earlier in 2007, specimens of the turtles were found during the WWF's surveys of the Mekong River in northern Cambodia and attracted global media attention.

“This incredible discovery means that a unique turtle can be saved from disappearing from our planet,” said David Emmett, a Conservation International wildlife biologist from the WWF, at the time of the discovery in Cambodia .

“We thought it might be almost gone, but found it in abundance in this one pristine stretch of the Mekong , making the area the world's most important site for saving this particular species.”

Official sightings of this rare aquatic turtle had not been documented in Cambodia since 2003.

The WWF Aquatic Resources Management to Improve Rural Livelihoods in the Xekong Basin Project (ARL Xekong Basin Project) began using photos of the turtle and another soft-shelled species, the Asiatic Softshell Turtle or Amyda cartilaginea (thought to be more common), in discussions with local fishermen throughout the basin.

The results of these discussions were surprising and very encouraging. It was found that Pelochelys cantorii is well-known throughout the basin, and local communities consider it “almost as common” as Amyda cartilaginea .

The WWF's project team discussed specific sightings with local fishermen, and photographed a recently-captured specimen.

Local fishermen stated that both species are sometimes inadvertently captured on long-line hooks targeting fish.

Most turtle species in Laos are listed as “Managed Wild and Aquatic Species” under National Decree 360/2003 (“Management Regulations for Aquatic animals and Wildlife”) and the hunting of these species is closely regulated by law.

Despite this, both species of soft-shelled turtle, as well as most hard-shelled turtles, are highly threatened by local and international trade. There is a strong market demand for turtles caught by local fishermen.

The ARL Xekong Basin Project plans to continue to pursue issues related to soft-shelled turtles, with the help of local communities and management agencies.

This will include raising awareness among local communities about the unique and fragile nature of these species and the potential for community efforts to identify and protect important soft-shelled turtle habitats.

The project is currently working with 30 communities to manage and protect essential aquatic habitat types across the Xekong river basin in Laos.

WWF Laos is also working with local authorities to clarify institutional responsibility for enforcing regulations related to aquatic resource management, and supporting the Department of Livestock and Fisheries in the development of a legal framework for fisheries and aquatic resources management.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update September 14, 2007)

28 Laotian youth leaders and young professionals are chosen across Laos as delegates to the 2007 Ship for SouthEast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

The 28 Lao participating youth are part of a 300-member delegation from within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan...more info >>

The SSEAYP, an annual youth diplomatic cultural exchange program sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan, administered in the country by the National Youth Commission (NYC), and is participated in by delegations from Japan and the ASEAN countries, aims to “cultivate the spirit of Asian cooperation” through fostering and strengthening camaraderie and mutual understanding between and among the young people of Southeast Asia and Japan by providing 300 of them annually the opportunity to live together for around two months on board luxury sea vessel M/S Nippon Maru and visit the participating countries.

While on board the ship, the participants will have interactions through solid group activities, discussions, exhibits, cultural presentations and other activities. While on country visits, they will undertake various activities such as courtesy call, interaction with local youth, educational visits to relevant institutions, and home stay with local families.

The Lao delegation will join its counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan in Singapore on October 22 for the inauguration ceremony.

SSEAYP 2007 is scheduled to be held from 22 October to 12 December 2007. During this period, the ship will visit five of the ten ASEAN countries namely Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos (by air) and Japan

Members of the Lao Participating Youths (LPY) to this year’s SSEAYP include Tomm, member of Princess, famous group girl band.

SSEAYP started in January 1974 based on Joint Statements issued between Japan and the five ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985. Vietnam participated in the programme in 1996 while Laos and Myanmar participated in 1998. Cambodia joined the programme in 2000.

MORE PHOTOS OF LAO Participating youth this year at: http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=98894&p=3&topicID=13413226

http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

Woman Stores Tigers in FridgePolice found two frozen tigers in a fridge and two soup kettles filled with animal bones in an outdoor kitchen in Hanoi.

Police found two frozen tigers in a fridge and two soup kettles filled with animal bones in an outdoor kitchen in Hanoi, Vietnamese newspapers reported on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old woman confessed to police she hired three experts to cook tiger bones to make traditional medicines that she sold for about $800 per 100 grams. Police arrested the woman and the three cooks...more

The woman stored the tigers in a fridge inside her apartment and cooked outside the building in an area where people regularly gathered to eat porridge for breakfast.

Although Vietnam is party to a treaty to protect endangered species, animals and animal parts are still smuggled from neighbouring countries and around Vietnam for use as medicine.

"She has been doing this publicly for a long time," Tienphong (Vanguard) newspaper quoted a neighbour as saying. "The smell from the kitchen polluted the neighbourhood."

The two adult Indochinese tigers, weighing 250 kg and estimated to cost about $20,000 each, could have been bought from Myanmar or Laos, newspaper reports quoted officials as saying.

"The tigers could have been bought in Laos and transported back to Vietnam by ambulances or hidden in coffins," forest ranger Vuong Tri Hoa was quoted as saying by Nong Nghiep Vietnam (Agriculture Vietnam) newspaper.

Police also found four bear paws, ivory and various other wild animal parts in the woman's apartment on Tuesday, the reports said.

Last month, eight men were jailed for up to 11-½ years for poisoning a tiger in a zoo and selling it for $15,000 in southern Tien Giang province.

Vietnam signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, in 1994 and conservationists said only about 150 tigers survive in the wild in the Southeast Asian country.

Source: www.javno.com/en

A quiet spectacle occurs at dawn every day in Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos. Hundreds of saffron-robed monks file out from the city's monasteries seeking alms. In small groups throughout the streets of the historic old town, locals line up and kneel, heads bowed in silence. As the monks pass by, they place offerings such as rice and money in the monks' silver bowls and receive blessings for the coming day...more

It's a peaceful image at odds with the country's violent past. Years of war and poverty have left the landscape visibly fractured. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. dropped the equivalent of one planeload of bombs on the country every eight minutes in a futile effort to defeat the Vietcong. Because of this, Laos earned the dubious distinction of being the most heavily bombed nation in the history of warfare.

There's little evidence of that this quiet morning. After following the procession through the rising heat and dilapidated grace of the old town, I walk over to Laos's most revered temple, Wat Xieng Thong. After years of neglect, it's undergoing renovations. Young monks paint trim and polish pieces of what looks like broken glass on the outer wall of the main temple. I soon realize the coloured fragments are part of a large mosaic depicting a flame tree that is believed to have stood at this site before the temple was built in the 16th century.

I meet Samone, a 20-year-old monk relaxing in the shade of a tree. I make out a few tattoos underneath his robe as he explains that his years at the monastery are almost up. Out of economic necessity, many Lao send their sons to a monastery, where they can receive basic shelter, food, and education. Samone explains he's now ready to move to Vientiane, the capital, and enroll in university. He plans to study English and perhaps work as a tour guide, get married, and buy a new scooter. He's lucky–he has a sister in the U.S. who can provide some assistance. University is out of the question for most in a country for which the CIA's World Factbook estimates the annual per capita income at only about US$2,000.

On the edge of town, a short distance from the temple, is the outdoor Hmong market. The Hmong are one of many hill tribes scattered across Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, in an area known, because of its opium production, as the Golden Triangle. They are comparative newcomers to Laos, having arrived from southern China at the beginning of the 19th century, and they have long been met with suspicion. After the Vietnam War, the Hmong were severely persecuted by the Communist government for supporting the wrong side. Today, forced relocation and urbanization have scattered them as far as the United States.

They have an international reputation for their artistry, and many survive by selling crafts and textiles. After a few minutes of browsing, I find myself haggling with a girl about 10 years old. She looks sweet enough in a pink Hello Kitty T-shirt, but she's as tough as nails and knows her English numbers as well as any accountant. After negotiating like a seasoned pro, she gets her price: US$40 for a large aquamarine blanket embroidered with her tribe's trademark geometric patterns.

The next day, my wife and I hire a van to visit the Kuangsi waterfalls, about 30 kilometres outside the city. Our driver, Som Bat, turns out to be a monastery dropout. After a few years as a monk, he fell in love and left to get married and have a child.

The countryside around Luang Prabang varies dramatically depending on the time of year. During the dry season, from October to April, dust coats everything in a fine brown powder, but in the rainy season, from July to October, every shade of green leaps out from the fields and hills. Outside of the major cities, much of the country is unpopulated, and villages lack electricity. Nonurban roads remain largely undeveloped, and trains are nonexistent. Rice paddies and the odd temple are the only signs of habitation.

After a refreshing swim in the waterfalls, Som Bat suggests we visit a Hmong village. As we turn off the dusty main road into a dirt compound, we find a group of women grinding corn with a large swinging pestle and others gathered in the shade of their huts sewing bright designs on fabrics that they will sell in town. I'm welcomed by an older woman with a beatific smile that consists of one single tooth. She takes my hand and pulls me into a hut. Through the cloudy sunlight I make out a group of men sitting on the dirt floor. One reaches up and pulls on my hand for me to sit down. As I do, another offers me a water pipe. It's opium. Suddenly everything swims into focus: the men are stoned. I smile and turn back outside into the clear sunlight.

The Hmong's relationship with opium is well-known. Some rely on it for economic sustenance, selling it to drug smugglers who eventually transfer it to Bangkok and Hong Kong for overseas export. The Hmong's connection to the U.S. is a well-documented tale of manipulation and betrayal. During the war, the CIA exploited Hmong resentment toward the government and actively recruited an anti-Communist faction. In return, the Hmong were promised aid and an independent state. At the end of the war when the Communist Pathet Lao became the new government, promises were forgotten, and the Hmong have been treated with suspicion and derision ever since.

The next day we take a boat ride up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves. After a few hours, we arrive at the final resting place for thousands of Buddha statues. Rather than destroy the images, the Lao prefer to bury them or place them in sacred caves. As we climb the staircase, row after row of Buddhas–in differing sizes and styles–comes into view, their wide eyes staring out at us in a surreal welcome.

On our final night in Luang Prabang, we walk up Phousi Hill for a view of the sunset. The hill is the geographical and spiritual centre of the city; it also happens to be capped with a rusted anti-aircraft gun dating from the Vietnam era. A couple of young monks sit casually on the barrel as the sun dips below the horizon. The contrast is striking: in just a few hours they will likely be offering blessings, as life goes on peacefully, despite the country's shattered past.


ACCESS: When planning to visit Laos, it's best to avoid the rainy season, when roads are often washed-out. The best time to go is between November and February, when it's not rainy or too hot. It's easy to find clean, affordable accommodation in Luang Prabang. Try the Canadian-run Le Calao ( www.calaoinn.laopdr.com/) , a tastefully renovated 1904 building in the heart of the historical old town. Rooms start at US$60; ask for one with a balcony overlooking the Mekong River.

Direct flights to Luang Prabang leave regularly from Bangkok on several carriers, including Lao Airlines ( www.laoairlines.com/). There are also direct flights from Chiang Mai, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Source: www.straight.com

10 Budget Destinations Worldwide

With the euro reaching all-time highs against the U.S. dollar, sticker shock greets at every turn. Europe is now the land of the $15 sandwich.

Even Central and Eastern Europe are no longer the bargains they once were. Tourists have begun flocking to new hot spots such as Hungary and Croatia, and prices have risen accordingly. These days, to get the most bang for their bucks, budget travelers must venture farther afield, to places such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. The flight will be costlier, but once at the destination, there’s no shortage of exotic adventures—as well as comfortable beds—at discount rates.

ASIA

Bali: Tropical splendor on a shoestring.

A world apart from the unrest that sometimes grips other parts of Indonesia, Bali seduces visitors with its magnificent beaches, volcanic peaks and impossibly green rice paddies. The island, dotted with thousands of Hindu shrines and temples, is the stuff of escapist fantasies... more info >>

few dollars buys a lot of luxury here. Ten dollars to $20 affords a bunk in a simple guesthouse or an entire beach bungalow. Even Bali's most lavish resorts cost a fraction of what you'd pay in other beach destinations.

Laos: Tranquility off the beaten track.

Laos is one of the best bargains in Southeast Asia—and that's saying something, since most countries there are relatively cheap for travelers. Because tourism is only beginning to make inroads in Laos, visitors are not seen as mere revenue streams; locals extend a warm and genuine welcome.

Life moves at a languid pace in the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. French colonial architecture coexists with dozens of graceful Buddhist temples, and monks in brilliant orange robes stroll the streets. An inexpensive guesthouse is less than $20 a night, and open-air cafes along the river offer absurdly cheap French and Lao specialties.

Vietnam: A new era.

After decades of turmoil, Vietnam has finally achieved peace and stability. Today its fledgling market economy is revving up, and the country is welcoming an increasing number of Western visitors.

In the colorful and chaotic cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can rough it for a few dollars a day or get a comfortable room with air conditioning and hot showers for $30 a night.

In Halong Bay, you can kayak amid towering limestone formations; the city of Hue offers a wealth of ancient imperial sites. For tropical seclusion, head for Phu Quoc Island, where a simple beachfront bungalow costs $17 to $25.

India: Rajasthan, the land of princes.

India can be a challenging place to travel, but no other nation on earth offers such a thrilling mix of cultures, landscapes and spiritual possibilities. Adventurous travelers can get by on less than $20 a day — but even $40 to $50 a day will land some creature comforts and more elaborate meals.

First-time visitors might consider flying into sprawling, bustling Delhi before making a side trip to Agra's wondrous Taj Mahal. Then go off to tour the vast province of Rajasthan, with its outrageously ornate forts and palaces and jungles. In dusty-pink Jaipur, chaotic bazaars offer unbelievable deals on jewelry, pottery, fabrics and crafts. Another key stop is the city of Jodhpur, where the rooftops sport an intense shade of cobalt blue.

AFRICA

Zambia: Walk on the wild side.

An African safari doesn't have to involve forking over thousands of dollars to a U.S.-based tour operator. It's possible to book your safari after you arrive—cutting out the middleman and saving a wad of cash. You can even travel to the game parks independently.

South Luangwa National Park is a magnificent preserve, with leopards, elephants, zebras, giraffes and hippos roaming free. Just outside the park, budget chalets charge less than $40 a day—or less if for those willing to camp. Zambia is also home to another of Africa’s most stunning spectacles: Victoria Falls.

Tunisia: Move over, Morocco.

Morocco used to be North Africa's hub for backpackers, but prices are now on the rise as wealthy Europeans snap up vacation properties. Today it's Tunisia that beckons. It's a modern and secular society, where travel is surprisingly convenient.

Tunisia is a land of ornate mosques and Lawrence-of-Arabia desert landscapes. Bustling markets tout rugs, pottery and colorful crafts. Archaeological wonders await, from the ancient city of Carthage to glorious Roman ruins. After exploring the culture, basic rooms on a Mediterranean beach go for less than $15. For $50 a day, you'll sleep comfortably and eat well.

CENTRAL and SOUTH AMERICA

Honduras: Ecotourism on the cheap.

Costa Rica, which used to be one of the best-kept secrets in budget travel, is now home to luxury developments and thousands of tourists. Farther north, however, Honduras is still flying under most people's radar.

Like Costa Rica, this laid-back Central American nation offers a pristine rain forest that's alive with howler monkeys and multicolored birds. There is hiking, river rafting and impressive Maya ruins. The Bay Islands are home to world-class scuba diving and snorkeling. In fact, this is one of the cheapest and best places in the world for diving instruction.

Guatemala: Window into Mayan culture.

Guatemala combines natural splendor with a fascinating glimpse into Mayan culture, history and traditions. Antigua, the former capital city, is a cobblestoned gem full of colorful colonial architecture with lush volcanoes looming in the distance. The highland city of Chichicastenango is a don’t-miss, with its vast and colorful open-air market and the pristine blue waters of Lake Atitlán. But the highlight for most travelers is Tikal: The ruins of a once-great Mayan city.

Wherever you go, lots of simple bungalows and family-run inns host budget travelers for as little as $20 to $30 per night. In low-key local joints, you can dine for about $5.

Peru: Bargains from the Andes to the Amazon.

Peru offers some of the most rugged and diverse scenery in South America. Real shoestring travelers can get by on $25 a day, while $50 a day will put you up in mid-range hotels with style and character.

Cusco, a captivating colonial city high in the Andes, is best known as the jumping-off point for Machu Picchu. The city also has easy access to the remarkable ruins of Sacsayhuamán. If you plan on trekking to Machu Picchu, along the demanding—and sadly overcrowded—Inca Trail, you're now required to hire a guide, but you can also reach these haunting and majestic ruins via one of the most spectacular train rides on the continent.

Argentina: Still the best deal in South America.

Argentina has one of the few currencies that is faring even worse than the dollar. The result? An incredible steal for U.S. travelers, who are downright giddy with all the luxury within their reach.

Begin your trip in Buenos Aires, a city of grand boulevards and tango salons. The garden city of Mendoza makes a great base for touring the wine country or taking on a whitewater rafting challenge. Or fly to the ends of the earth to see the towering peaks and glaciers of Patagonia and stroll among the friendly penguin colonies at Punta Tombo.

—MSN.com

13 awarded scholarship from Indonesia

(KPL) 13 Lao officials will further their study in Indonesia after being awarded the scholarship from Indonesia’s government this week.

A farewell reception ceremony was held on 27 August by the Embassy of Indonesia to Laos for the government scholars, attended by Indonesian Ambassador Mr Sutjiptohardjo Donokusumo and other officials concerned.

“The grant is to help the Lao officials develop their skills and gain valued experiences and culture from Indonesian people. The scholarship is also to promote the friendship relations and co-operation between Laos and Indonesia,” said the ambassador.

The scholars will further their study at master degree at Indonesia’s universities in fields of Soil Science, Public Administration, Applied Physics, Educational Management and Physics Material.

Three of them will participate in a short-term training on Art and Dance, Art and Music and Language of Indonesia. “Indonesian government has started providing scholarships to Lao officials since 2001 and its provision has been increasing annually,” the ambassador added.

The scholars will fly to the Republic of Indonesia on September 1 and 14 this year.

Source: kpl

Laos to exempt VISA for Russian tourists

(KPL) Laos is to discard visa requirements for Russians who go to the Southeast Asian country for under 15 days from September 19. With the decision, Laos becomes the second country in Southeast Asia after Thailand to exempt visas for Russian travellers, the Russian news net said.

According to statistics from the Russian Tourism Agency, the number of Russian tourists arriving in Thailand and Viet Nam in 2006 doubled compared to that of the previous year, while the figure to France dropped by 20 percent and the UK 16 percent. The reduction was attributed to complicated visa procedures in these countries, the news net stressed.

Source: kpl.net.la

An Italian Reality Show Programme, Donnavventura , sent a caravan driving through Vientiane yesterday to promote Lao traditions, culture and tourism.

The caravan arrived in Vientiane last Sunday with four Mitsubishi Tritons, driven by six Italian models from Donnavventura , who are here to promote Lao tourism.



“ Donnavventura is a famous programme in Italy , so the caravan will promote our tourism resources in the country when it is broadcast overseas,” President of Mitsubishi Motors in Vientiane , Mr Thinnakone Thongkham, said at the caravan press conference yesterday in Vientiane...more info and photos here...

He added that those six women had been selected from 40,000 hopefuls in Italy for the Donnavventura caravan. “It was a great opportunity to promote our country in Europe ,” he said.



The caravan started at Vientiane tourism resources in the centre of the city, such as the Patouxay monument and the That Luang stupa, before moving on to the Lao National Tourism Administration. The Mitsubishi Motor Company in Vientiane organised a special baci ceremony to welcome them.



“We started the caravan in early July, driving through Malaysia , Thailand , Myanmar , then here to Laos . We will continue on through Vietnam , Cambodia , Singapore , Indonesia , the Philippines and Brunei , ending the trip around October,” the Donnavventura caravan team leader, Mr Maurizio Rossi, explained.




Today the caravan is heading to the north of Laos to visit Luang Prabang province, then stopping in Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces before driving into Vietnam .

“They will spend six days travelling in the north of Laos along road number 13, to record beautiful images of Laos for the reality show programme in Italy,” the Director General of the Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yong Chanthalangsy, said yesterday.





“We cooperated with the Lao National Tourism Administration to support the caravan because it will promote our tourism resources, especially making viewers aware that travelling in Laos is safe,” he explained.

BySouknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
More photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkj_pdr/

By: Diana Plater

The Australian, Irish and Welsh backpackers I met at the Hive bar in Luang Prabang, Laos, invited me 10 pin bowling.

It's not the sort of thing you'd expect to do in a UNESCO-protected town high up in the mountains of northern Laos.

But not surprisingly this town has few western night clubs or late night bars.
And the only place to drink late at night in town is at the bowling alley...more

But, by the time we'd had a few drinks of beer Lao, a deliciously spicy dinner at one of the many restaurants in town, then nightcaps of Lao Lao (or locally-made whiskey) with local Diet Coke (I'm not sure what was worse) we never got there.

I was lucky to find a tuk tuk driver to take me back to my hotel.

It was a fairly active night for what could be one of the most languid places I've ever been to.

It's almost as if time stands still in this French colonial town known more for its spirituality than bowling.

Even the Buddhist monks seem to move slower than normal.

And walking around town in 38 degree heat, I'm reminded that only mad dogs, Englishmen and then maybe tourists go out in the midday sun. It's so hot you can almost feel the air swallowing you. Everybody else seems to be lying inside or in the shade using as little energy as possible.

It's low season and local school holidays. They say Christmas time is better for visiting and can even get chilly at night.

I visit the 16th century Wat Xieng Thong, known as a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture with a tiered roof, glittering golden facades and richly coloured mural painting. It's a working temple and monks have hung their orange robes out to dry after doing their laundry.

I stop for an iced lemon tea and lunch at one of the riverside cafes overlooking the murky brown waters of the Mekong. The son of the restaurant owner is painting pictures of monks with pen and ink on saa paper made from the mulberry tree and its bark.

He tells me he's an art student. The town seems to be full of them, if you go by the number of art shops and galleries.

In the late afternoon, men play boule along the river front, on even the smallest patch of dirt.

In his book The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future (Allen and Unwin, 2006), former Australian diplomat Milton Osborne says the Mekong has ``always been a river for work, for travel and for fishing, and, not infrequently, for war''.

Luang Prabang was once known as Asia's sleeping beauty. The former capital of the ancient Lam Xang kingdom, with around 32 pagodas along with religious and historical monuments, was made a World Heritage town by UNESCO in 1995.

It has especially strong ties with Buddhism, being a traditional destination for novices and students of the faith.

Flying over the mountains on the way in, you can't imagine anybody living in such rugged land. This is the country where what became known as The Secret War was played out - US bombings including attacks on what came to be known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a North Vietnamese supply route through East Laos and the Cambodian-Vietnam border.

The Communist Pathet Lao took over in 1975; they've only opened the place to tourism in the past 10 years. Now, around 140,000 people or seven times the city's estimated population visit the place over a one-year period.

UNESCO's role is partly to try to support the town's growth within the framework of strict controls so the historic buildings are preserved.

Development must take into account ancient Laotian social, architectural and religious mores.

Buddhism is a force that underpins every aspect of life here.
Around 6am every day, hundreds of monks and novices attend the alms-giving ceremony, where locals give them sticky rice, fruit and sweets.

Tourists are asked not to be obtrusive.

The Pathet Lao forced the last king of Laos, Savang Vathana, to abdicate, snuffing out a 600-year-old monarchy. Twenty years later, Christopher Kremmer, an Australian foreign correspondent, tried unsuccessfully to crack the mystery behind the fate of the royals - as outlined in his book, Stalking the Elephant Kings: In Search of Laos.

The former Royal Palace is now a National Museum, which is worth visiting for its rooms that give a glimpse of what life was once like for the royals. There's an eclectic mix of exhibits, including gifts from other countries, among them a boomerang from Australia.

It's where the Pha Bang Buddha is kept, which gives the town its name.

It's said to be have been cast in Sri Lanka in the first century AD and twice stolen by the Thais. But, it has been back in Laos since the mid 19th century.

A beautiful exhibition known as The Quiet in the Land of Buddhism-inspired images, including photographs, was on display in an outer building.
Luang Prabang is now on the backpacker route. My new friends had made their way across country after doing an elephant trek near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand then crossed the border and came by boat up the river, taking two days to get there. Others come down the river from Vietnam.

And it's also a town with a growing number of more well-heeled visitors.

Many fly in to what is considered one of the most difficult airports to land in in South-East Asia.

The hotel where I'm staying, La Residence Phuo Voa, has a spa which overlooks the mountains with its own small swimming pool - lazing in it after a massage is like having a huge bath to yourself.

At night, staff place candles in the main swimming pool overlooked by the floodlit shrine on top of Mount Phou Si. The food at its Phou Vao restaurant is traditional Laotian cuisine alongside European dishes with local influences.

The walk up Mount Phou Si from the town gives spectacular views and is popular at sunrise and sunset.

Apart from exploring the town and its wonderfully photogenic architecture and temples, shops and galleries there's also the night markets full of traditional clothes, woven cloth, scarfs, jewellery and souvenirs.

The only two relatively close excursions out of town are the Pak Ou caves and the Kuang si waterfall. Many agencies run half-day tours. But then there's also bowling.

IF YOU GO:
La Residence Phou Vao is from $141 per room per night for a garden view room.
To book/query call Orient-Express Hotels (02) 8248-5200 or email: charlie.turnbullorient-express.com
Also visit www.residencephouvao.com.
Bangkok Airways flies daily and sometimes twice daily between Bangkok and Luang Prabang. Details: visit www.bangkokair.com
Qantas flies to Bangkok. Visit www.qantas.com.

Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private museum in Luang Prabang.

Ethnology (ຊາດພັນວິທະຍາ)museum opens in Luang Prabang

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre has opened its doors in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

A private museum, the Centre features exhibits of ethnic artefacts, a museum shop and the Patio Cafe.

The official opening, held on July 5, was attended by Kongchanh Khammavong, chairman of the Lao National Front for Construction, Luang Prabang province, William Booth, managing director of Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company, and more than 100 business people, government officials, and tour company representatives.

The response from visitors to the new cultural attraction has been very positive.....more

"I am going to tell the Governor about the Centre and he will need to visit soon - this is a very good initiative," said Khammavong.

"Many tourists are interested in learning more about ethnic groups and the exhibits are very professional and well-lit," added Caroline Gaylard of Tamarind Restaurant.

The centre showcases ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information provided both in English and Lao.

The museum shop sells books, photos and handicrafts directly from ethnic communities.

The Patio Cafe, run by L'Elephant Restaurant, serves food and drinks with a view of That Chomsi. Guided tours and seminars are available on request.

Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, co-director of TAEC explains, "Our objective is to help locals and visitors learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos. We also want to provide a new and interesting learning experience."

Funds from entry fees, donations, and services go to the running of the Centre and developing activities that promote cultural diversity and preservation.

The Centre is the brainchild of Tara Gujadhur and Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, the founders and co-directors.

Gujadhur is an American who worked as an adviser to the Luang Prabang Tourism Office for 3 years before starting this project.

Soutthivilay has been working at the Luang Prabang National Museum for more than six years, and is currently the collection manager. The two began work on TAEC over one year ago, finding and renovating a heritage building, researching and working with ethnic communities, and building a collection.

They hope that the Centre will be a resource for anyone wanting to appreciate and preserve the cultural diversity of Laos.

For more information write to the Centre at Ban Khamyong, Luang Prabang, telephone or fax (+ 856) 71 253 364, e-mail: information@taeclaos.org or visit www.taeclaos.org.

Source: nationmultimedia.com

London - 21 June 2007- Winners of the 2007 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy were tonight announced following an awards ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London addressed by former US Vice President Al Gore.

“No-one can attend an event like the Ashden Awards and fail to be inspired… we must find a path from an unsustainable present to a sustainable future. What impresses me most about these projects is they truly are becoming the change that’s needed in the world. These awards tell us how to illuminate the path to a sustainable future together. I hope that we can make it quickly.”... more info

Five international awards were given in recognition of the way in which sustainable energy has been used to improve access to Light and Power, to Food, to Education and Welfare, to promote Enterprise and to address the challenges of lack of access to essential energy resources in Africa.

An Outstanding Achievement Award was also awarded to a past winner whose work has accelerated and made a significant contribution to the spread of sustainable energy solutions since winning an Ashden Award.

4 UK awards were also awarded to pioneering approaches to sustainable energy use across the UK.

Sarah Butler-Sloss, Executive Chair and chair of the judging panel said: "Our winners show how sustainable energy can improve health, education and livelihoods and at the same time reduce carbon emissions. If these technologies were expanded and replicated on a large scale, they would play a significant role in helping us to tackle climate change and poverty. What we need now is the political will to scale-up and roll-out these solutions"

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Patron of the Ashden Awards personally congratulated all the winners in a separate private ceremony. A Clarence House spokesperson said of the meeting:

"The Prince of Wales was highly impressed by the diverse range of outstanding sustainable energy solutions from the UK and across the globe. His Royal Highness was particularly encouraged by the fact that these pioneering initiatives offer practical, simple and economical solutions that others can easily follow"

International winners:
CHINA: Beijing Shenzhou Daxu Bio-energy Technology Company Ltd (Daxu) wins the Enterprise Award (£30,000) for developing and marketing an innovative stove design that replaces coal by burning widely available crop waste as well as burning wood much more efficiently.
Full summary

INDIA: BIOTECH wins the Food Security Award (£30,000) for developing and installing biogas plants in Kerala that use food waste which is often left out in the streets to rot, to generate gas for cooking.
Full summary

LAOS: Sunlabob Renewable Energies Ltd wins the Light and Power Award (£30,000), sponsored by Climate Care, for developing an innovative and commercially viable business model which provides high quality solar PV systems to the rural poor at a price they can afford.
Full summary

BANGLADESH: Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha wins the Education and Welfare Award (£30,000) for building up a fleet of 88 boats that use solar energy to bring education, training and renewable energy supplies to over 400,000 people living in the remote Chalanbeel region of Bangladesh.
Full summary

TANZANIA: Zara Solar Ltd. wins the Africa Award (£30,000) for providing high-quality, reliable solar-home-systems at affordable prices to communities lacking access to a reliable source of energy.
Full summary

INDIA: Harish Hande from SELCO wins the Outstanding Achievement Award (£15,000) for, in the words of the judges, "the way in which this visionary individual has demonstrated beyond doubt that it is possible to run a renewable energy business which is both a striking commercial success, and which lifts people out of poverty, too." SELCO is a private business committed to providing the highest quality solar energy services to poor people on financial terms they can afford.
Full summary

International second prize winners
NEPAL: Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal takes second prize for the Enterprise Award (£10,000) for upgrading over 2,400 traditional water mills in the Himalayas of Nepal and so improving livelihoods for millers and mill-users and stemming the rise in diesel mills.
Full summary

INDIA: SKG Sangha takes second prize for the Food Security Award (£10,000) for improving the lives of rural communities in Karnataka, South India by supplying them with both dung based biogas plants for cooking and a specially designed unit that turns the slurry from the biogas plant into high quality fertiliser.
Full summary

PERU: Practical Action/ITDG takes second prize for the Light and Power Award (£10,000) for transforming the lives of over 30,000 people living in remote villages in the Andes by providing them with electricity generated by micro-hydro plants.
Full summary

PHILIPPINES: Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. takes second prize for the Education and Welfare Award (£10,000) for developing a ram pump design built to last at least twenty years and for bringing clean water to over 15,000 people through the installation of these ram pumps in 68 hillside villages in the Philippines.
Full summary

GHANA: Deng Ltd takes second prize for the African Award (£10,000) for developing a viable and sustainable business for the provision of solar-home-systems to rural areas where access to grid supply is limited.
Full summary

The Ashden Awards Business Support and Dissemination Programme sponsored by British Gas was also launched at tonight's ceremony. This provides award winners with advice or training in business and human resource development as well as a range of other support to help them reach their full potential.

Notes to editors

For further information, interviews contact Maya Vaughan Tel. 020 7263 2551 or Mobile: 07726926227 E: maya.vaughan@ashdenawards.org

Download photos of the Award ceremony

Download photos with HRH Prince of Wales

Download photos of the international projects

For information on the UK Ashden Award winners, click here.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy – now in its 7th year – exists to both highlight and reward exemplary and successful examples of sustainable energy use both in the UK and the developing world.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy were created in 2001 by the Ashden Trust. The 2006 Awards are funded by nine Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts along with the John Ellerman Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust and Climate Care.

source: uk.oneworld.net/

France help Laos to prepare for francophonie ministerial meeting
(KPL) A French Development Agency (AFD) of France provided recently a grant aid worth 300,000 Euro or US$ 390,000 to the Lao PDR. This grant fund will be used for the installation of the light system in some important places and buildings in the Vientiane Capital.

The installation of light system in Vientiane is a part of the preparation for hosting the Francophonie Ministerial Meeting which is expected to be held in Vientiane on 19-21 November 2007. This is a final preparing meeting before the francophonie summit will be opened in Paris.

The hosting of this francophonie ministerial meeting is reflecting to the co-operation of Laos to the francophonie affairs.

A representatives from more than 60 countries worldwide are invited to take part at this meeting.

The assistance of France is considered as a big contribution for improving the Vientiane Capital.

The signing ceremony for the grant aid was held on 31 May at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Mr. Hiem Phommachanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Ambassador to Laos.

Source: kpl.net.la

The stage of searching the most talented young Lao youth across the country for the title of i-mobile Star challenge 2007 has finally come to an end last Sunday night 20th, May 2007. From the 12 semi-finalists, 5 were selected to be the models to present i-mobile product in Laos. Why they decided and what inspired them to join this contest? Follow us to find the answer, click for more details... ( Lao version)

ໜຸ່ມສາວລາວກັາສະແດງອອກເທິງເວທີການປະກວດ

ຊາວຫນຸ່ມ-ເຍົາວະຊົນ ທີ່ ສະຫມັກເຂົ້າຮ່ວມການປະກວດ ເພື່ອສະແດງອອກ ເຖິງຄວາມສາ ມາດຂອງຕົນ ທີ່ມີລັກສະນະທັນ ສະໄຫມຕາມຍຸກສະໄຫມໃຫມ່, ບໍ່ແມ່ນເລື່ອງໄຮ້ສາລະດັ່ງທີ່ຜູ້ ໃຫຍ່ ບາງຄົນເຂົ້າໃຈ. ຫນຸ່ມ-ສາວ ທີ່ ຜ່ານເວທີການແຂ່ງຂັນ “ໄອໂມ ບາຍ ສະຕາ ຊາເລັນ 2007 Imobile Star Challenge 2007 ”ເມື່ອ ຄ່ຳ ວັນທີ 20 ພຶດສະພາຜ່ານມາ ທີ່ ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ໄດ້ພິສູດ ໃຫ້ເຫັນແລ້ວວ່າ ປະສົບການທີ່ໄດ້ ຈາກຄວາມກ້າທີ່ຈະເຮັດຕາມ ຄວາມຝັນມີຄ່າຫລາຍກວ່າ ທີ່ຄົນ ຈະເບິ່ງເຫັນ ເຊິ່ງ ພວກເຂົາທັງ 5 ຄົນ ໄດ້ເລົ່າປະສົບການທີ່ປະທັບໃຈ ແລະ ຫນ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນໃຫ້ຟັງວ່າ: “ເຫັນ ແລະໄດ້ຍິນໂຄສະນາກ່ຽວກັບ ການແຂ່ງຂັນນີ້, (ທ້າວ ວິທະຍາ) ຮູ້ ສຶກຢາກມາເຂົ້າປະກວດ ແຕ່ໃນໃຈ ກໍບໍ່ກ້າ ຄິດວ່າຄວາມສາມາດບໍ່ ເຖິງ, ສ່ວນ (ທ. ໂຕໂຕ) ຢາກຫາປະ ສົບການ, ເອົາຊະນະຄວາມອາຍ ທີ່ມີໃນຕົວ ຈຶ່ງເຂົ້າມາສະຫມັກ; (ນ້ອງຟ້າ) ເຖິງຈະເປັນຄົນຕ່າງ ແຂວງ ກໍບໍ່ໄດ້ຄິດວ່າຈະເສຍປຽບ ຫລື ໄດ້ປຽບຜູ້ໃດ ຖ້າເຮົາມີຄວາມ ສາມາດ ແລະ ຫມັ້ນໃຈຢູ່ແລ້ວ ສ່ວນ ນ້ອງຕ່າຍ ແລະ ວີວີ ກໍໄຝ່ຝັນຢາກ ເດີນຕາມເສັ້ນທາງບັນເທີງນີ້ ທີ່ສຳ ຄັນ ຈະໄດ້ພົບ ແລະ ຮຽນຮູ້ຈາກຄູ ຝຶກສອນ ທີ່ມາກດ້ວຍປະສົບການ ຈິງ”.

ກ່ອນຮອບຮອງຊະນະເລີດຈະ ມີຂຶ້ນ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຜ່ານເຂົ້າຮອບຈາກທົ່ວ ປະເທດ 20 ຄົນ ຕ່າງກໍໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ກິດຈະກຳເກັບຕົວກັບ ໄອ ໂມບາຍ ເຊັ່ນ ຝຶກຝົນການເຕັ້ນ , ການຮ້ອງ ເພງ, ຝຶກທັກສະການສະແດງ, ການພັດທະນາບຸກຄະລິກ ຈາກຄູ ສອນທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງ ໃນວົງການບັນ ເທີງໄທ. ກ່ອນຮອບຊີງຊະນະເລີດ ຈະມີຂຶ້ນ, ຜູ້ເຂົ້າຮອບທີ່ຄັດໄດ້ 12 ຄົນກໍໄດ້ຮ່ວມກິດຈະກຳຢູ່ແຂວງ ຕ່າງໆ ຂອງລາວເຊັ່ນ: ຕັກບາດ, ຂີ່ລົດຖີບຢູ່ແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ, ຊົມຄອນເສີດຈາກສິລະປິນລາວ-ໄທ, ທ່ຽວແຂວງຈຳປາສັກ...
ພວກເຂົາເລົ່າຕໍ່ວ່າ: “ສິ່ງທີ່ໄດ້ ຈາກການປະກວດຄືຄວາມຫມັ້ນ ໃຈໃນສິ່ງທີ່ຖືກຕ້ອງມີສູງຂຶ້ນ, ໄດ້ ມິດຕະພາບ, ໄດ້ຄວາມຮູ້ທີ່ແປກ ແລະ ຫລາຍກວ່າທີ່ໄດ້ຕັ້ງໃຈໄວ້.

ໃນຖານະເປັນຊາວຫນຸ່ມລາວ ແລະ ໄດ້ມາເຖິງຈຸດນີ້ແລ້ວ, ພວກ ເຮົາພ້ອມຈະເປັນແບບຢ່າງ ທີ່ດີທີ່ ສຸດຕໍ່ສັງຄົມ, ຈະໃຊ້ເວລາວ່າງໃຫ້ ເປັນປະໂຫຍດບໍ່ມົ້ວສຸມນຳສິ່ງມົວ ເມົາ ກິນຫລິ້ນຟຸ່ມເຟືອຍ, ຕັ້ງໃຈ ຮຽນ ເຊື່ອຟັງພໍ່ແມ່ ແລະ ກໍຢາກໃຫ້ ໄວຫນຸ່ມປະຕິບັດຕົວດີ ເປັນລູກທີ່ດີ ຂອງພໍ່ແມ່ເຊັ່ນກັນ.

ເວທີການປະກວດນີ້ ເປັນເວທີ ທີ່ສຳຄັນໄດ້ເປີດໂອກາດໃຫ້ພວກ ເຮົາໄດ້ສະແດງຄວາມສາມາດ ຄວາມກ້າ ຄວາມຝັນຂອງຄົນ ຫນຸ່ມ, ບໍ່ວ່າເວທີໃດກໍ່ຕາມ ທີ່ບໍ່ ສ້າງຄວາມຫາຍະນະໃຫ້ຕົນເອງ ແລະສັງຄົມ, ຢາກໃຫ້ຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ ຫລື ຜູ້ປົກຄອງ ໄດ້ເຂົ້າໃຈ ແລະ ໃຫ້ໂອ ກາດພວກເຮົາໄດ້ສະແດງຄວາມ ນຶກຄິດທີ່ຝັງເລິກໆໃນຈິດໃຈ ແລະ ໃຫ້ກຳລັງໃຈພວກເຮົາດ້ວຍ”.

ໂຄງການປະກວດ “I mobile Star Challenge 2007” ຖືເປັນ ເທື່ອທຳອິດທີ່ ທາງບໍລິສັດ ສາມາດ ໄອ ໂມບາຍ ຈຳກັດ ມະຫາຊົນ ຈັດ ຂຶ້ນເພື່ອໃຫ້ເຍົາວະຊົນຊາວຫນຸ່ມ ລາວໄດ້ສະແດງອອກເຖິງຄວາມ ສາມາດທີ່ຖືກຕ້ອງ ແລະ ເປັນການ ແນະນຳຕົວ ຂອງບໍລິສັດ ເຊິ່ງຝ່າຍ ຜູ້ຈັດ ກໍບອກວ່າ ໂຄງການແບບນີ້ ຈະຈັດຂຶ້ນເປັນທຳນຽມແຕ່ລະປີ. ສຳລັບ ຫນຸ່ມ-ສາວ ທີ່ຊະນະ ການປະກວດ ນອກຈາກຈະໄດ້ ຮ່ວມງານກັບ ໄອ ໂມບາຍຢູ່ລາວ ແລະໄທ, ກໍຍັງຈະມີກິດຈະກຳຕໍ່ ເນື່ອງທີ່ສູນຈະກຽມຊຸກຍູ້ອີກດ້ວຍ.

More of their photos from the contest, click here

source: kpl.net