Lao people open their arms to visitors wishing to participate in the mix of religious rituals and water-based jousting during the three-day Lao New Year from April 14-16. However, the nation comes to a standstill days before “Pii Mai” (New Year) as families hop busses to their home villages, and though transportation may be tight, journeys to more distant provinces are well worth the effort.
Pii Mai begins with a traditional housecleaning and preparing food for religious celebrations. Families visit shrines to pay homage to Buddha and their ancestors, cleanse Buddha statues, sprinkle lustral waters on elders’ hand, and build small sand stupas on riverbanks, each grain representing a sin to be washed away.
The well-publicized “Water Wars” are rather subtle, but count on several dousings and talcum-paste facial smears. Feel free to join in, as fun-inspired soakings during the year’s hottest days can be quite welcome. Tips: dress down, get a good water pistol, never get angry, carry everything in plastic bags and wish everyone, “Sabaidee Pii Mai”…Happy New Year! |
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Laos will be presenting a range of public-private partnership (PPP) and private investment opportunities at the Mekong Tourism Forum on May 7-8 in Siem Reap, to seek private-sector investors in the country’s many publicly-funded tourism projects.
The Asian Development Bank-Lao National Tourism Authority’s GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project plans to present at least 10 private-sector opportunities - such as restaurants, eco-lodges, canopy walks and other tourism products - at tourism sites that include provincial welcome centers, waterfalls, hot springs and other key attractions.
For more information, contact Rik Ponne: [email protected] |
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Planteta.com is organizing the second annual Responsible Tourism Week from May 17-21 to “create incentives for continuity” and document the challenges and successes of developing responsible tourism. This live Web 2.0 demonstration will be using Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube to connect participants from around the world.
For more information, visit www.planeta.com |
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Tiger Trail Outdoor Adventures recently launched the Fair Trek Culture Lodge in Luang Prabang Province’s Ban Nalung to benefit the community through tourism activities and programs. The two-day visit includes trekking three hours through rice paddies to the village, staying overnight in the Culture Lodge, participating in village activities and craft-making, dining on local food and chatting with the village chief and female village head.
For more information, click here. |
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