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| When we went to Luang Prabang I was hoping to find someone to help take me to the Hmong village of Ban Phu Leuy. I knew a tuk tuk driver from last summer, Mr. Khampan, who took me to this Liu village to meet his brother who worked for the district office and worked closely with Hmong villages, including Ban Phu Leuy. This village, Ban Khon Kham is located along side the Nam Ou river. It is in a picturesque setting on the opposite side from the paved road that parallels the Nam Ou. Here Mr. Khampan's uncle is leading a meeting where villagers are discussing whether they want to move their village to the opposite side alongside the paved road. A multifaceted issue with no easy solutions. | The top photo shows the village of Ban Khon Kham on the opposite side of the Nam Ou river from where we parked the tuk tuk. We had to cross the river by ferry (this is one of the issues, during the rainy season the river can run quite high and can cut off the villagers to quick access to Luang Prabang and its markets by the paved road) and on the other side I saw the boat in the bottom photo moored along the banks. It was a beautiful setting. | Another one of my favorite shots. There was a calmness to this young Liu woman and her gaze I continue to be intrigued by. | |
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| There was an incredible friendliness to this village. I especially realized this after visiting Akha and Mienh villages in Muang Sing that are more on a tourist track where the villagers are more 'defensive.' I wish I had gotten a closeup of this woman's baby too. He/she? almost doesn't look real. | In Laos the boundaries of one's home are so permeable and preparing food is not limited to one's 'kitchen.' What is she thinking about this falang taking her picture? |
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| I would like to learn more about the weaving process I observed as we walked around the village.This 'cotton bow' is used for? | Here the seeds are separated from the cotton. | This woman is rolling the cotton after the seeds have been separated. | |
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| Here she is pulling the cotton apart to... | This is the same young woman I photographed above taking the rolled cotton and ... | This young woman is weaving the... | |
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| I need to do some research or have someone give me some insight into what this device is used for. I would like to be able to explain better the whole process these woman are using to create their cloth. | Now I know where the indigo blue dye comes from. I wish I knew the kind of wood they were using for this dye | Look how long this yarn is! |
