Christmas Day

It’s Christmas Day!

With clear blue skies and perfect temperatures, we head out of Vientiane for a day at Ang Nam Ngum, a vast artificial lake created when the Nam Ngum River was dammed. Heading north on #10 Highway we enjoy the scenery, particularly the vibrant green of the newly seeded rice paddies, against the dry reddish-brown colour of surrounding paddy fields harvested in November.

As we drive we share the similarities and differences of North American and Lao culture. The private, independent lifestyle of western culture compared to the shared interconnected lifestyle of Lao culture is the most striking difference. There are similarities but we struggle to put words to our similarities.

After the flat paddy lands, we cross the small mountain range surrounding Ang Nam Ngum and suddenly before us is an amazing view of the lake dotted with many picturesque little islands.

With our picnic lunch and the addition of a fresh fish, we embark on a boat for a cruise on the lake. For lunch we stop at an island. The boat driver helps us start a fire and soon our fresh fish is speared with a stick and grilling nicely over the fire. As the fish grills to perfection, we lay out a garbage bag for our “table” on the rocky shore and position logs for our seating. The makings for egg sandwiches; tomato goat cheese pie; and noodles, greens and a delicious sauce for making fish “wraps” is our Christmas lunch. It’s delicious!!

Time passes quickly and after a few rounds of UNO, we return to the boat for our trip back to the mainland. As a gentle breeze blows through the boat, we relax and enjoy the ride.

Back on the mainland, we decide to return to Vientiane via an alternate route. This route takes us close to relatives of Pheng and so we begin the quest for his relatives. With only the name of his uncle and the name of his uncle’s village, we stop repeatedly to ask for directions, each person guiding us a little closer to his relatives. Amazingly enough in the end, we find the lane that leads to his uncle’s house and stop for a quick visit.

The sun sets across the rice paddy fields, as we load into the car and head for Vientiane. As darkness falls and silence fills the car, the suggestion is made to sing “Silent Night”. As we make our way to Vientiane, we continue to sing together the well-known Christmas carols we have all grown up with in North America, as well as Lao Christmas songs. Along the way we also enjoy the colourful lights put up in preparation for New Year’s.

Friends, food and fun make this too a special Christmas day.