you know you're in Lao when you see...

[1] this Lao People's Democratic Republic entry stamp with stars - any country that bothers adding the word 'democratic' to its name is usually communist ;)
[2] a different style of Buddha images with super-elongated earlobes (Wat Sing Jai, Muang Sing)
[3] Laotel's ubiquitous M Phone & We Fly adverts, & a sign in Vietnamese as reminder of proximity to Dien Bien Phu (Udomxai)
[4] dried river moss with garlic & sesame seeds, to be eaten with buffalo skin paste (Pak Mong)
[5] signs in French (Phongsaly)
[6] motor insurance in the form of paper 'charms' drawn by monks (Nong Khiaw-Luang Prabang bus)
[7] and white strings tied around the steering wheel in basii ceremonies to bless the vehicle (Nong Khiaw-Luang Prabang bus)
[8] monks & novices drumming & clashing cymbals at 4PM at temples across Luang Prabang (Wat Phra Mahathat)
[9] snake-like characters that look similar to but don't exist in the modern Thai alphabet



[1] UN 4WD vehicles - why are they almost always white? (Luang Prabang)
[2] projects to replace opium poppy cultivation (Phongsaly)
[3] this multi-layered style of temple roof design (Ho Prabang, Luang Prabang)
[4] this little green English-Lao dictionary (Luang Prabang)
[5] as many Theravada novice monks as tourists (Wat Mai Suvannaphumaham, Luang Prabang)
[6] even more Laotel M Phone & We Fly adverts (Phongsaly)
[7] these two flags (Udomxai)
[8] wordings like 'Organisation of the People Prosecutor Provincial' on signs at ministry buildings (Phongsaly)
[9] more baguettes than you've ever seen in a Delifrance outlet (Luang Prabang)



[1] propaganda signs where hilltribe people are represented - Akha lady at bottom right corner (Phongsaly)
[2] bright yellow crates of Beer Lao (Sainyabuli province)
[3] ladies of all ages wearing sinh (skirts) with beautiful 'tin chok' at the hems (Luang Prabang)
[4] UN agency & NGO offices in all province capitals (Luang Prabang)
[5] offerings of sticky rice & flowers on vehicles (Luang Prabang)
[6] the daily 'orange tide' of monks & novices collecting alms at dawn (Luang Prabang)



[1] this New Interchange English textbook full of Lao scribblings (Lovanh College, Luang Prabang)
[2] this style of stupa (Wat Sing Jai, Muang Sing)
[3] these methods of carrying stacks of kip (Luang Namtha)
[4] ladies wearing sinh(Luang Prabang)
[5] this flag & e 3 elephant head symbol (Luang Prabang)
[6] bomb casings recycled as greeting signs, pig troughs, flower pots, etc (Pak Beng)
[7] e ubiquitous Kaysone monument (Phongsaly)
[8] UNESCO conservation project signs in French (Luang Prabang)
[10] school girls wearing black or blue sinh (Luang Prabang)
[11] bomb casings made into temple bells (Muang Khua)
[12] AIDS & HIV awareness posters in guesthouses (Luang Namtha)