~ SEP 15 2001

Reply:

At the time of this writing, there is only one magazine that I know of that is exclusively on Laos and on travel within Laos. It's called Discover Laos and is published in Laos by the Lao government. It is essentially its tourism magazine. It sells for a couple of thousand kip or you may be able to get it for free.

To my knowledge it is not distributed abroad unfortunately. The magazine's primary purpose is to promote travel/tourism within the country so it has a lot of info and nice pictures (it is also written in English as well, although the English can use better editing).

A suggestion: If you are not in Laos, many larger bookstores or magazine stands are willing to source a magazine for you if you request it. You can always try that.

Reply:

The main parts of the Lao wedding process include:

1) After the couple have dated for a number of years they approach their parents to inform them of their intentions.
2) The parents (and some relatives) on both sides come together to discuss the matter. It's more of a symbolic gesture to have the elders involved.
3) If they have agreed to allow the wedding, a date is chosen and specifics are determined (including money). Generally speaking, it is the male/groom (and/or his family) who must cover the costs of the wedding and pay a dowry towards the bride's family.
4) The ceremony, called 'sukwan' or 'baci' is performed which is presided by a Buddhist monk or community elder. Both the bride and groom are fully dressed in traditional Lao wedding attire. Similarily, others who are present are also formally dressed for the occassion. Additionally, blessings for a long and prosperous life and marriage are done.
5) The celebratory party then takes place with lots of singing, dancing ('Lam-vong' the traditional dance), and food, etc.

Reply:

There isn't a great deal of study on Lao health accept a few old articles and research papers done by the UN (which you can try to search for in the library or at the UN website). In books about Lao people there are sections on "Lao Food" or "The Lao Diet" but no major definitive research.

Generally speaking Lao people have a very diverse and healthy diet. Lao people (living in Laos) generally have healthier food habits than, for example, Westerners. Lao diets include mostly food that is made with fresh ingredients. There's very little oil used and they consume a lot of rice and vegetables. Obesity in Laos is somewhat rare as well, whereas in the US it is widespread.

However younger people, in particular children, are subject to moderate malnutrition because of their lack of vitamin and mineral intake. But in the West, children's diet's are supplemented with such items.

Some of the food ingredients that you mentioned: "...soy souce, fish sauce. oyster sauce, shrimp paste, MSG, and the thick fermented fish sauce [ba'dek]..." I would say are ok. Lao cooking in general doesn't have a great deal of MSG (again it depends on your family and how often they use it). On the issue of MSG, I wrote an Advice Column response to someone who asked about that. I entitled it "The Low Down on MSG" which you can find in the Advice Column Archive section. In it I describe that MSG is not all totally bad as some have come to believe. In fact MSG is quite natural and occurs in many foods naturally. Additionally, many Western foods especially packaged food contains MSG whereas many Asian food exporters, responding to the foreign demand to not have MSG, have removed MSG as an ingredient.

The nutritional value of the ones you mentioned are negligable just as salt or sugar is to our diet. Those items you mentioned are merely condiments or additions for taste - nothing more. On the issue of food, I can only say that moderation and variety must be stressed. If you use too much of one ingredient or eat too much of a particular food, then health problems are bound to occur.