Lao
Publications
From: C, US
-
Are there any Laotian publications I can buy?
Reply:
Unfortunately,
we do not have a list of cities that have Lao communities offering
publications such as magazines or newspapers. However it is important
to note that if you have a large Lao community population then they
probably have their own publication.
Lao Vision magazine,
produced in the US, is still active though I am not sure if they
are still creating/distributing since according to their own website
they are not accepting any more subscriptions. Visiting Muong Lao
magazine, produced in Laos, is still offering subscriptions to their
magazine however it comes at a high cost. There are numerous Lao/US
newspapers especially in California, Minnesota, Texas, and in France
and Australia. The only thing I can suggest is to seek them out,
that is, visit your local Lao association.
Saa Paper
From: O, US
- What is saa paper?
Reply:
Saa paper is
made from the mulberry tree and its bark. Like many things made
in Laos, it is made by hand and labor intensive. The pulp is pound
by hand with a hammer. And using a screen frame that drains the
water but leaves the pulp on the surface, creates the single sheet
of paper - again done by hand. It is then left to dry naturally
outside. Hemp fibers have also been known to be used as paper however
only minimally in Laos.
Generally Lao
paper makers sell their modest but well known production to craft
makers both in Laos and Thailand.
Malaria &
Mosquitoes
From: UK
- Is it true I might still get malaria from mosquitoes if I go to
Laos?
Reply:
When you go to
any tropical weather region, there is always the warning of mosquito-born
malaria. It's a safe bet that your doctor will recommend preventative
medical shots prior to visiting Laos (or Asia in general). These days
you can even buy anti-malarial pills for travelers. Laos' weather
conditions are conducive to the mosquito's habitat. Therefore it is
recommended that you bring bug spray or lotion and plenty of it in
addition to anti-itch ointments. Additionally many choose to sleep
with the bug net completely covering the area of their bed. People
often recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and pants but in the hot
weather of Laos I don't think anyone truly 'always' follows this rule.
In defence of
mosquitoes, as much as I personally dislike them, here are some good
things about them that many people don't know:
- not all mosquitoes
are bloodsuckers, some consume nectar from plants
- only females do the bloodsucking to obtain protein for their offspring
- many nectar drinking mosquito larvae consume bloodsucking larvae
- mosquitoes serve as food to numerous animals including many birds
and fishes
