You know probably 20 years ago I was roaming the backroads of the Mt Hood National Forest and I ran into a strange village of Laotian people who made a village out of nothing little huts out of nothing and cardboard. They invited me in to eat I'm still not sure what but they all worked together to get ahead they had three brand new trucks and made their money off of cheap farm labor and foraging for mushrooms and other valuable stuff. My point is that they all worked together and were very happy to share what they had. They worked as a unit to improve everybody's lives it was amazing,
Those Lao people made huge money picking mushrooms in the national forests in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, N. California. It became so lucrative,,that there were gun battles between rival crews. With fully automatic AK47s. I had friends that worked for the forest service back in those days. It's all on a permit system now so the gun battles ceased 10 or 15 years ago. Was scary times for about 10 yrs. In 98 or 97 there was a shootout that killed 6 people. I'd forgot all about that until I read your comment
I liked that , working together to better everybody's life .It appears as that is all they know , like it's in their DNA . I have found in my travels in China and other parts of Asia , Asians put their individualism second and think of society and the group first and go lock in step with this thinking We in the West would call that Communism but that's how they are moulded .
@@farangutan6773 We in the west used to work collectively, especially during difficult times. Unfortunately westerners have been molded into zero hour contracts, and limited worker benefits.
dude, ur killing it - I rode through Loas and Cambodia before gopros were a thing and had so many of these incredible interactions ur having. thanks so much for showing these people locations and people!!!
I love that they were so welcoming at that dinner that you could just ask for a drink and sit and chat with them. That's some wholesome stuff right there. Thanks for another great video.
Your Lives are very, very Blessed because You Share your Friendly, Kind SPIRITS of Caring for Other Human Beings. Thank You for sharing the Blessings!!
Many kind and happy people. Todd, the old woman asleep was my favorite black and white. Phongsali has been one of the best adventures thus far thanks to you and NeeNee.
Good morning Todd & Nee nee. Another great video so far north you travel. Villager seen so friendly. The little girls runny from the camera. Have a nice day.
Thank you for sharing guys. Always amazing the hospitality of those that seem to not have alot but yet give so much. Life stripped back is so much more beautiful. ❤
Another great video. We have trip to Vietnam next week, then a big trip in September , but for sure a return to Laos will be on the cards for next year. Lots of great ideas from NOW IN LAO, and by the way, all your music seems to be my type too.
Hey Todd and Neenee..Congratulations on another brilliant ,no nonsense,straight from the hip video.I'm a West Aust,soon to travel to Laos,but due to a time frame ,it will not be an extensive trip like you guys do . But I will return. I have travelled extensively throughout Cambodia and Vietnam and can relate to you guys meeting "The Locals"..nothing beats it. Thanks for those maps you post up,they are handy information,especially when you guys are out in the Northern wilderness amongst small villages. Well done ,explaining to people that being invited for a drink/food ,is not a problem ,its their way of hospitality.The scenery is mind blowing. The thing that was most obvious in those Northern areas ,was no western or Chinese influence as in hotels,which is great !! ,just all lovely authentic Laotian.
Todd that looks like paradise to me. The drone footage is incredible. What a beautiful spot and beautiful people. A month there would be amazing. Cheers mate.
The reason Harriet and I travel is to try to meet locals no matter where you are in the world. The Lao People are so friendly, breaking bread would be a honor for us. We think that's the highlight of this Tour. Good Work with the video and drone shots. Sending you Best Wishes and Safe Travels ! 🙏🙏 Jim and Harriet Richmond, Va.
Hi Todd,, I'm running out of words,brother! Magnificent buildings! Sweet kind people. The shit in the river sucked,,but I'm sure they will learn. Thanks for going beyond Phongsali. I'd happily live in that village. Ttyl,,,Marlon
Now that's real Aussie... smoking tobacco in a bong 😂...hard to choose a favorite vlog now... they're all excellent... Todd and Nee Nee thanks for sharing your journey...❤
I'm finding your video's fascinating mate.About 25 years ago I travelled to Lao on the back of a truck.I met a girl in southern Thailand and spent i don't know how many days travelling all the way into Lao.No border check!An amazing experience staying in her Lao family home,I think her Father or Grandfather were the head family in the village.Your video's bring back a lot of memories of a beautiful people and country.Thankyou.
Todd as always a great vlog The videography gets better and better Title says you crashed a party ? Where are all the party people The crazy farang 😂😂😂 Those would be BBQ pits in North America Ah Todd finally found the party ! L’au l’au time !
What an amazing video! Love the architecture and construction of the houses in the village. When you came around the corner and entered the party, what a priceless look on that man's face with the pipe, who the hell are you? am I seeing things? Lol he could not believe a frang. It quickly changed to a smile. Really special experience. I feel it also Todd. It was a very special experience. Thank you for sharing with us.
@@NowinLao Right now I'm in Bangkok. 3 months in the region and Japan. Wanting to at least get to Vientiane if not more. Maybe a high speed train ride and visit what I can for now.
Perfect time to relax and watch this and take it in ( flying MEL > BRIS for the day ) - heart warming - Beautiful , totally captivating . Thanks Todd 👌👋👍🍻😃🙏
You're dead right and Australia's no different. I just returned from Australia 2 days ago and in the last couple of weeks after I had visited everybody all I was doing was counting down till I return here.
You can soak any types of wood in ammonia and in a week it will turn very flexible, and make it from in any shape you like. i'm not sure they use ammonia in Lao..... but water does work over time. ammonia much quicker.
That river full of garbage reminded me of being in my son's mother's relatives village in south China, they were orange farmers. I was walking with the man of the house we went over a bridge and he hurled this bag of trash into an already full of garbage river. Garbage is new to them. Before they never had plastic bags and everything that was bought at the market came without packaging. They have no garbage pickup so it's the river or they burn it, which is better?
Hu Guys People are starting to resemble rural Chinese before it was industrialized. The white Ute early in the vid had Chinese plates. The question about the red brick construction was basically a smoke house for medicinal plants. Maknung was the term the lady used, which is either gathered from the jungle or grown in plantations. It is also an industry down on the Bolaven flat area. Pig fat is far better than that chemicalized bottled stuff most people seem to cook with these days. Finally the bici (not the right spelling I am sure) happens for many reasons, and people just stop what they are doing and go and celebrate, I think people in the (advanced) west could take a lessen on that issue.
I knew you'd have a fair idea of what it was.. Yeah it's a different Lao up here altogether, but still happy warm friendly people 👌 cheers mate, 9 days till I'm back 👍
@@NowinLao Not me the boss knew what it was. As a child she and other kids would go into the jungle to find all sorts of valuable stuff. prior to the end of the war most of the family tucker was from the jungle.
My dad always had smoked with the bong but it never grew fungus as the one I was here. This guy lets his bong grew fungus on it, it looked so funny and can't believe that why it can happen like that. Probably it was a luck bong to him. Yeah, I was always tried it after he finished the smoking bong and while he leaned it to the wall, which tasted much better than the paper cigarettes because it has water filtered it. I really missed him so much he has passed away two years from now.
Hi Pierre.. all the music I use can be found on RU-vid. Remixes and covers that have taken countless hours to locate and test for copyright detection. Please forgive me for not adding the links to each song 🙏
@@NowinLao Thanks, again, but I don't know the titles LOL, thank you again, I will be at the VN to teach normally for three months and I have to do some escapades in Laos, maybe we could meet there, even if as French, the English is say, globishilize
Hi all, can anyone help me with some travel advice? My boyfriend is really keen to visit Laos so I've been researching customs and culture but I'm a little uncertain about travelling as an unmarried couple. Google tells me it's illegal for a foreigner to have relations with Lao citizens, and PDAs are frowned upon, but how do they feel about two unmarried foreigners travelling together, would we be able to share hotel rooms? Would there be other cultural customs we should be aware of as an unmarried couple?
@@NowinLao I was born in Laos came to the USA when I was 6 I’m 53 now I can’t read or write Lao but I’m blessed to be able to still speak it and thanks for all your video uploads Todd 🙏🏻
Those are American wild turkeys. I researched I found that that were take over to Lao during the war to help with protein. I have been in Lao a lot have yet to find any one that was eating one. My wife says they do. Pig fat in the US is called lard. My is Lue and she speaks both forms of Lao{ Tai } and Thai. Her village has no homes this nice. But really a great video. Bank in Lao in Sept can't wait to get there.
