sitting still somewhere different...

So a belated Laos post but one I have been really meaning to do...

We mentioned in a previous post that we went to Indigo Farm which belonged to one of my student's family.

We had a lovely shared lunch by the lake - the mushroom soup was amazing and so was the stir fried mushrooms.

Yummy lunch - shared lunches really are a highlight!

Todd and the boys had a paddle boat on the lake - odd but fun!

We headed off to explore the farm and there was a lovely big 'friends' swing.

Then we got to the mushroom shed...

It was super impressive!

They had already picked for the day so the pictures aren't that impressive but basically the mushrooms grow out the neck of the bag and are picked from there.

The shed was massive and had a few different types of mushrooms growing on different racks.

The bags are filled with coconut husks and wood shavings.

They are soaked in water which is full of mushroom spores.

They are then steamed / boiled over heat for a few hours.

With the exception of the plastic bags it is a pretty local and sustainable outfit.

Woodshavings, coconut husks and local spores...

No one spoke much English so I am not sure why they do the boiling but perhaps to imitate the heat of the forest floor?

It all reignighted my passion for 'shrooms!

Then a visit to the flowers that they use to make their weird signature sticky rice.

Just because it comes from flowers and is natural doesn't make it a good idea in my mind!

Eating blue food is just not quite right I reckon!

We have had such an amazing food and drink journey in Laos. All the markets, street food, restaurants, friends cooking - we have been so lucky.

Our favourite market is the one near school - the Navieng Kham market which is mainly a fresh food market.

Selling fish to take home alive or in whatever shape piece you choose...

...frogs...

...the quail egg man is on the same corner every day selling bags of quail eggs and little twists of salt to dip them in. Very yummy!

One day we got what we took for a boiled egg at the market. When we got home and Wimitja cracked it we found it to be a steamed almost fully grown chick in the egg. None of us could come at that and we offered it to our friends who owned the guest house where we stayed. Wan was very happy to gobble it up and kindly smiled at our squeamishness!

Pineapple from the side of the road - chopped beautifully by the seller or just as is for cheaper again...

We went to "hillside" for a weekend where I had my first paw paw salad of the trip - probably my favourite as it was western style and I am not a huge fan of the fermented fish paste they put in it in Laos.

Wimitja's standard way to open yogurt which always resulted in a spurt of yogurt on his face!

Soup at one of our regular restaurants that we called 'the duck place'. No one spoke any English and the menu was full of mistakes. It had a list of about 10 things in English with corresponding Laos, which you pointed to with a long stick. Over time we went there and found that most things on the menu didn't actually correspond in reality - so it was like lotto!

Order soup, get noodles. Order noodles, get wonton. Order wonton, get soup!

Always yummy though - it didn't stop us going!

All meals came with pickled veggies and a small delicious broth.

Ordering paw paw salad from the Navieng Kham market. I was so excited. You taste test and adjust before she bags it. But by then it already had WAY too much fermented fish in it! I had asked for a tiny bit but I think she felt it best to guide me!

Like all things travelling - still a good experience.

Lunch at Indigo farm with friends from school. One of my students - Saori - had been telling about the butterflies in her garden. Then we were invited - 35 hectares of farm on a lake! Restaurant and mushroom farm and vegetable farm! Quite a garden!

Aaah, orange juice fresh on the street! The oranges in Laos are green and delicious. Squeezed, a bit of sugar syrup added for Laos style and served over loads of ice. Yummo!

Somethings drying in the street - not sure but more food everywhere!

My birthday drink - mojhito by the pool after lunch! We asked at a fancy pants hotel if they would let us swim in their pool if we ate lunch at their restaurant - and they said yes! Yummy lunch and a super swim.

The school surprised me with a birthday cake! It was coconut and simply beautiful - which to be honest I would not have guessed from the look of it!

Back to the Navieng Kham markets - bats for sale! Some more things we did not taste!

Kinyin's birthday dinner at the local Indian - was really yummy. The waiter asked Kinyin if his "father had given him chocolate for his birthday?" When Kinyin said no, he asked again and receiving the same answer he shook his head and asked Todd. On receiving Todd's answer, he left with a very disapproving look on his face and shaking his head.

After the meal he gave the boys each a "special chocolate really from India" and then turned to us and shook his finger and said "but none for you two!"

The chocolate receivers!

One of several breakfasts at La Banaton the French bakery. Kinyin and I had both celebrated our birthday breakfasts there and then we invited mum and dad as well to test it out!

And play cards of course!

Mum and Dad exploring Navieng Kham with the boys...

...fish for sale - makes you wonder if there is anything left in the sea. Also to consider how very far away the sea is!

Sausages drying in the street. Writing this out makes me realise how meaty life is here! But there is plenty of amazing vegies and fruit - perhaps not so unusual though!

Each evening, the streets were lined with huge varieties of food - the meat spot always included a pigs head...

Final family dinner in Laos at Bamboo Tree. Mum and Dad enjoying the free drink. I called it rocket fuel - Dad said it was "quite nice"!

He also said he didn't really want a photo!

Heading up for our final Laos dinner with everyone from school.

Which was such a lovely evening! Wonderful to get to know all these amazing people. We are so lucky. We were spoilt.

Then we were off to Nong Khiew.

Our day on the river was lovely - we got take away from Moung Noi and ate it on the boat, pulled up on the beach at Sok Jam where the village kids were playing.