Sunday, September 19, 2010

Ratree Sungsun Samakkee - Saychailaotai

ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Saychailaotai Members

Saychailaotai is pleased to announce that we will have our very own get together party after all these years, details as follows:

WHERE: Monte Carlo Reception Centre
58 Spencer Street
Fairfield NSW 2165

WHEN: 2 October 2010 @ 7:00 pm

WHAT: Ratree Sungsun Samakkee
$35 entry ticket, dinner included
You can obtain the tickets from your Unit Leader or
call the event organiser, Boungninh Onemany 0411601870

WOW !: Mitsumphanh Music Band
A famous singer from Laos has been invited!

This is a very good opportunity for all members to meet each other and to also meet people from other Lao community organisations in a warm, friendly and harmonial atmostphere. Please come along and show everybody our Laotai Spirit!

See you all there!

From the President,
Event Organising Team Leader &
Management Committee

19 September 2010

Saychailaotai's strength - the Mighty Team!

The strength of Saychailaotai sparkles when the Committee got together to plan the Get-together Party which will be held on 2 October 10. Saychailaotai never run short of talents and capability. Among the group, there are more then enough talents and abilities to hold any event, such as most sought after MC (ai Mao), radio broadcasters @ SWR FM99.9 and SBS Radio (ai Nhing, Khamsene, Phayvanh), Sound Promotion (Viengsamay), effective event promoters & marketing (Phongsawatt, Bouakham, Dr Kaysone, the dedicate couple - Phoupheng and Bounlay), experienced floor manager (Bouasy), most reliable treasurer (Khamsing), well known sign & graphic designer (Khotamy) and of course the mighty event organasing team leader (ai nhing). We even have our very own Legal Advisor (Sengdeuane)! Wow !!!

Welcome Solicitor Sengdeuane!

President Phayvanh Phoumindr (wearing red top) introducing Solicitor Sengdeuane Do (wearing brown top) to the meeting. Mrs Sengdeuane kindly accepted the proposal from the meeting to become Saychailaotai's legal advisor. Welcome Sengdeuane! Your contribution will definitely make Saychailaotai one of the strongest Lao Australian organisations in Sydney.

Saychailaotai at work!


Top photo (L to R) Mr Bouasy Sourignavong, Mr Phoupheng Vorarath and President Phayvanh discussing the Lao Tai Get-together Party.

Bottom photo (L) Mr Khammao Xayarath serving the drinks to the meeting participants while Mrs Sengdeuane Do (R -wearing brown jacket) was listening carefully to the report provided by the President.

The Seniors in Saychailaotai

(L to R) Mr Khotamy Phothisaranasouk, the current Public Officer, also the previous President of Saychailaotai and Dr Kaysone Phichit, Vice Treasurer during the Committee Meeting of Saychailaotai.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The View of Wat Phou


The astonishing view of Wat Phou. We learn from history that the ancient Wat Phou was built by people who were very smart and knowledgeable. If we ask ourselves: "Where do they bring those rocks from?", "How do they transport tons and tons of rocks up the mountains to build Wat Phou?", "How could they design with such perfect architecture and other facilities such as irrigation for the city?". Thank you Viradeth for your amazing photos. Good work!

The Trace of Hinduism

The ancient landscape of Wat Phou. The string of colons on both sides of the Walk Way indicate that Wat Phou was built during the Krom era. The shape of each colon resembles "God Shiva Linka" (a male genetalia) , a God in Hinduism.

The Champa Walk Way

This Champa Walkway shows that the Champa trees along the sides of the rocky stairway must have been planted around the same time of the construction of the Walk Way of Wat Phou.

Thousand Year Champa Tree

Where can you find a thousand year champa trees? Of course, at Wat Phou Champassak?

Mayor Nick Lalich visiting Lao cultural display stall

Mayor Nick Lalich and Mrs Lalich, the Mayor of Fairfield City Council, visited the Lao cultural display stall at the Family Fun Day, in Bonnyrigg on 2/9/2010. The event was organised by Newleaf Communities. The stall manners - from Right, Mrs Thongthap, Mrs Nhom, Mayor Nick Lalich, Mrs Phoungeun and Phayvanh, President of Saychaylaotai (& Coordinator of the Display) at the stall. The photo was kindly taken by Mrs Lalich.

Lao cultural Display

Mrs Thongthap Savann (L) and Mrs Khamkhaning Keomalavong (R) are greeting the event visitors and answering any question about Lao culture, at the Family Fun Day in Bonnyrigg.

Mrs Chanpheng and Maak Beng

Mrs Chanpheng Souksavath and some of maak beng that she made. Mrs Chanpheng has taught young Lao women to make maak beng so this traditional talents can last from generation to generation. Thank you Mrs Chanpheng for your thoughtfulness and your passion of Lao culture.

Khene & other Lao traditional music intruments

A collection of Khene and other rare Lao traditional music instruments owned by Khamsene, were displayed at the Lao cultural stall on the Family Fun Day organised by the Newleaf Communities in Bonnyrigg, Sydney, Australia.

Lao cultural display - Kabouay

Kabouay made of coconut shells - made by a local resident of Newleaf Communities in Bonnyrigg.

Lao cultural display - wood carving

Wood carving of Lao pattern, a product by a local Lao artist, a resident of the Newleaf Communities estate in Bonnyrigg, Sydney, Australia.

Lao cultural display - silver belts & handbag

Silver belts and handbag are displayed at the Lao Cultural Stall in Bonnyrigg, Sydney, Australia. They attracted a lot of interest from people who attended the event. (All items here are the collection of Phayvanh, SLFS President)

Lao cultural display - sinh and pha khoum

Lao woven fabric - sinh and phao khoum. Sinh and Lao women are inseparable. The various patterns and multi-colored fabrics depict the long history associated with Lao women, their life experience, the beliefs, the traditions and the war.

Lao Cultural Display

Maak Beng made of green wrapping paper. Lao overseas realise that banana leaves are hard to find during winter so they use paper to create maak beng. Paper maak beng can last long time at the altar. The one on the right is Luang Prabang style.

Friday, June 18, 2010

At the Lao Forum meeting

SLFS President (Phayvanh Phoumindr, L) and Assistant Secretary (Bounlay Vorarath, R), representing the Southern Lao Friendship Society, recently attended the Forum of Lao Community Organisations in NSW. The Forum has 18 Lao community organisation members. The Forum meets every three months to discuss important issues and to enhance the development of Lao community in Australia. SLFS President was recently elected to be Deputy Coordinator of the Forum as well as being the member of the Forum Support Committee.

SLFS Management Committee meeting

The 2nd SLFS Management Committee for 2010 was held in May 2010 in Cecil Hills. Many issues were raised and discussed. Saychailaotai maintains its policy of being part of the community and will cooperate with any community or organisations whose policies are community oriented.

After the meeting

Saychailaotai taking photo together after the meeting. Now we can relax and have BBQ and plenty of food provided by our most generous hosts ... Mr and Mrs Souriyavong (4th and 5th from left). Khob jai lai lai der nha ai Thongdam and nha euay Keo! The food was so YUMMY!

BBQ at our Executive Advisor

Saychailaotai Management Committee met in May 2010 at our Executive Advisor's house in Cecil Hills. Mr Thongdam Souriyavong (2nd from R) and Mrs Keo Souriyavong are the most generous and accommodating hosts, as usual. Maybe we can have our meeting at our Executive Advisor's house again next time? Howzat?
Also in the photo are Mr Bounpheng (1st L), Mr Bounta (2nd L) and Ajarn Khotamy (1st R).

Serious discussion

Vice President Bounnhing and Viengsamay (Event Organising Coordinator) look like they are entering into some kind of serious discussion. Umm ... we will very likely hear from them soon when our next get together party will take place, right? We can definitely expect the event to be humengous! Great concert with famous Lao Tai singers and artists! Yehhh ... Can't wait!

Radio Champa FM99.9

Saychailaotai Vice President (ai Bounnhing) and President (Phayvanh) at the front of SWR FM99.9 Radio Station in Blacktown (Sydney, Australia). Bounnhing and Phayvanh are the broadcasters of Radio Champa SWR FM99.9- on Sunday from 10am to 12noon.

At SWR FM99.9 Radio

Saichai Laotai President (Phayvanh) and Vice President (ai Bounnhing) at the studio of SWR FM99.9 while doing the Radio Champa broadcasting. Radio Champa broadcasts in Lao language every Sunday from 10 am to 12 noon (Sydney time). You can also listen on line www.swrfm.org. There ... you can hear our voice and especially ai nhai Bounnhing who has always been referred to as "Khosok seang thai Tai". Well, he takes that as a compliment!

Saychailaotai and social activities

Saichaylaotai joined the other Lao community organisations and Lao Buddhists on the parade during the Lao New Year celebration at Wat Pah Buddhalavarn (Sydney, Australia) in April 2010. Smiling faces and brave hearts ... are the core quality of Lao Tai people.

Wat Pah Buddhalavarn

Saichaylaotai joined the parade at Wat Pah Buddhalavarn in Wedderburn (Sydney, Australia).

Lao Tai Gentlemen

Lao Tai gentlemen ... always strong at heart. And Well ... the lady in gold outfit is covering her head (to protect herself from the burning Sun of Australia) but it can't be anybody else but our mighty Secretary, Bounhom.

Lao Tai Ladies

Although covering her head, we can still recognise our SLFS Secretary, Bounhom (wearing gold sinh) walking next to the sign holder. Behind them are Solicitor Sengdeuane (wearing white top) and the lady in pink top is of course, nha euay Lai (our Vice President's wife).

Phou Thevada, Paksong


Phou Thevada at dawn, on top of Paksong daen nao.

Inside the resort

Phou Thevada Resort

Angels Mountain Resort

At the Angels Mountain Resort. A place not to be missed if you go to the South. Paksong is only about 50 kms from Pakse.

Paksong

Phou Thevada Resort @ Paksong daen nao. While the temperature was over 40 degrees in Pakse, the weather was so comfortable on top of Phou Thevada (Angels Mountain) in Paksong.

Puk Ee Khoo

Puk Ee Khoo ... best for jeo ... jeo puk ee khoo, even better if you put pa ka tao. Recipe to come ... promise! Hey ... do not mistake puk ee khoo for puk bua (shallot). They are not the same. You can only find puk ee khoo in the South whereas puk bua can be grown in all regions of Laos.

Giant Jackfruits

A little vendor with her giant jackfruits. Mind you ... she's very tough, she wouldn't give any discount. No ... no discount! If you don't want to buy it's your problem. Umm ... but her jackfruits are the best though!

Durian

Durian ... you either love it or hate it ... there is no middle road.

Banana km 21

Guay ngao ... big banana sold @ km 21.

Local products

Locally made products ... kata, kapah, Kaboung, Mouak (baskets, hats).

Pha

Pha ... a very versatile tool.

How we used to make our tools

Pah (big knives) are still manufactured using traditional techniques in the South.

Pah

Pah (big knives).

The local children

Lovely local children ... @ Ban luk Sao Ed (Km 21)

Heua Pae restaurants

Floating "Heua Pae" restaurants at Tha bak Ban Muoung, Champassak. Goy pa, ping pa, gaeng pa and Khao poon pa ... You can't afford to miss the famous food from the South!

Goy pa

Goy pa @ heua pae restaurant Ban Muong. Behind the scene is Mekong River. No other regions can beat the South for the freshness and excellent taste of the various types of fishes.

Ping chi lor @ Ban Muoung

Ping chi lor anyone? Uh .. oh ... thank you - not for me!

Ping gai Na Pong

Ping gai anyone? Yes pleassse. I can eat one whole chicken by myself! YUM!

Ping kheuang nai gai

Saychai Lao Tai president, Phayvanh, decided to become the sidestreet vendor "mae kha khai ping gai". Grilled Kheuang nai gai is seriously yummy with sticky rice and jeo mark pet haeng ...

Khongsedone benchmark

The well known glutinous rice Lao Sake and the dried chilly paste (jeo mark pet haeng, very hot not kidding!) ... that goes well with sticky rice and the famous grilled chicken "ping gai Na Pong".

Wat Khongsedone

Blessing

A young novice giving the blessing to people at Wat Nhai Muoung SENO.