Life on the Mekong and Other Rivers

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog, including strong statements in support of weinerdog-riding monkeys, are our own, and not those of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. government.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

These Buddhists love them some Christmas cheer

Our delightful Emporium Suites hotel is conveniently attached to the equally delightful Emporium Mall.

To get to the Sky Train from the hotel, we have two routes to choose from; 1) pass the grand entrance to the mall;


or 2) walk through the mall proper. Either way, you get yourself inundated with strange christmas cheer.

Wednesday night it was male models in angel wings and female models dancing in cages out on the street as women dressed as christmas trees mingled with the common folk while VIPs drank Johnny Walker Gold in the little temporary bistro. Merry Christmas indeed.

Tonight, as Katherine and I went to pick up my suits at Rajasongwe (two suits down, may get another), it was the Christmas lucky draw in the mall. Clowns and women in Santa suits mingled with the crowds as shoppers filled out their tickets, to be entered into a raffle of some sort. Upon our return, the lucky draw was in full swing, with the stage set with a huge Christmas tree and a clown picking winners while a woman in an elf costume read out the winners to the standing room only crowd.

If there is one thing that Lao, and it seems, Thai people enjoy, it is a lucky draw. A party is just not a party without the possibility of your number being drawn and you winning a prize of some sort. Even better, perhaps, if your number is picked by a clown and read out by a woman in an elf costume.

A little known fact is that the gold, frankincense and myrrh were not gifts, but rather Jesus' winnings from a lucky draw that the wise men were holding in Bethlehem.


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This evening we all headed down to Alex and Walter's for a little happy hour. Alex and her mother Giselle being French, they do happy hour right. Lots of great cheeses, pate, etc. to go along with our wine.

Jack and Eva once again had a bit of a competition to see who could be a louder cryer. I think today Jack actually won. After our Thanksgiving dinner it is now 1-1. To be continued either in Luang Prabang in the new year or back in DC next Spring.

Walter leaves for Rangoon tomorrow, leaving Alex and Eva with Giselle, until she leaves for France Thursday, Walter returns Friday, and the Parrs all return to Rangoon next Sunday, leaving us alone here at the Emporium.

Tom and Ghot, now Walter and Alex. Everyone is leaving us.

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