Laos

Now we will be going over to our first country from Asia: Laos. Laos is a small country between Thailand and Vietnam, populated primarily by those of Lao descent. Some of its distinguishing cultural features are its religious makeup - 67% of its population are Buddhists, with only 1.5% being Christian - and the fact that the country has remained predominantly Lao in demographics, culture, and language. The of Laos has been slightly influenced by Cambodia and Thailand, though both countries are quite close to Laos geographically.

The climate and environment of Laos make it a country quite suitable for tourism and vacationing. Though it lies in an area of the world which experience monsoons in the summer months, it is nonetheless quite enjoyable to visit during the non-monsoon months.

The rivers of Laos provide an important means of transportation, and can also give visitors the enjoyment of a kayak ride with many sights to see along. The varying terrain of Laos means there are many sights to see: from jungles, to deep gorges, even extensive caves (some of which the rivers flow right through).

A few of the special festivals of Laos include Boun Khoun Khao, a festival held in March to celebrate the harvest, Boun Pimai, the Lao equivalent of New Years, and Lao Naitional Day, a day which can be likened to the 4th of July. There are many more festivals that take place throughout the year as well.

Laotian cuisine differs a bit from other countries in southwest Asia. It varies from region to region, depending on the food available from each redion, but a few of the foods eaten include sticky rice, papayas, lemongrass, and banana flowers. Spices such as coriander, hot pepper, mint, dill, and more are often used in the Laotian kitchen.

The meal we will be cooking from Laos will be a five vegetable stir fry with some Laotian-style egg rolls, only a small but tasty look at the cusine of Laos.