The Light Festival 1 🏮 Friday

     This weekend was the festival of light.
     On Friday we made fire boats at school.
     On Saturday we explored a paper making and craft village.
     On Sunday we made more at TAEC (Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center).
     Monday was the parade.

     Here are a few pictures of the boats:

Boats made by kids during art at school.

My boat is on the left, Jina's is on the right, and a bean is in the middle.

     The boats are made of banana tree trunks with banana leaves,  flowers ( the traditional orange and yellow chrysanthemums and something from the school garden), and berries. The boats are held together with nails and staples, and the finishing touches are the incense sticks and candles.

     After school, we went to Lao Friends Hospital for Children to hear the french musicians who were performing for the patients. there were several juggling balls and clubs. I'm learning to use juggling balls, but it was fun to try throwing clubs. It's much harder than throwing balls!

Bugs of Laos

BUGS!!!
 (that is all the introduction these guys need.)

This preying mantis is the most dangerous leaf you'll ever meet. That is, if you're about an inch tall. 

Pretty little creature. I don't know what it is.

More leaves! I think this is a hawk moth of some sort.

Red and black + stylish pom poms = perfect little beetle.

Another leaf, this time six inches long and in katydid form.

Katydids love the hospital. See the resemblance with the previous picture? 

May the best beetle catch the golden snitch! or dragonfly. or whatever it is.
(actually, my dad says that those are antennas.)

We get tons of cool moths, often enormous.

incredible luna moth! around 7 inches wide and 5 inches long. Bigger than my hand!