November 23-Talat Sao Market in Vientiane, Laos

                                                                Hmong Embroidery


Talat Sao market in Vientiene, Laos

    Everything one could imagine is available here in the largest market of Laos.  Of course my focus was to zero in on the older beautiful textile pieces of the region.  It didn't take me long to make contact with  a tiny shop that featured weavings of Sam Nauea (eastern Laos and with a reputation for great weaving).  There were some fine small pieces there and some beautiful expensive sarong size weavings.   Then, there were many shops featuring the Miao (Hmong) ethnic minority group.  I found some of their colorful embroidered folk stories with English descriptions.  The Miao seem to always be the most active and well organized ethnic group.  Not only in textiles but also in their silver and metal work.  Their exquisite textile work is what has inspired me to start these Asian explorations and I'm still awed.
     The market is relatively new and indoors with air conditioning.  We met people from all over the world there- some were former Lao who had migrated to Australia and other countries during the war.  They commentated on how much better life is in Lao now.  And, one sees many projects (cultural centers, water services in minority villages, bridges, roads, museums) developed throughout the country with the help of other nations: Germany, Australia, USA, France, China, Thailand.
     
     That night we walked to to an exceptional dining place for dinner was the French restaurant called La Silapa, which means in Lao - art. Gorgeous and delicate salads of tomatoes and eggplant, a fish plate called St Pierre La Crois which was served on a bed of Lao broccoli and wild rice.
  En route we came upon a wonderful ethnic arts shop and I found my treasure of the year -an antique silk mosquito cover strip woven in Sam Nauea in the most wonderful colors and
with such a variety of designs.  What a treasure!  
    Another day of delights.