Farming

Farming is simply a way of life in this part of the world. Outside of the main cities, the villagers are primarily subsistence farmers - especially in Laos - where they grow what they eat. No farming = no food. The gardens, however humble, are stunning and lush. If only my garden were so lovely!

Elevated herb gardens are situated outside of nearly every household. They are placed on stilts and covered with netting to keep the village animals and birds from "sharing."

During this time of year - the Dry Season, when the waters of the rivers are low - the villagers plant hearty crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes in the fertile, sandy banks. When the rains come and the waters rise during the Monsoon Season, the gardens are washed away.

Rice, Rice, Baby

The largest staple of the Thai and Lao diets is rice, by far. Steamed rice for the most part in Thailand, and the wonderful glutinous sticky rice in Lao (one of my absolute favorite foods in the world). The rice paddies canvas the landscape, most still plowed with the help of the revered water buffalos (although "Chinese water buffalos" - tractors - are starting to crop up more and more). People busy themselves with rice for hours a day: planting it, harvesting it, selling it, drying, preparing, cooking and eating it. It would be quite a different place without it.

To Market, To Market....

If you know me, you know that my favorite places to visit on this trip were the markets. Specifically, the food markets (although the bustling night markets with their different wares were amazing as well... just not quite as edible!). Every city had one, but my favorite food market, hands down, was the morning market in Luang Prabang. Block after block of narrow streets were lined with vendors displaying their stunning commodities with obvious pride. Copious amounts of produce, grains, live and recently alive animals, fish, prepared foods... it was a feast for the senses.

River weed

Peanuts, aubergines

Thai chilis, greens?, bananas

Thai chilis

Thai chilis

Banana flowers

Rambutan

Dried rats

Herbs

Bok Choy

Scallions

Banana flower blossoms

Dragonfruit

Parsnips

Potatoes, marigolds, eggplant

Tomatos, limes, apples

Soup herb and spice blends

Drying water buffalo meat

River snails

Fish

Fish

And more fish

Dried fish

Eggs

Chicken, always with their feet prominently displayed (the feet are prized parts).

The butcher shop - open air, complete with the butcher climbing all over the table.

The meat was precious and expensive, but you could find nearly any kind (beef, pork, venison, water buffalo, etc.), and certainly every last bit of the animal (offal, heads, hooves, etc.). Nothing goes to waste.

Brains with your breakfast?