| Coming home
Inst. 16th-26th
Inst. 27th-30th
Inst. 31st-34th
Inst. 35th-37th
Inst. 38th-41st
Inst. 42nd-44th
Supplement to inst. 42nd
Supplements to some inst.
Buddhist temple
Photo Page
Guest Book Page
The rest of the installments
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The first night in Vientiane
Sabaydii,
Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘The first night in Vientiane’
Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie
The first night in Vientiane
No sooner
we were getting close to Vientiane
A fine Vientiane accent greeted us
From radio of course
Strange to hear
The voice was so pleading
For the people to be courteous
And not succumbing to corruption
Does this mean
Laos is changing for the better?
Or those who takes control of the country
Just want to hand on to power
Whatever it takes?
Checking in at the hotel
By That Dam
A month’s pay a night
I was at awe at my own country
The rich got richer
Would it for once
Trickle down to the depraved masses?
With a bag of camera and camcorder
I took off again
Relishing Vientiane atmosphere
I once so much enjoyed
Taking the road
Passing by the La Plaza hotel
Pricey even beyond my reach
I then reached
Seng Lao area
Where the movie theater
Was no longer operating
In its place
A dark decrepit building stood
Eerily reminding me of
its contrasting golden days
where lights were flashing
movie goers loitering
and all kinds of food stalls
lining up in front
Disheartened by the sight
I walked off to SamSenThai road
Saw a Pho restaurant
Hastily ordered a Pho soup
And ate in complete silence
8.21.03
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A young boy I met
Sabaydii,
Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘A young boy I met’
Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie
A young boy I met
In front of Buasavanh movie theater
As I was to walk home
A young boy of maybe 14
Approached me for some changes
Curious to know
Why the boy of this young age
Became a beggar
As to speak
I made him tell his life story
For the little money
I could easily be parted with
Little by little
A fuller picture came
Dangling in front of my eyes
His dad once a construction worker
Broke his leg
And there went down
The income earner
As for his mom
A Lao from Isan
With no skills whatsoever
Getting herself a career
Selling flowers
Not at a shop
But in front of Wat Simuang
The boy himself
After primary school
Couldn’t afford to pay
For the rising fee
Public school it might be
Chose to drop out
After only a few months
In 7th grade
Still wanting to see with my own eyes
And not be taken as a fool
I took off with the boy
Past the old ministry
I used to work
Past Wat PhaKeo
And Wat Sisaket
I intended to stop by one day
And past Mahosot hospital
Where I was told
The poor was left
Dying for lack of money
There
Right in front of Wat Simuang
Stood a shack house
Made of any materials
Left unwanted at the junkyard
Now became a ‘house’
A place to shelter
For the family of four
With a gentle call
From a boy
A squeaky door opened
And there emerged
Three faces
Limping out
With a cane to support his body
was no one but his dad
another with a worried face
holding a baby
undoubtedly his mom
Enough for me on that one night
I took off
Leaving them
With a stack of ‘useless’ money
For a coconut drink
And a bouquet of lotus flowers
Much to be pondered over tonight
Hope I could sleep
In peace
If possible
8.21.03
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Lodging at Sailom
Sabaydii,
Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘Lodging at SaiLom’
Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie
Lodging at Sailom
The other day arrived
First thing in the morning
I changed the hotel
Cheaper and more suitable to my needs
The one at SaiLom
Where the lot in front of the gas station
Was like a bomb
Got dropped onto
Was told
They were building a new road
Paved one of course
Still couldn’t figure out
Why a big hole
Like a moon crater
Lying over there
As usual
The Sailom road
Like other roads in Vientiane
Was in the process of repaving
No wonder
Red dust were flying everywhere
My hotel was for the next few days
Stood with its front to the road
Ready to receive the big blow
Of the long overdue Vientiane beautification
The receptionist
Or maybe the owner
Or whoever at the counter
Didn’t spare a moment
Complaining about the road
That seemed never to finish
Not far from the hotel
Still in my eyesight
Stood the swamp
A perfect haven for the mosquitoes
Wonder
How could people build their huts
Over there
Look like the same kind of huts
Stuck in time 20 years and counting
At the end of Sailom road
The section close to TaLat Saot
Vietnamese shoes mender stalls
Were still there
And a little bit out of sight
That Dam
Black as its name could convey
Stealthily crept on the passer-by
Just couldn’t tell for sure
What That Dam meant to Vientiane people
And Muang Lao per se
Left unattended
Uncared for
A home for weeds and rodents
I guess nothing more could be added
Still That Dam looked at me
For an answer
Was it its fault
The Siamese crushed us?
Or was it our own fault instead
Being tricked to bury the Naga hole
Sealing the Siamese victory
Of the days long long gone by?
Like everything in Muang Lao
No one wants to associate oneself
with the loser
The portent of defeat
I with the flowers
Picked up by the roadside
Lay them on the foot
Of the infamous That Dam
It is time
We let the bygones be truly bygones
For the great Naga
The protector of Muang lao
Couldn’t roam this land again
Until all Lao are one more time
Nothing but proud Lao
8.22.03
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At the back of the restaurant
Sabaydii,
Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘At the back of the restaurant’
Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie
At the back of the restaurant
Like any other days
I went to the ‘Pho ’ restaurant
To have a Pho soup
Today
With no exception
I planted myself there
With not much to do
I just took my time
Sipping my soup
And let my eyes wander
Around
Two gorgeous looking women
Dressed in traditional Lao dress
Sat eating their Pho soup
With pure relish
Telling you the truth
I just couldn’t believe my eyes
Seeing such beautiful creatures
Not one but two
In the depressed Lao land
Before I could pull out my camcorder
They were already done with their soup
And made their way out
With just a little luck
I caught a glimpse of them
With their backs to me
Like anything in Muang Lao
You got only a teaser
Of what it would be
Of what you could be
Then
Getting an urge to relieve myself
Having my bladder full
I went to the bathroom
With someone inside
I waited around
And caught sight of a girl
Busily doing the dishes
Surprised to see
The girl this young already working
I asked about her
Then slowly
A full picture came into view
Her family back in Pakse
Was broke
This year harvest was bad
And there everyone had to save the family
Two of her brothers
Doing the errands in Pakse itself
While she herself came to Vientiane
For a better job
Her aunt said so
Alas this was the good job
For a girl coming so far
Don’t know
How many of her lives
Got replicated
In all over Muang Lao
As a testament to this sad event
I took her picture
And let the camcorder
Tell the ugly story
Of what it is
Of what to become
Of Muang Lao today…
8.27.03
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