Mango rains

 

11th March 2026

Most of the time it's hot and dry now, getting hotter every day as the air quality gets worse, with no real rain for weeks. And then once in a while the skies cloud over and a heavy shower arrives. This is known as mango rain, because the mangos are in flower. Suddenly the mountains reappear and everything feels fresh and alive.

Mango flowers

Nothing major to report for late February, early March other than an exciting day spent filming on set with a Chinese film crew, our tenants finally handing in their notice (leaving on Sunday 15th) - oh and a marriage proposal.

In the evening light after a rain storm

The hillside digging continues apace. They are now taking away stone and soil to sell elsewhere

The resident skinks are back again, now the weather is hotting up. They need to be wary of next door's cats, who in turn need to be wary of the Red-necked Keelback that Josephine has spotted

Sunset beer by the Mekong and the paddlers were practising for the boat races later in the year.

We were sitting in a riverside cafe a week ago when a young Chinese guy approached us and asked whether we would consider joining them next day to appear in a short film. Our default would be a firm "No" of course (we're English!) but somehow we ended up agreeing

As it turned out it was fun. We had to play an elderly couple sitting in a cafe (hard to believe, I know). The storyline was that the female lead sees us and is reminded of her recently deceased grandma! Here's me on set. We were paid in coffee and croissants (which the continuity guy had to keep replacing when Trevann ate them!)

The young star checking the rushes. We look forward to seeing the final film.

It's a great time of year for butterflies

Yes, we've decided to get wed. Sadly less romantic than financial but it seems a sensible step after 43 years together. We can't get the dates to work for April but hope to set it up for September. Registry office, two witnesses, cheap as chips!

February visitors

Tuesday 17th February 2026

One of the nice things about welcoming friends coming to Luang Prabang is the chance to think about and recommend the best bits of town. Our friend Jacqui from Bournemouth (one of Trevann's meditating buddies) had just 4 days here at the end of her one-month trip to SE Asia. It was lovely to see her and to show her around. We enjoyed good food, a chance to catch up, and a long hot walk on the far side of the Mekong.

We've just signed up for another year in this house so hoping our health and fitness hold out until February/March next year. Meanwhile our inept tenants in Brighton refuse to inform us what they intend to do when their tenancy agreement ends mid-March. We can only assume they will just leave then. Annoying to have a void period but at least we can sort anything that needs doing. Hoping for better tenants next time round.

Over here proper temperatures have returned - about 22 degrees at night and 34 by afternoon. No rain. Down to a single duvet again!

Our neighbours, Josephine and Simon, have started work on their annex. It's bigger and closer to us than we expected, but shouldn't be a problem.

This golden orb spider (Nephila pilipes) in the back garden is huge (4 inches across?)

Oh - I baked some biscuits. The ones on offer in the shops here tend to be sugary and full of chemicals so I thought I'd give it a go. The lack of a decent low-fat shortening agent is an issue.

The Nam Khan river levels are low.

Land owners continue to strip away the hillside to create building plots

Another visitor was Sue from Australia. We enjoyed a jazz concert at the Belle Rive Hotel and she brought our old housekeeper Noi to visit us with Noi's son Scott Louis. We hadn't seen them for ages. 

When we put an umbrella up to stop mango leaves falling in the pond this poor little Common Tree Frog dropped with a plop into the water. I guess it was hibernating. We apologised.

I completely forgot to take pix of Noi and Scott Louis until they were driving away in a tuktuk!

These are the first petunias we've seen in Laos. They seem to be thriving. We found geraniums too.

A golden tortoise beetle, which really looks like a drop of molten gold in real life.

We had promised Damian and Da a genuine "English meal" ages ago. Finally we came through with our promise - cottage pie, gravy, carrots and cabbage followed by berry crumble and custard! They said it was delicious

Jacqui

The yellow elder we planted last year finally came up with some flowers.

On the local boat going to Chomphet

From the other side of the Mekong you can see the way the end of the peninsula has been completely remodelled, banks stripped and reinforced with a public park replacing the tree-covered banks.

We ate our ban mi lunch in shade in the temple grounds

Top of the hill.

Then back across the river for a welcome cold drink and sit-down in the lovely Belle Rive gardens, which we are invited to use any time we want. A perk of being included in the hotel "family"

Meanwhile in London, Holly was dog-sitting for a friend in Hackney and it was lovely to see that she got in touch with Rosie for a catch-up while she was there.

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Ladoo Nau (Cold Season)

Monday 19th January

At last the air is starting to warm up again. We're back to 14 degrees at night and 30 by day, which is a relief. It's very pleasant to sit outside again, and it's also great walking weather.

Highlight of New Year week was a trip over the Mekong to the pottery village, which we first visited 12 years ago. It's a 45 minute walk from here down to the ferry and another 45 minute walk on the other side to the village so a tidy step there and back.

This week we've booked our flights for April, leaving end of March and coming back 4th May. Provided the world hasn't imploded by then of course.

The bird of paradise flower in the garden finally bloomed!

And we discovered a new plant shop with a better selection and much cheaper prices.

The garden is looking lush.

Great to see evidence that heritage features of the town - like the 183 village ponds - are valued. 

The new Lao Pottery House is a lovely traditional style wooden building with pottery classes

It's a family affair

The pottery industry in this village almost died out 10 years ago so it's good to see resources being used to bring more tourists and money 

The kilns are wood-fired

The landscape on the far side of the Mekong is very rural

Subsistence farming is the main occupation with cattle, buffalo...

and pigs (which were not interested in being photographed!)

This is the local ferry

We've been enjoying the firepit in the garden

These two papayas have been hanging around for months so when they started to turn yellow this week we didn't hold out much hope for taste. They were surprisingly good!

I keep trying to learn to use my Canon DSLR (below) - but my Samsung phone (above) still produces better pictures! Damn!

Lovely evening light though