Final Fundraiser of the Season for Adopt a Village in Laos

Steve Rutledge with Mike Yap (Adopt a Village in Laos co-founder).

Before leaving for Laos at the end of this month, Steve Rutledge, the president of Adopt a Village in Laos, is putting a last burst of energy into fundraising and hopefully achieve his goal. Simply click on the image above to view the details of this campaign.

Going to Laos: 49 Days To Go

Starting today, I begin counting down the days until I depart for Laos. Officially, there are now 49 days remaining.

Backpack for Laos

Before venturing into work today, I finally decided to visit Mountain Equipment Co-op, a specialty store catering to adventurers and people who love the outdoors, to buy my backpack for Laos. This particular model, MEC Ibex 65, is specifically designed for multi-day expeditions, has its own waist belt allowing the backpack to secure itself snugly to one's body, and even sports a special compartment to store a sleeping bag. It has a capacity of 61 litres and weighs 2.8 kilograms.

On the Mountain Equipment Co-op web site, it describes this pack in detail:

This fully featured pack is excellent for multi-day backpacking and or mountaineering. Interchangeable shoulder straps and waistbelts allow you to customize the fit. The backpad plate can be slid up and down the stays, allowing precise adjustment to your back. The pad then locks firmly into place with a large hook-and-loop patch for stability.

• Body is 630-denier Superpack nylon with fully taped seams and bartack reinforcements.

• Bottom, lid, and exterior pocket are extra-rugged 1050-denier smooth nylon.

• Body contact surfaces are covered with 3-D mesh for breathability.

• Polyethylene frame sheet and twin aluminum stays for efficient load transfer to hips.

• Main compartment is accessible via the top spindrift collars, a large vertical zipper, or a horizontal zipper to the sleeping bag compartment.

• Main compartment has a stretch mesh pocket and hose exit port for a hydration system.

• The top part of the sleeping bag compartment can be unclipped to connect to the main compartment.

• Large front pocket accessible via a full length side zipper or the outer spindrift collar.

• Two low-profile side pockets hold items you need to retrieve quickly or quarantine from the main load (such as fuel bottles).

• The underside pocket in the floating lid is fronted with mesh-reinforced transparent plastic for easy location of items inside.

• Twin waistbelt pockets hold small items close at hand.

• All exterior zippers are weatherproof or flap protected.

• Shockcord attachment system can be used for crampons or other gear.

• Removeable ice axe loop.

• Compression straps trim and stabilize the load.

• Twin stretch mesh water bottle pockets.

A Day at Buddhist Temple

On Saturday night Bev Korasack (one of the hosts of Sieng Lao Radio) took me to my first Lao function, a wedding. It was a truly wonderful experience and a magnificent opportunity to immerse myself in and learn more about Lao culture. I was introduced to and participated in my first baci ceremony and had the honour of tying white string around the wrists of the groom and the bride. There was lots of delicious food to eat. Later that evening, I had some fun learning how to dance Laotian style.

On Sunday I spent part of my day at Wat Lao Toronto, a Buddhist temple situated in the northwest end of Toronto. This was a great opportunity to experience another aspect of Lao culture.

Gathered around a ceremonial meal, from left to right, are: Khamla Phandanouvong (visiting from Vientiane, the capitol of Laos, and involved in her own humanitarian cause); Roland Drake; Sengdao, Bev Korasack, Khamkeut Keovongsa, and Khanty (Sieng Lao Radio hosts); and Chieow and Tex Sihachack.

The bowls we are holding contained offerings of food for the monks presiding at the ceremony.

Bev Korasack, Khamkeut Keovongsa, and Roland Drake standing beside a money tree.

Posing with the hosts of Sieng Lao Radio.

Khamkeut invited me to address the congregation and introduce them to Adopt a Village in Laos. As I spoke, she translated for me.

Some samples of sumptuous Lao cuisine.

To conclude the ceremony, the monk moved through the crowd and offered his blessings by splashing water on the congregation.

Before leaving the temple, I had the elder monk tie this string bracelet around my wrist. The bracelet basically symbolizes good luck.

With the ceremony finished, I was invited by Viengkham Khammongkhoune, a long time friend of Bev Korasack, to her family home. Sitting in their beautiful and tranquil backyard, we discussed more about the work of Adopt a Village in Laos and how the Lao community of Toronto could get involved. I also took time to show her the two videos: The Dark Days of Laos, my contribution revealing the secret bombing of Laos, and Adopt a Village in Laos, Ted Amsden's contribution showcasing the work of this organization with the hill tribes, both of which were presented at the fundraiser at the Capitol Theatre last month. She was very impressed, deeply moved, and extremely grateful.

In all, this weekend was amazing because of a series of small breakthroughs to raise awareness and making connections with people.

The Mission of Adopt a Village in Laos

Among the presentations at the big Adopt a Village in Laos fundraiser on the evening of September 17 was this video by Northumberland Today photojournalist Ted Amsden. Shot while he was visiting Laos in December 2010, this video vividly chronicles hill tribe life and the work of this humanitarian organization with the hill tribe people.

Fundraiser at Capitol Theatre Snap'd

It was a packed house the night of the fundraiser.

Darrell Leeson gives event 2 thumbs up!

This morning I received an email from SNAP Northumberland West, the local version of SNAP which "captures life and entertainment" in Northumberland county, notifying me that the images from the highly successful Adopt a Village in Laos fundraiser at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, Ontario in September were now online. Above are a couple of these photos.

Water Filter Brochure Distributed at Wat Lao Veluwanaram

Last night I received a Facebook notification from Sieng Lao Radio informing me that a new photo had been uploaded to their Facebook page. The photo reveals Kham Keovongsa (one of the Sieng Lao Radio hosts) giving the President of Wat Lao Veluwanaram, a Lao temple north of Toronto, one of the Adopt a Village in Laos water filter brochures at an event earlier this month. The message went on to say that the president had been informed that I would visiting the temple this coming Thanksgiving weekend.