TKK market fire - the next day (pictures only)

Chao Anou - Hero

Looking across the Mekong towards Eastern Thailand, a giant statue of King Anouvong stands with one hand on his sword and other pointing across the river. Perhaps it’s a welcoming handshake but it looks like he is about to karate chop a block of concrete. Most Lao people I have asked think he is saying “that's mine, give it back”.

Sugar and Spice and IWD

International Women's Day in Laos is a big deal. It's a public holiday, restaurants offer special dinners and groups of female workers band together to celebrate. Sounds pretty good to a card-carrying feminist, right? It wasn't quite what I expected.

My Monday Morning Mumblings: Justice takes a dive - Greed serves a poisoned apple

In January, the Australian Council for International Development responded to the cuts to the Australian aid budget. They wrote about their disappointment with this decision but said despite this they welcomed "the government’s commitment to ensuring our aid is working for poverty reduction and sustainable development."