On the Sunday afternoon my brother Chris and I were taken past Ban Xai to the old CIA airstrip. During the war the CIA using Hmong and Thai forces operated from three airfields. The one in the town of Phonsavan, the current airstrip called Xiengkhouang and this one which
Ban Xai
New Use For Minefield – Sandy MacGregor
New Use For Minefield The month was June – June 2013. It was late in the afternoon and Yang drove me past the Pong Hor school, past the Police Agricultural buildings and then I spied it. New Fences! That’s right the area around the Khangpunghor Minefield had been fenced. I
John Salter – Report on Fish Pond.
We are now dabbling in fish, sooo we dug a big hole! That leaked! Lined it with plastic, annnnd it still leaked!! Soooo we then put in a concrete base and rendered brick walls , annnd now it is ready for fish. So any readers out there who know what to
John Salter on Lao Bunnings and Rice Paddy’s.
BUNNINGS and RICE PADDY’S We call our local hardware shop Bunnings , only because it makes it easier to say than Sopthaineuthang. Now in Phonsavan there must be 50 Bunnings type shops, all selling the same range of goods. At one end, Cement, then reo rod (no mesh here you
Water Testing with IDEXX in Ban Xai
Water Testing with IDEXX in Ban Xai At the recent presentation of the MiVAC Annual Report John Salter – MiVAC’s Operations Manager in Phonsavan – told the gathering about the IDEXX equipment and what it could do. The next step was to tell the audience about the Ceramic Water Filter (CWF).
John Salter- Report on visit by Enrico Beretta, President Parramatta Lions.
Enrico Beretta ( that son of a gun) and his lovely Lao partner Savandaly, arrived on Wednesday. They were here for a two day visit, and stayed at the “Hard Bed Café” or is it just the Nice Guest house. We all went to Bamboozle for dinner and enjoyed a
Ban Xai to Cairns from David and Colene Clifton.
Ban Xai to Cairns. We have been home three weeks now and suffering a bit of reverse culture shock. Noise,traffic and all the unnecessary trappings that go with our lifestyle. Oh !! for the tinkling of cow bells ,wonderful sun sets and dawns , happy considerate people and our friends
ANZAC DAY AT MIVAC HOUSE PHONSAVAN .
ANZAC DAY AT MIVAC HOUSE PHONSAVAN . A traditional Dawn Service was held at MiVAC House Phonsavan at 0530 this morning. John Salter gave a warm welcome to attendees and then recited the opening prayer. This was followed by the Anzac Day address given by Colonel Dougall McMillan, AO, SC
West Ban Xai Function.
On Saturday 20th April the residents of West Ban Xai held a function to thank Mivac for the work that has been done by them in providing water and toilets to the village. The function was attended by Mr Sonsaone . First Secretary to Phoukood District and the district Health
Ban Xai Holiday News 14th April – Final Report
Ban Xai Holiday News 14th April. Today is our last day at Ban Xai ,and what a wonderful experience we’ve had over the past two months. We have become very fond of the people we have met and their ways which is gentle, considerate and respectful a way of