We have read about the story cloth of the Hmong village people where women create stories that tell details of the lives of their people. Have you seen any of them? What are some of the customs shown in these cloths? Can you take pictures of these cloths? We read that the art is called Pa ndau and is a sewing technique similar to embroidery.

I have not yet come across any of these cloths, but if I do I will inquire and send along some photos.

Are there many refugees in Thailand from the Hmong people?

There are significant numbers of Hmong people living in the hills of northern Thailand.

Are the Hmong people refugees from China originally?

There are large groups of Hmong people who live in China. There they are known as "Miao." I'm not sure if the Hmong originated from China, or if they are indigenous to different parts of Southeast Asia.

Is there any difference in culture between the people from Laos and the people from Hanoi and Saigon?

Being that Hanoi and Saigon are the two largest cities in Vietnam and Laos is a largely rural country, the lifestyles of the people are quite different. Hanoi is a small but bustling capital city and Saigon is extremely metropolitan. Laos' capital, Vientiane, is more comparable to a Cambodia's Phnom Penh. Traffic is light, it's easy to bike across the entire city, and the city has more of a big town feel. Luang Prabang, another major tourist attraction in Laos is certainly more quaint than cosmopolitan.

What is the landscape in Laos?

Outside of the cities, Laos is quite rugged and mountainous. The country is landlocked, but does have rivers - such as the Mekong - running through it. The highway infrastructure here is still very underdeveloped. A bus ride from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, which would be a 40 minute flight, took 11 hours. There were few streetlights or traffic lights, and the roads were poorly paved.

What are the attitudes toward Americans? Towards the French?

The people here are generally quite friendly towards foreigners. Laos historically sees few tourists, but the tourism industry is going through a boom of late. While the country is not really on the radar for luxury tourists, it is quite popular for the budget traveler and backpacker sort. Recent travel stories in large US newspapers have made Luang Prabang a growing hot-spot in the region, and local people seem to welcome the infusion of foreign cash into their economy.

What are the interests of the kids in Laos? Do they have any satellite communications available to the general population? Are there internet cafes in the smaller village areas?

I have seen some kids playing soccer and badmitton in the streets. Also, many young boys become monks, so their interestes are often related to Buddhism. Communications is improving greatly in Laos and is approaching international standards. Just a few years ago there were no cell phone service providers here, but now there are several options and it seems like many people have mobile phones. There are many internet cafes in the bigger cities and the connections are surprisingly fast. I have not been in enough smaller village areas to say what the communication system is there, but I have read that there has been talk of implementing some wireless internet options in the smaller villages.

How are women treated in this culture? Is it any different from the other countries you have been in so far?

People generally say that women here are treated well. Last week was international women's day, which is a big deal in Laos. Many stores and offices were closed, and this is the day that the men in the family are supposed to pamper their wives. Lao women are restricted from having relationships with foreign men, but some say that the sex industry here is growing but not yet approaching the same level as in Thailand.

What are the jobs available for people there?

Most of the country is engaged in farming. Most people who live outside of the cities are farmers. Otherwise, many of the same jobs that exist elsewhere also exist in Laos.