WILD LAOS - How This Khmu Village Survives Now the Opium has Gone

[@girlsontheloose1]

When I visited Laos in the late '90s there was opium everywhere. I photographed a guy smoking on the streets of Luang Nam Tha, and again in the market there sprawled out on a wooden platform. There were opium dens in Vang Vieng in 1998 and I even had the pleasure of visiting one. One time I was taking a slow boat north of Luang Prabang and the driver stopped to collect some goods at a riverside village. I got out the boat and wandered up to the village with him. Inside a ramshackle house an elderly man was smoking opium lying on a bed with a golf ball-sized piece in a bowl beside him. Kids were pinching intestines from Mum cutting them up on a makeshift wooden board. It was an incredible scene. Back then opium wasn't really an issue because only the very elderly used it and especially so those far from pharmacies and medical treatment. BUT then the tourists came and the young Lao saw how excited or surprised we were at the opium use, and many backpackers indulged, so the young thought hmmm this must be good. Prior to that very few if any young people could be bothered with it. Sadly for the remote elderly that spelt the end of cultivation and a very cheap source of pain medication for those who actually needed it. The same thing has happened in Afghanistan only there there is no govt cracking down and as use has shifted to the young there are massive problems.

[@NowinLao]

Thank you for sharing this.. incredible story. Would've loved to have visited Laos back in those time. 💚

[@girlsontheloose1]

@@NowinLao Cheers Todd. Eager to call by you guys in June if you're around :)

[@samanthanonthaveth2994]

Thanx for sharing that extraordinary story!

[@lyradm1]

They are poor but so happy and enjoying their lives and each other. How wonderful is that?

[@inkmantwo2]

Dude you have got the best vlogs. Love your vids Mate.

[@NowinLao]

Glad you like them!

[@saibounsalat3757]

Thank you for doin this video, people dont know about the khmu people, I always wanna see my people. Yes we do opium but we want to go further

[@stevej6252]

Hi Todd good vid, nice song at the end, whats the name of it please

[@NowinLao]

Thank you. Sam Baker 👌

[@donaldthomas7753]

Beautiful stills and the music brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Todd.

[@craigh714]

Very cool!

[@juan5991]

Another masterpiece video! Congratulations my friend. Beautiful song at the end.

[@akirayoung1101]

Hi :) Today I hitch a free ride along with you two simply for the awesome scenery :) Though I was born in Laos I have not seen every corners of the country yet :( This video is amazing :) Two thumps up :) 👍🤔👍

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

Beautifully filmed . To capture those moments of custom and tradition is so precious. Thank you, Todd, and Neenee for taking us on this Magical Mystery Tour. Sending you all the best. 🙏❤🙏 Jim and Harriet Richmond, Va.

[@NowinLao]

Always great to have you both along 🙏

[@reidadams4277]

Our grandparents and theirs had that sense of community. I think it is a great loss. Yes, the modern world is amazing but we lost the important things along the way.

[@Vinnie101a]

Such beautiful and happy people. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into their way of life.

[@petercross6960]

Paddy Doyle recommended your channel today. Only watched this particular vlog so far and WOW. Looking forward to bingeing your content.

[@NowinLao]

What a good man he is! Great timing Peter.. we're only a few days into this current adventure, enjoy! Also.. all of our other travel series have their own playlists which can be viewed start to finish without the interruption of everyday videos 👌😉

[@kongswethai3964]

another nice video, u are the best promotor for a visit to Laos

[@bobwelo]

Great bit of boggiey woggiey.

[@saibounsalat3757]

Thank you for visiting my people, love it

[@dean_575]

My wife and I enjoyed this video very much. We found it so interesting.Your videos make us want to travel to Lao. Thanks for what you do.

[@Fredroc57]

It's always amazed me how a total stranger pulls up into a village and the Lao people just open their home to them. They seem to really enjoy showing strangers how they live, worship and entertain themselves and their guests. I was a bit surprised to see the elderly woman move as well as she did. Great vlog and stills as always, Todd. Now can we talk about what crazy movie they had playing on the TV? 😂👍🙏

[@NowinLao]

Hahaha I did notice that on the TV..

[@reedyg666]

this video is absolutely amazing These Khmu people are fantastic

[@NowinLao]

Always fun visiting Khmu villages 💚

[@johnfitzpatrick5627]

Great Video Now I know where Johnny Walker Black label started

[@shayandevi9870]

A mazing ! Merci de nous faire partager ces moments incroyables et rares ! Quel accueil ! On ne rigole pas avec the Good Luck there ! J'ai passé un super moment avec Nini et toi ! Thank you ! 😊

[@teoschatz8430]

🤗🙏🏼! Another great video, enjoyed it. Thank you. Have a great day.

[@jefftomodachi3989]

Beautiful video!!! Hope they can continue their traditions and culture. They are a precious gift to the world!!

[@rkmrbig]

Thanks for the excellent video. Keep up the good work. Take Care from Texas

[@lohpl954]

I really like this song selection of yours.

[@tobyjugg6202]

Brilliant capturing of the essence of these peoples culture - good on ya for stopping buddy. These traditions go back so far, its great to see those villages that keep them going.

[@Yvonmoua]

Khamu is nice people and very good hospitality too!

[@NowinLao]

Two of my favorite ppl in Laos.. Hmong and Khmu 👌

[@Yvonmoua]

@@NowinLao Thank you so much.

[@petermaffescioni6656]

You and Neenee never cease to amaze me with your videos. You always seem to capture the heart of the Lao people at the their best. Thanks again for taking us on this journey.

[@NowinLao]

Thank you Peter for riding along with us! 👍

[@philyew3617]

What an amazing experience, absolutely priceless. The customs you keep discovering and then sharing with us... I can't put into words how precious these moments are. I wonder if those people were previously consumers of the Opium they cultivated? And how they dealt with the medical aspect of withdrawing from use of the drug, it must have been quite a challenge? The lady who threw up... She was so keen that the ladies team should win, she was just making room for some more whiskey😉. Thanks Todd & NeeNee for bringing us along on this journey.

[@Yai1950]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@roundlycriticized666]

Top vid Todd! Fascinating stuff...one of your very best!👍

[@keelykeeton8242]

Love the Lao people. They seem so happy to share there life with strangers

[@mahntasticfilms6906]

Keep up the good work! It’s cool to see my Khmu people from the motherland!

[@justnoption3809]

I enjoyed this video. Great Job!!!!

[@ayangdidi5524]

Todd , as usual, cool cool chap !

[@dancalhoun7011]

Just Spectacular

[@mtnmandeluxe5429]

Hey brother,,another superb village video! The song said,,,drinkin an dancin baby, all inside our crazy dream" it didn't say anything about puking down your neighbor's back. Lmao. You dig around and find the MOST interesting things. And the window nuts lol excellent! I love me some stilt houses,,if I ever build another house,,that's the plan! Everything sooo interesting and fun,,and time after time,,,the people always show their kindness and hospitality and love towards others. This is definitely a top ten'er. Safe and interesting journeys my friend. Ttyl,,,Marlon

[@chuephengyang210]

Great work, Todd and Neenee! Thanks for sharing.

[@boxcartwilly]

A very touching story 👍😎❤

[@KohYaoYai]

Great impressions 🙌🏼 thank you both

[@mtnmandeluxe5429]

Excellent closing song! Dont know who it was,,but he's an excellent lyricist..Reminds me of John Prine,,Steve Goodman,,Townes Van Zant,,those type of singer songwriters. Just beautiful!

[@NowinLao]

Search for Sam Baker on here mate 😉 Enjoy!

[@ayangdidi5524]

Todd is a real ethnolog getting specialist for let us know "deep laos" habits and daily life.

[@MichaelJonesC-4-7]

Yet another great video. Very informative and quite touching. Thank you. 🙏

[@NowinLao]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnpaulwebb3440]

Thank you for the video.

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

Thank you Todd for the sights. You're living a dream very few will ever see. 💖🙏

[@lyradm1]

Talk about fate. You guy just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Loved the drinking ceremony. Your timing is impeccable.

[@NowinLao]

I know, right! 👌😝

[@darhornghow8846]

Simple life, simple happiness 👍

[@saigongriffin]

Wow awesome to stumble into this

[@NowinLao]

Glad you have 😁👍

[@chiccenhawkc]

💯🔥💙👍

[@ftkinsella]

It's incredible how a community that has very little yet they give so easily. Like I said before, they are an amazing people and so beautiful inside and out. Cheers Todd. Hi Neenee

[@NowinLao]

Cheers mate 💚

[@jordiking2481]

Raw culture at it's best.... once again Todd your cinematography is up there... how you capture people is a natural born Aussie talent... awesome

[@NowinLao]

Thanks Jordi.. Hope you're doing well mate 🙏

[@Per.G.Andersson]

Thanks

[@retiredrebel111]

Thank you so much for sharing your travels in Laos. I was talking with a woman from Laos but afraid since i do not speak the language I would not do well in Thailand. It looks so beautiful and the people are wonderful. I appreciate both of you and what you share.

[@ewengillies9826]

I think you could get adicted to their customs snd ceremonies Todd so easily. The former K8ng of Thailand initiated many new projects there to get the farmers off the opium.trail. Great vision of their simplistic life mate .. they've got it right. Bushyboy Oz.

[@NowinLao]

Thanks Bushy!

[@davidogg5534]

One of the best vlogs yet, extremely interesting

[@FOCUSonASIA13]

Nice vid closing, I like to close with my photography on my travel videos, also like to do a compilation video of photos after travelling to certain areas

[@markarmstrong5642]

Awesome experience to view. Cheers

[@antruok4950]

Gday Todd - great to see you immerse yourself with the families and traditional life - great video 🍻👌👋👍🙏

[@RobotsWithKnivesCartoons]

This video was something else, you really managed to capture something really special with this one.

[@NowinLao]

This certainly was special.. thank you

[@johngrippa6876]

Excellent vlogs proper I like what your doing your and wife

[@johngrippa6876]

and I like your choice of music keep up the good work.

[@NowinLao]

Thank you John

[@patrickchan5001]

Granny sure got some moves....

[@timkiwi]

Beautiful people of Laos

[@tmobiley8691]

i like i follow you many times 🤩

[@richardsimpson7776]

Life is great… what an experience

[@davepb5798]

Another cracker! I guess it's their harvest festival, but done old school, beautiful.

[@spirittaos]

Your videos are a great way to show and preserve the culture of these people. Also, to show how warm hearted they are. Please keep it up, very important.

[@NowinLao]

These are the type of videos I love doing most. Not rushed.. just taking everything in 💚 Thank you my friend 👍

[@davidvalez2256]

Amazing. Not many people have been to more places in Lao than the two of you. Keep up the good work, this channel is much better than any vloggers going to the tourist zones for the first time. We all appreciate the help you give the less fortunate. Only tip is you have a full time Lao language teacher, one word per day or week is not that hard! You just have to add it to your routine like getting work done or going to the gym.

[@davidvalez2256]

I’m not knocking you, my Thai/Chinese/Lao mother in law can’t speak much more than a word per year living in California .if you’re ever on Highway 13 about 60 kilometers from Pakse would love to chat in person. If I make it up north to Vientiane I will for sure stop by the restaurant.

[@NowinLao]

Sure thing 👌

[@scotbownes5627]

The most interesting and awesome videos - I truly can’t get enough - thank you Todd for showing us these amazing people and places 👍🙂

[@NowinLao]

Thanks Scot.. glad you're enjoying them mate. Many more amazing moments to come from this trip 😁👍

[@billsimpson2392]

Happy Australia Day Knackers... 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

[@NowinLao]

Ah yes, Australia day.. no doubt you'll be drunk texting me later 😝

[@julianshalders6047]

See the television 😢, government can send thier propaganda through to these wonderful people, very sad , give them T.V but no school, anyway a great video of thier kindness and hospitality, excellent Todd and nee nee , luved it, it was like i was there👍👍❤

[@markforrester1888]

Wow. Just wow. Blown away by this one Todd. The black and white stills at the end we're made even more emotional by the song. What was the song and who sang it. My best guess is Jerry Jeff Walker.

[@NowinLao]

Thanks Mark.. Sam Baker is his name 😉

[@markforrester1888]

Waves! Thanks Todd. You made me do some research.

[@NowinLao]

The fun is always in the search 😁👍

[@lesleyculley9682]

❤️❤️❤️ your videos Todd & Neenee....and the song at the end was just beautiful......who was the guy singing please?

[@NowinLao]

Thank tou. Sam Baker 😉

[@lesleyculley9682]

Thanks for the reply

[@investorwarrior]

Thank you for making such awesome videos. I have a question for you about doing higher studies in Laos as an American? Do they allow people coming in for higher studies and staying their long term? Thank you

[@barrycook5607]

Song at end? You and Neenee?

[@dennisg8139]

Hi, Todd. Love your channel. I would just like to ask you if you did get a permit for flying a drone in Laos? And was it difficult getting the permit? Dennis, Norway

[@NowinLao]

Msg me on my Facebook Dennis and I'll give you the info you need 👌

[@garybaker9593]

love your work guys🍻🥄

[@chrissonnenschein6634]

very curious Maku nut Dracontomelon macrocarpum x Anacardiaceae (distant relation to mango, pistacio, poison oak) ⁉️🌰 Presumably the bark/.eaves used for medicine and maybe tinder, or tanning leather.

[@reidadams4277]

"And that was the last i saw of my Pepsi" Lol! As a kid we didn't get pop other than a very special occasion. And I would have grabbed that Pepsi and ran.

[@NowinLao]

Haha yeah.. I hope he enjoyed it 😉

[@ballistic350]

How different are these people compared to the hmongs? I'm curious??

[@geraldtabu7923]

In Africa the drug of choice is canabis. Southeast Asia was replaced by Afghanistan and Pakistan in opiods transited through Africa to European markets

[@mistress1659]

Did u asked them why oppium is Gone??

[@Big_M_Race_Ace]

I'm looking forward to the next vlog in 3 days time, after Todd finally crawls down from the ceiling after trying that home brew 😏

[@NowinLao]

HELLLLLP... Somebody get me down! 😝

[@davidspeer5068]

Is that their AA?🎉

[@NowinLao]

🍺😝👍

[@geraldtabu7923]

Those programmes to swap opium for bananas rarely works

[@Murph945]

That's a very serious drinking game

[@NowinLao]

Too serious for me mate.. 🤪

[@RosarioSidoti]

Where is this Place in Map?

[@NowinLao]

0:56

[@danieltoo2008]

What a ceremony to celebrate good havest and abubdant crops abd payback by worshipping to the ruce wine goddess. Typical sugar when fermented turns into alcohol, atleast gives you a suagr hyper energy rush. Many culture actually cooks with fermented rice as main dish n deserts. We still do in many off our duahes n deserts today. Red bull n Green Ninja are your western versions off endorphin sugar rush like ethanol for your car. Enjoy...

[@ICheat_ILie_ISteal]

Make maku nut milk cappuccino. Lol

[@thailee4355]

They Lie to you, Opiunm never gone in Laos. We even have Opium in the U.S....

[@spongesurf12]

My wife has a scar on her thumb from chopping the tops off the maku nuts. She said they are usually deep in the jungle.

[@NowinLao]

I'd never seen them before. I wish we had bought more.. they are really nice nuts!

[@shaungooch1766]

Tod how do I find you on messenger or WhatsApp? I ordered us those wide headed brooms! They haven’t arrived yet but I picked up a bute if you want it. Anyway mate hook up on some messenger is better than this 👍

[@NowinLao]

Yeah hit me up on my Now in Lao FB messenger 👌

[@lifestyle3724]

Your Video clip is not clear enough to watch. Do it better.

[@NowinLao]

www.patreon.com/NowinLao

[@peterhoward7521]

Last time I was up north there was still plenty of opium, but not like a few years ago when you could buy it at the night market stall.