Photo Documentary - Mekong Boat Racing

I made my way down to the muddy river’s edge for my first dip in the Mekong River. The Tha Phra team was in the boat waiting for me, watching me. I gingerly walked out to the front, swung ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:52:32 -0800

Sherry Ott
I made my way down to the muddy river’s edge for my first dip in the Mekong River. The Tha Phra team was in the boat waiting for me, watching me. I gingerly walked out to the front, swung ...

I squeezed my hips into the seat the best I could, and the young man in front of me took the handle end of his paddle, knocked it against the inside of the boat 3 times, and immediately (att ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:57:30 -0700

Sherry Ott
I squeezed my hips into the seat the best I could, and the young man in front of me took the handle end of his paddle, knocked it against the inside of the boat 3 times, and immediately (att ...

It was boat racing season in Laos. The end of the Buddhist Lent marks the beginning of celebration. For Laotians, this means festivals and boating. The season culminates in a large competiti ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:06:12 -0800

Sherry Ott
It was boat racing season in Laos. The end of the Buddhist Lent marks the beginning of celebration. For Laotians, this means festivals and boating. The season culminates in a large competiti ...

On the coming weekend, I attended one of the local village races. The Tha Phra team was ready to compete; they had their game faces on and were dressed in their green and gold ’Tia’ uni ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:31:57 -0700

Sherry Ott
On the coming weekend, I attended one of the local village races. The Tha Phra team was ready to compete; they had their game faces on and were dressed in their green and gold ’Tia’ uni ...

Many of them had brightly colored bandanas on their head, or paint on their face; these boys were serious. This fun-loving group that I met a few days ago went from laughing at me getting we ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:57:09 -0700

Sherry Ott
Many of them had brightly colored bandanas on their head, or paint on their face; these boys were serious. This fun-loving group that I met a few days ago went from laughing at me getting we ...

The boating fate of the village rested on these young men’s shoulders and paddles. They easily won the first race making it look simple; gliding along the water as if it were ice. However, ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:32:27 -0700

Sherry Ott
The boating fate of the village rested on these young men’s shoulders and paddles. They easily won the first race making it look simple; gliding along the water as if it were ice. However, ...

Tha Phra started off well, but soon fell behind. The spectators watched in anticipation.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:33:20 -0700

Sherry Ott
Tha Phra started off well, but soon fell behind. The spectators watched in anticipation.

I watched from the coach’s boat as the team struggled from behind turning it into a neck and neck race.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:34:00 -0700

Sherry Ott
I watched from the coach’s boat as the team struggled from behind turning it into a neck and neck race.

The coaches in the boat were on their feet, the crowd was intently watching, and it was a photo finish; not ending in Tha Phra’s favor.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:32:44 -0700

Sherry Ott
The coaches in the boat were on their feet, the crowd was intently watching, and it was a photo finish; not ending in Tha Phra’s favor.

At the end of the day Tha Phra finished 4th out of 8 teams, a very respectable finish for the young Tia team. They had a lot to be proud of. Finally, as they came off the boat for the last t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sherry Ott) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:35:57 -0700

Sherry Ott
At the end of the day Tha Phra finished 4th out of 8 teams, a very respectable finish for the young Tia team. They had a lot to be proud of. Finally, as they came off the boat for the last t ...