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Nestled under the sacred mountain Wat Phu and associated ancient settlements within

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the Champasak cultural landscape, Chanthai is happy to be living with her family in a

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village at the foot of the sacred mountain Phu Kao in Champasak province in Laos. They

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live in a high-floored house to escape the heat. Chanthai is preparing to make some rice

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noodles known here as Khao Poon to sell in town.

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This is Phu Kao mountain ahead. It was the Khmer people who started worshipping it as

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sacred. They built a Hindu temple known as Wat Phu, which means mountain temple. The

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approach leading to it is lined with statues of Lingam, a sacred Hindu symbol.

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As in most Hindu temples, a sculpture of Shiva is carved in the gate along with Rahu.

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In Hinduism, Rahu is a demon known for eating everything. Shiva is holding Rahu down to

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stop him bringing evil into the temple. The temple's main chamber is located on the

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mountainside. The building has decayed over a long period of time. Strangely, there is

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a Buddha statue inside the Hindu temple. It has been enshrined by the Lao people and is

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treated as an object of worship.

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The Mekong river runs at the foot of the mountain. No bridge was ever built over the river, but

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ferries run frequently. Once the ferry arrives, Jantai's colleague goes aboard to sell Khao

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Poon.

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To make Khao Poon, they first put dough made from rice powder in a basket and steam it.

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Steamed rice powder is pounded to make soft dough and then put in this purpose made can.

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There are many small holes in the bottom of it and when dough is pushed from the top with

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a wooden tool, it comes out through these small holes and becomes delicious noodles.

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Jantai and her family do not earn much and life can be difficult, but they are grateful

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that they can live peacefully with Buddha's blessing at the foot of this sacred mountain.