The villagers were so friendly, usually greeting me first, their faces so hopeful and their work all so beautiful, that I was sorry I couldn’t buy a piece from every single woman in the village.
Even though I could buy work of such beauty in Luang Prabang or Vientiane, I find it much more satisfying to buy directly from the weaver. I love the gentle, friendly price negotiations that leave everyone feeling that they have made a fair transaction, and the warmth, openness and eye contact that are to be found in less visited villages. And nothing can replace the smile of a weaver when she knows she has made a sale.
By the time bargaining was completed and I asked for a photo of a weaver with her piece, quite a crowd had gathered, and the atmosphere had become one of a party with everyone laughing and joking together as I took her photo.
