Are these "shorts" still considered "hot" in the fashion sense? Do all the "pubao's" still get these done? What about the "pusao's", what do they think about these tattoed trousers? I read in the article (where I borrowed the photo from) that if you were unwilling to get one emblazoned all over your lower half, then you would remain a "pubao" forever. No one wanted to marry a coward. Is this true? And if so, where can I get mine done?

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I haven't seen anyone with large tattoos of that nature, all over their upper legs.

I don't know what others in the Lao community think about it, but I can only speak for myself, and that is I don't like tattoos. Guys with excessive tattoos are not appealing to me, but I can live with a small one on a certain part of their body.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 15^th Mar, 2011 at 7:22am:

I haven't seen anyone with large tattoos of that nature, all over their upper legs. I don't know what others in the Lao community think about it, but I can only speak for myself, and that is I don't like tattoos. Guys with excessive tattoos are not appealing to me, but I can live with a small one on a certain part of their body.

It did say in the mentioned article that this custom has since been abolished by the more recent generation (Why?).

Me, personally, I think it's "HOT!". I'm going to do more research on this and see if they still do these in Laos. Maybe I can get one too! (kidding). In Auckland (where I stay) there are alot of Samoans who have these types of similar markings. On the same area too. Running up and down the Rugby paddock with these guys gives you a bit of an eerie feeling.

I can't believe you never seen a tattoo of this variety in Laos. (Maybe you need to spend some more time with the older generation).

Here's a more contemporary photo from Pakse:

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And the samoan styles:

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Here's another.

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We must be related!

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If you think it's "HOT", then don't kid yourself and get it done.

I don't know why the recent generation does not have that style of tattoo, you'll have to ask the Lao guys. Maybe they understand that it is frowned upon by the community, or they won't attract girls.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 15^th Mar, 2011 at 8:18am:

If you think it's "HOT", then don't kid yourself and get it done. I don't know why the recent generation does not have that style of tattoo, you'll have to ask the Lao guys. Maybe they understand that it is frowned upon by the community, or they won't attract girls.

Easy tiger. "Jai yen yen nang".

What do you mean, "they won't attract girls"?.
Read this (again): "if you were unwilling to get one emblazoned all over your lower half, then you would remain a "pubao" forever. No one wanted to marry a coward." (This is not a dircet qoute, by the way, but I'm more or less quoting myself). As you can read, the motive for all this body art was to "attract girls". Had you not made the sacrifice, then your fate would forever be sealed as a bachelor (and meat-beater). ;D

Can you please elaborate on the this statement that you just made: "Maybe they understand that it is frowned upon by the community".
Alot of my uncles have tattoos (differing from the topic currently in discussion, of course) scattered miscellaneously over their bodies. Since they were militia, they probably needed the protection offered by the "spells" that came with such art. Not everybody was mesmerised to the point of stupidity, courtesy of this hocus-pocus mythology. An uncle even confided, after succumbing to the "magic" of liquor, that, "in no way in hell, was I just gonna just stand there and let them get a free shot off. I'm not that stupid!".
Anyway. I really am curious in regards to stereotypes (in Laos)  in relation to tattoos. Over here everybody has at least one!

Goodnight. I'm going to bed. :)
Please take your time with this one. I would really like to read - in detail - your response to this matter.

Welcome to the 21st century. Everything changes over time, the fashion change, people even change. And most respectable Lao girls these days probably don't like extreme tattoos, I certainly do not.

In this day and age, it is frowned upon by the Lao community. In the past, some soldiers got their tattoos done, but mind you, I also have some relatives who served in the military and none of them have tattoos.

In fact, I can't think of anyone from my mother's and father's side that have tattoos, not even a small tattoo, and I have many immediate and extended family.

Old school tattoo is usually for protection and supernatural believe. It has a lot of meaning and done by Buddhist Monk or shaman. For young generation, 21st century its just for look, and symbolic.  
8-) ::)

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 15^th Mar, 2011 at 6:54pm:

Welcome to the 21st century. Everything changes over time, the fashion change, people even change. And most respectable Lao girls these days probably don't like extreme tattoos, I certainly do not. In this day and age, it is frowned upon by the Lao community. In the past, some soldiers got their tattoos done, but mind you, I also have some relatives who served in the military and none of them have tattoos. In fact, I can't think of anyone from my mother's and father's side that have tattoos, not even a small tattoo, and I have many immediate and extended family.

These tattoos should be brought back by popular demand! I have already expressed that they look "HOT!", and still stand firm on this opinion. What a shame. Now I can't get one, otherwise I can't get a wife. It's one or the other. I think I'll choose the latter. :P

Did your relatives fight in the revolution? Are you and your kin pro "Pathet Lao"?

Do they have any tattoo parlours in Vientiane?

llX wrote on 15^th Mar, 2011 at 10:42pm:

Old school tattoo is usually for protection and supernatural believe. It has a lot of meaning and done by Buddhist Monk or shaman. For young generation, 21st century its just for look, and symbolic.   8-) ::)

My uncles did say that theirs was done nearby, in a village temple. Their tattoos consisit of figures brandishing all sorts of weapons from machetes to knives. "Monsters" with heads in the form of wild pigs, to a snake wrapped around a buddha, are just some of the gruesome looking characters adorned on their torsos. Magic chants imbedded in some other "foreign" language was also common. None could  actually read what the "spells" meant.

Yes, they have tattoo parlours in the national capital.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 15^th Mar, 2011 at 6:54pm:

Welcome to the 21st century. Everything changes over time, the fashion change, people even change. And most respectable Lao girls these days probably don't like extreme tattoos, I certainly do not. In this day and age, it is frowned upon by the Lao community. In the past, some soldiers got their tattoos done, but mind you, I also have some relatives who served in the military and none of them have tattoos. In fact, I can't think of anyone from my mother's and father's side that have tattoos, not even a small tattoo, and I have many immediate and extended family.

I don't simply because I would later change my mind. 55555  Only a couple of people in my family have tattoos. My 2 brothers, and I think a couple of my nieces and a nephew does also. Each his own. Keo doesn't either. I am glad for that.

It all looks quite painful to me!

wrote on 16^th Mar, 2011 at 4:40am:

It all looks quite painful to me!

It's painful some people used homemade needle to give themselves tattoo.
::) :-?

llX wrote on 16^th Mar, 2011 at 5:31am:

wrote on 16th Mar, 2011 at 4:40am: It all looks quite painful to me! It's painful some people used homemade needle to give themselves tattoo. ::) :-?

For 'some people', drastic practises such as this, is revered as 'custom'.

this a Mon's style na

Mike Thailand wrote on 19^th Mar, 2011 at 11:23am:

this a Mon's style na

Hey Thai boy! These are oldschool LAO tattoos! No bs!