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March and April are the hottest months of the year. Midday temperatures top 40º (100ºF). April 14th is Lao New Year. It marks the end of the dry season and the beginning of the monsoons. Water plays a big part in the festivities.

Anyone who's lived in the tropics knows these blue plastic demijohns. Yes, we have tap water, but not for drinking. We buy these 5 gallon (19 liters) demijohns of purified water that go for about 60¢ each. Two of them will get us through a week.