Enter the Dragon year.

Artisan craftsmen of Laos skillfully crafted a long dragon using the teak wood.

 The price is not cheap I presumed as black rosewood is USD100 per kg and even old teak wood current market price is at USD7,000 per cubic metres FOB prices.

 Those wooden seats and table were nicely hand crafted with decorative features and must be very heavy.

Timber products are one of the main export of Laos.
Most of Lao export transactions are made under Letter of Credit, either in the form of at-sight drafts of issuance drafts.





There are twelve Chinese Astrology signs represented by animals that corresponds to each lunar new year and each of these animal signs have five elements attached namely Wood,Fire,Earth,Metal and Water.

In certain years,each element becomes more prominent.

Year 2012 is the Water Dragon.
Dragons are romantic creatures and are self -assured and confident in their own abilities. They do not suffer fools easily, and become impatient with people who they perceive throw in the towel too readily: for their own part, they can put up quite a fight.

 Dragons are honest, and often speak their minds, even when this is not appropriate. They are popular if somewhat inconsistent, full of energy, charismatic and colourful, strong, enthusiastic and inspiring.

Chinese Astrology is one of the oldest types of Astrology.
The origins of naming the years after animals is unknown. But legend says that Buddha once invited all the animals to visit him, and as a demonstration of thanks to those who came, he dedicated a year to each of the animals according to the order in which they arrived: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Chinese characters for Dragon( Long) has 16 strokes.
The wording makes a good Oriental Art as in Chinese Calligraphy.

To write Chinese characters, you need a brush, ink, paper and ink stone, commonly referred to as the four treasures of the study.

Writing brushes can be soft,stiff or a combination of the two. Your body posture while writing is upmost important.

Using the fingers or wrists method in holding the brush is a common practise.
 The important thing about holding the brush is the rational way of holding the five fingers and the coordinated use of these fingers.

 The thumb should press the brush slantwise from inside to outside.
The index finger holds the brush handle.
Move the finger slantwise and bend it slightly from outside to inside.
The index finger and the thumb coordinate, so that one presses and the other holds the brush handle.
 The middle finger hooks the outside of the brush.
Move this finger forcefully from left to right to hook the brush.
The middle finger must coordinate well with the third finger to write characters.
The third finger press the brush.
The third finger is placed on the inside of the brush handle pressing the handle from the inside to the outside. It coordinates with the middle finger, so that the two fingers exert an even and balanced force. The little finger, which is placed under the third finger to help it.

The important points in holding the brush are:
The fingers must exert substantial force.
The palm does no actual work.

The tiger's mouth is like a crescent moon.

Dragon horoscope year are 1928, 1940 ,1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 ,2000 and 2012.

The Chinese New Year is based on the cycle of the moon. Therefore, each Chinese New Year falls on different dates, from mid-January to mid-February. Upcoming Chinese New Year Dates: Year 2013(February 10), 2014(january 31), 2015(February 19) and 2016(February 8).