Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Bubble Gum Dreams
There may be a few of you who are old enough to remember the inserts in bubble gum packs -- small pieces of waxed paper a bit smaller than a business card. One set had pictures of exotic places and things with brief explainations about the pictures.
When I was a lad in the 50's, I had three of these that stuck to my mind, and still do to this day. One was the Great Wall (China), another stone money (Yap, FSM), both of which I have seen, climbed and touched.
The last, the Plain of Jars insert, had a picture of a man (presumably a "native") wearing only a skirt standing next to one of the stone jars. The image stuck, and one of the things I've always wanted to do was to see those jars.
The Plain was a location that until recently was very difficult to get to. By the time I was old enough to think about going there, there was a war on. Later other things just got in the way. Today that dream of seeing and touching one of the fabled jars came true.
When I was a lad in the 50's, I had three of these that stuck to my mind, and still do to this day. One was the Great Wall (China), another stone money (Yap, FSM), both of which I have seen, climbed and touched.
The last, the Plain of Jars insert, had a picture of a man (presumably a "native") wearing only a skirt standing next to one of the stone jars. The image stuck, and one of the things I've always wanted to do was to see those jars.
The Plain was a location that until recently was very difficult to get to. By the time I was old enough to think about going there, there was a war on. Later other things just got in the way. Today that dream of seeing and touching one of the fabled jars came true.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Luang Prabang
It's up at the crack of dawn with the monks. They are already parading past our hotel when we emerge bleary eyed, at 5:45 am. After a quick demonstration on how to serve sticky rice (alms) to a monk (you must take off your shoes and kneel before them), we get ready to receive the line of some 300 monks who come each day to get their daily rations of rice from the local people. Monks are not allowed to cook anything themselves as they might accidentally kill some poor innocent insect which might happen by. Bad karma!
When our rice bowls were empty, it's back to our hotel for our morning rations, aka breakfast. Our guide, Toubee, picks us up at 8:15 to visit the Wat Xieng Thong -- yes, another pagoda. It's considered to one of the most beautiful in Luang Prabang. It has several layers of roof which sweep down almost to the ground, and is covered with shimmering mosaics, including a tree of life covering one whole side.
Next, it's down to the Mekong river for a boat ride to the sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. On the way, we stop to sample the local moonshine -- rice wine and whiskey -- made in an old fashioned barrel still. There were also several vendors there selling mostly textiles. We continue on to the caves, where another 250 step steep climb awaits us. There are two caves, one shallow and one deep, which are home to thousands of Buddha which have been placed there by locals since the 16th century.
After our climb, it's time to eat again, so we go across the river to a local restaurant, then journey back down the river. Before returning to our hotel, we make a side trip to the weaving, paper making, and silver factories.
After a couple of hours of siesta, we wander through the night markets, make a few more purchases, and have pizza and spagetti at a local restaurant.
It's up at the crack of dawn with the monks. They are already parading past our hotel when we emerge bleary eyed, at 5:45 am. After a quick demonstration on how to serve sticky rice (alms) to a monk (you must take off your shoes and kneel before them), we get ready to receive the line of some 300 monks who come each day to get their daily rations of rice from the local people. Monks are not allowed to cook anything themselves as they might accidentally kill some poor innocent insect which might happen by. Bad karma!
When our rice bowls were empty, it's back to our hotel for our morning rations, aka breakfast. Our guide, Toubee, picks us up at 8:15 to visit the Wat Xieng Thong -- yes, another pagoda. It's considered to one of the most beautiful in Luang Prabang. It has several layers of roof which sweep down almost to the ground, and is covered with shimmering mosaics, including a tree of life covering one whole side.
Next, it's down to the Mekong river for a boat ride to the sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. On the way, we stop to sample the local moonshine -- rice wine and whiskey -- made in an old fashioned barrel still. There were also several vendors there selling mostly textiles. We continue on to the caves, where another 250 step steep climb awaits us. There are two caves, one shallow and one deep, which are home to thousands of Buddha which have been placed there by locals since the 16th century.
After our climb, it's time to eat again, so we go across the river to a local restaurant, then journey back down the river. Before returning to our hotel, we make a side trip to the weaving, paper making, and silver factories.
After a couple of hours of siesta, we wander through the night markets, make a few more purchases, and have pizza and spagetti at a local restaurant.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Arrival in Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos
08/16/09
Arrived safe and sound in Luang Prabang around 3pm. Stunning green hills with misty clouds surround the town which sits on the bank of the Mekong River.
We are now unquestionably in the old French Indochina. This town is more like Vietnam than Thailand or Bruma. Certain streets look like Saigon or Hoi An in Vietnam. Beautiful in the old French colonial way.
The people are busy and determined. Smiles all about, clothing 100% modern. They even have sponsor t-shirts for the river canoe race which will take place in a few days. Motorbikes everywhere, along with a lot of bicycles. Luang Prabang is the center of the province, and has about 60,000 people, quite a change from Thailand and Bruma. It just doesn't seem as crowded as those places.
It also has an aura of adventure, if you can call never being further than a few steps from a cheap cold beer adventurous. This is backpacker country, and hasn't been overrun by tourists yet.
First stop (drumroll) a pagoda. Then another pagoda. Then to what we have named the 900 step pagoda. About 900 steps up a hill, straight up. Quite a view, but a killer climb. We'll need more practice before the Kilamanjaro climb.
Dinner at a Loas food resturant (which holds cooking classes) which was cheap and good. An early night though, as we're up at 5am to take part in the monk sticky rice donation ceremony.
08/16/09
Arrived safe and sound in Luang Prabang around 3pm. Stunning green hills with misty clouds surround the town which sits on the bank of the Mekong River.
We are now unquestionably in the old French Indochina. This town is more like Vietnam than Thailand or Bruma. Certain streets look like Saigon or Hoi An in Vietnam. Beautiful in the old French colonial way.
The people are busy and determined. Smiles all about, clothing 100% modern. They even have sponsor t-shirts for the river canoe race which will take place in a few days. Motorbikes everywhere, along with a lot of bicycles. Luang Prabang is the center of the province, and has about 60,000 people, quite a change from Thailand and Bruma. It just doesn't seem as crowded as those places.
It also has an aura of adventure, if you can call never being further than a few steps from a cheap cold beer adventurous. This is backpacker country, and hasn't been overrun by tourists yet.
First stop (drumroll) a pagoda. Then another pagoda. Then to what we have named the 900 step pagoda. About 900 steps up a hill, straight up. Quite a view, but a killer climb. We'll need more practice before the Kilamanjaro climb.
Dinner at a Loas food resturant (which holds cooking classes) which was cheap and good. An early night though, as we're up at 5am to take part in the monk sticky rice donation ceremony.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Setting Sail
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
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