DESTINATION: LAOS

December 9, 2014

Destination: Laos via Bangkok, Thailand. Laos is in Southeast Asia with Thailand, Myanmar (Burma,) Vietnam and Cambodia as its neighbors.

This is a bridge that connects Laos to Myanmar. It's at the GOLDEN TRIANGLE...where you can see Myanmar and Thailand from this point in Laos.

Laos is landlocked, with no direct access to the sea, but is blessed with major rivers, the lifeblood of the people... and waterfalls. It's a maze of rugged mountains, high plateaus and untamed rivers and is about the size of Great Britain.

 

 

With a population of about 6 million, there are 60 different ethnic groups or tribes, most of whom have their own language. Children learn to speak Lao when they enter school. 

In the past, transportation was usually by foot or along the rivers, but the network of paved roads is increasing (as is the use of cars and motorbikes.)  However, many villages are still accessible only by river or by foot. About 80% of the population lives in rural villages, growing their own food- predominantly sticky rice, often with a few chickens, perhaps pigs, goats or cows and a small vegetable garden.

The government in Laos may be described as loosely Communist, in that it's not nearly as oppressive as traditional Communist regimes. The people seem content with their lives and they respect and love their rulers...

 

even though they're one of the poorest countries in the world. 

For the tourist, the food is a delicious combination of French, Thai, Chinese and their own Lao style cuisine. Their soups and unique salads are extraordinary!! Finally, there's a full range of hotel facilities.

My quick impressions...there's lots of construction in the larger cities...and waaaaay too much dust; 

there are beautiful Buddha statues and carvings of all kinds and materials, old and new, no matter where you go...big cities and tiny villages;

 

 and street markets, held both day and night... the place to buy WHATEVER you need.

We even visited a market that's set up along both sides of a railroad track in Bangkok... aptly called the Railway Track Market. The train comes through twice a day...the vendors must pull up their awnings and pull back their products to let the train through. The people visit each vendor as they walk along the narrow tracks...

 Also in Bangkok, we visited the Amphawa Floating Market that's mostly for Thais rather than tourists. Locals congregate to buy and sell everything from cooking pots to fresh flowers and wind-up toys...and all kinds of food. Vendors pack their boats and cruise the waters, waiting for someone to wave them down to buy their wares. Delicious meals are cooked right from the boats...

Monks are special and revered by everyone; 

the people of Laos eat almost anything from rats to snakes, squirrels as well as insects of all types

 

and they're gifted wood carvers, paper makers and weavers.

We started our trip in Bangkok, Thailand and ended it with a couple of days there as well. Laos is a beautiful country...the people are warm, welcoming and very friendly...quick to smile and exchange the "sabaidee" greeting saying hello...how are you. Our visit was memorable and very enjoyable.  We were in Chiang Rai, Pakbeng, Muang La, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Bolaven Plateau (famous for its coffee and tea production,) 4000 Islands and Champasak (that predates Angkor Wat in Cambodia...Wat Phou is more than 1,000 years old,) Don Daeng (where we stayed on our own houseboat...the porch opened directly onto the Mekong River,) Vientiane (Laos' capital city,) then back to Bangkok.

Here are some more photos of people, places and things from our visit...

I think this travel post has been MORE than long enough...and there's so much I didn't include. Our horizons have been further broadened, our understanding of other cultures increased and our feelings of appreciation for our own country, home and family strengthened. Thank you to Asia Transpacific Journeys for arranging our marvelous visit to Laos and Thailand...and happy travels to you, wherever the road takes you for the holidays and beyond.

Hugs,

abbyj

ARTFUL READERS CLUB  

November 28, 2014

"The Girl in the Green Sweater:

A Life in Holocaust's Shadow"

by Kyrstyna Chiger with Daniel Paisner 

Hi Folks,

It's the end of the month...time for my monthly book review and art for the Artful Readers Club (and anyone else who might enjoy the suggestion of a new book to read or avoid.) Hope the month has been good to you and that you're ready to face the holiday season head on!

This month's book is THE GIRL IN THE GREEN SWEATER: A LIFE IN HOLOCAUST'S SHADOW by Krystyna Chiger (who lived through the horrific time) and Daniel Paisner. Krystyna recounts the story of her survival as a child, while her family transitioned from a wealthy home to the Lvov Ghetto and then into the sewers of Poland, living amid rats, worms and filth. They fled to the sewers, along with several other Jews, then unknown to them, to save their lives during the final 14 months of the Holocaust. Their belief was that they'd see the sun again in a few weeks...this was not their lot!

 

 Krystyna was almost 8 years old when Germany and Russia split Poland in 1939. Living under the Communist government wasn't easy for the Jews in Eastern Poland as the Ukrainians were brutally cruel to them. When the German army invaded, they suffered another brand of cruelty. All their circumstances are viewed and explained through the eyes of Krystyna...a child victim of the times, (augmented, in part, by the unpublished memoirs of her father.) But, in typical child-like fashion, her positive attitude shines through her writing as she's grateful to be with her family...even through such difficult times.  Their survival beneath the city in the inhabitable sewers, in addition to their own bravery and tenacity, depended greatly on the support and eventual friendship of a Polish Catholic man, Leopold Socha (a sewer worker and former thief) and his two friends. They risked their own lives and that of their families to bring them supplies, comfort and news even when the money to pay  for these services ran out...good to find that their intentions were not solely mercenary.

With each book I read about the Holocaust, I'm overwhelmed by the human capacity for cruelty as well as bravery, generosity and will to survive. This book is no different in that manner...Krystyna shares her thoughts as a little girl and keeps the reader intrigued by the story and the sheer miracle of survival. Most poignant were the times she and her little brother could hear the children playing above their sewer grate... 

This was a beautiful piece of historical literature.... beautiful, harrowing and heartbreaking. It's not just another Holocaust story, it's unique, haunting and in the end, triumphant!! YES...this is a must-read!

Thanks for stopping by. I pray you enjoyed your Thanksgiving (those of you who celebrate the holiday,) and that you found many blessings for which to be thankful. I'm thankful, among other things, for YOU! 

xox,

Hope to see you for my next...

abbyj

  

ARTFUL READERS CLUB
Review for SEPULCHRE by Kate Mosse

October 31, 2014  

Hello Artful Readers and other lovers of books. It's the end of October...time for another artful book review. I hope this posting finds you well and that you've been able to fit in some good reading time throughout the month! My selection for October was another of Kate Mosse's Languedoc Series, SEPULCHRE. Languedoc refers to a geographical region in southwestern France...an area that my daughter and I recently spent some time exploring with our cameras. This book came alive for me, having been there, but it will come alive for you as well...compliments of Mosse's engaging writing. It's a piece of historical fiction encompassing romance, obsessive revenge, a smattering of supernatural, some tarot divination, puzzle-solving and researching for long-lost family roots. It's compelling fantasy and mystery with two concurrent stories separated by time, linked in mysterious ways. One story is set in the late 1700's...the other in 2007. France is beautifully represented and the characters from both periods of time are well rounded and complex. Told over centuries using ordinary people and places, Mosse is a master at creating a haunting, atmospheric epic and twisted, suspense-filled narrative.

The first story begins in late 18th century Paris and carries on to southwestern France's  municipalities of Carcassonne, Rennes-le-Bain and neighboring town of  Rennes-le-Chateau...the Midi...an area rich in ancient legends and superstition dating back to  the Visigoth era. The second story, contemporary, is about a young American graduate student, an unknowing descendent of the French characters in the first story. Her journey to France to do some professional research ends up taking her on a voyage of personal discovery.

If you're a fan of historical fiction and a mystery buff  with a leaning towards the occult...this book's for YOU! 

See you for my next posting...the last few months have been exceptionally busy as will be the coming month so postings will be sparse. Looking forward to getting back to normal...

Big Hugs and thanks for stopping by...

abbyj