April 2011
17 posts
Gone Traveling
Trips to Cambodia and Vietnam. Responses intermittent but guaranteed. 
Apr 30th
6 tags
House of Spirits
In Southeast Asia, Buddhism exists alongside traditional animist beliefs. The most concrete manifestation of this are the spirit houses which you see outside of almost every home and business establishment. Most simply, the houses meant to provide appealing shelter for spirits who would otherwise reside in the heavens. The style of a spirit house is dependent on the type of spirit one wants to...
Apr 29th
1 note
6 tags
Why I might end up changing my political...
Apr 29th
2 notes
4 tags
Angkor What?
Heading back before it all falls apart. 
Apr 25th
7 tags
Snapshots from Songkran (Buddhist New Year) 2011 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During this three day holiday practically everyone partakes in a giant city-wide water fight to celebrate the coming of the rain, the cleansing of the Buddha and washing away one’s sins.  Cleansing of the Buddha: Thanks to Hong Sar and Mary from We women foundation for risking their cameras to document...
Apr 20th
17 notes
Apr 20th
2 notes
7 tags
A resident of the Women’s Weaving Cooperative in Luang Prabang, Laos and surely an avid handicraft fan. 
Apr 17th
2 notes
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Apr 16th
Apr 12th
1 note
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Apr 10th
3 notes
6 tags
Luang Say Lodge: Tourism and Development on the...
Luang Say Lodge and… …the only way to get there. You often you hear about the adverse impact of a countries’ economic reliance on an industry as volatile as tourism. The most recent example being Egypt which lost over a billion dollars in tourism revenue during its recent revolution and whose impact is far from over. Beyond being a volatile industry, tourism also creates an enclave...
Apr 9th
5 tags
Cold and Rainy. 2 words you never generally associate with SE Asia. However, on my  trip up the Mekong river from Laos to Thailand, those were probably the most commonly heard words on my long boat. Instead of the typical high 90s it was in the 50s. In December it was in the 70s and another teacher in my office was wearing gloves so I can only imagine how people have been reacting this.  But, in...
Apr 9th
6 tags
To Market, To Market.
A few snapshots from the very early morning fresh market in Luang Prabang, Laos. These photos highlight two important aspects of life in Laos. First, Laos is primarily an agriculturally based economy with over 80% of the country’s population engaged in farming. Secondly, the good sense of aesthetic and the almost compulsive attention to detail, which I often noticed in Thailand, is also...
Apr 9th
2 notes
6 tags
Splash! Waterfalls.
Lao people believe that Kuang Xi falls (30 km outside Luang Prabang)  was created when an old man dug a very deep hole on top of mountain from which a giant flow of water erupted. Legend has it the falls were so beautiful that a sacred golden deer then came to live under the cascading waters. The waterfall runs its course over limestone giving the water its unique, aqua opaque color.  ...
Apr 8th
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6 tags
Water Water Everywhere....
And so it begins… …Songkran, Chiang Mai. April 2011.
Apr 5th
1 note
5 tags
Apr 5th
1 note
6 tags
Devil is in the Details
Close-ups of the detailing on Angkor Wat’s many temples.  Ancient Khmer writing, which is derived from Sanskrit Even after centuries of construction most of the temples were never completed. The actual Angkor Wat is covered with 1700 of these dancers.
Apr 4th