The Freedom of Lostness...

Vietnam's Love Mountain

2010-07-29T17:24:00.002+07:00

Vietnam (Reuters Life!) - Once a year, with his wife's blessing, Lau Minh Pao gets to have a guilt-free tryst with his ex.

Their rendezvous' have played out more like strolls down memory lane than salacious flings, but they are part of a treasured tradition in this mountainous corner of northern Vietnam that may challenge some more linear concepts of love.

"In the past, we were lovers, but we couldn't get married because we were far apart," Pao simply as he waited for his date on a dark night in the village of Khau Vai in Ha Giang province.

Now when they meet, he said, "we pour our hearts out about the time when we were in love."

They are not alone.

For two days each year, on the 26th and 27th of the third month of the lunar calendar, the tiny village of Khau Vai, strung along a saddle in the lush hills near China, is transformed into a "love market."

Hundreds of members of Giay, Nung, Tay, Dzao, San Chi, Lo Lo and Hmong hill tribes, among others, trek in from across the mountainous districts nearby to attend.

Pao's wife was there, too, meeting her old flame.

Some travel for days, even from neighboring provinces.

This year, local artists in colorful clothing performed the local myth telling the story of the origin of the Khau Vai love market.

Legend has it an ethnic Giay girl from Ha Giang province fell in love with an ethnic Nung boy from the neighboring province of Cao Bang.

The girl was so beautiful that her tribe did not want to let her marry a man from another tribe and a bloody conflict ensued between the two tribes.

Watching tragedy unfold before them, the two lovers sorrowfully decided to part ways to avoid further bloodshed and to restore peace.

But to keep their love alive they made a secret pact to meet once a year on the 27th day of the third lunar month in Khau Vai. Thereafter, the hill village became known as a meeting place for all of those in love.

These days, the tradition is carried on, albeit with a modern edge.

Giggling girls in native headdresses make dates by text message on their cell phones, and hold them up to snap digital photos of performances.

New roads have made the village that lies some 500 km (310 miles) north of Hanoi more accessible. In the Nung language, Khau Vai means 'clouds among the mountains'.

"The young generation now go out together, and find each other, and it is more modern, freer and clearer. Back in the old days, our grandparents had to pursue love in secret, not like today," 23-year-old Hua Thi Nghi an ethnic Giay.

Under the dark sky, as other couples cavorted nearby, Pao was looking forward to seeing his old girlfriend.

"We've arranged to meet and she'll be here a little bit, around 10 pm. We meet together to re-tell the tale of how it was when we were in love back then," he said.

The next day, however, he said their meeting had been cut short by a downpour.

But there's always next year.

Kelani Ganga

2010-06-29T18:29:00.000+07:00

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

2010-06-29T18:25:00.002+07:00

Abraham Maslow developed a theory of personality that has influenced a number of different fields, including education. This wide influence is due in part to the high level of practicality of Maslow's theory. This theory accurately describes many realities of personal experiences. Many people find they can understand what Maslow says. They can recognize some features of their experience or behavior which is true and identifiable but which they have never put into words.

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/maslow.htm

Sinhalese New Year 2010

2010-04-12T11:15:00.004+07:00

As the midpoint of the sun, from Pisces enters Aries, the very first sign of the zodiac, the Sri Lankan New Year dawns at the precise time of 06.58 am on the 14th of April 2010. From this time onwards, all activities that are important for a healthy and prosperous future are conducted to auspicious times determined by the ancient but popular science of astrology. One such significant ritual is the first bath preceded by the anointing of the head with fragrant oils which symbolizes a fresh and pure start with the beginning of the Sri Lankan New Year.

Jewel of Muscat

2010-04-08T10:39:00.004+07:00

The project involves the reconstruction of a 9th-century sailing ship in Oman.The Jewel of Muscat is based on a range of historical sources, including the findings of the Belitung Wreck, which was discovered in 1998. The 18 metre ship has been built without nails. The planks were sewn together with coconut fibre, and had to fit perfectly so as to ensure that the ship is watertight. The wood is protected by a layer of goat fat mixed with lime. The planking on the ship is made from Afzelia africana timber from Ghana. The Jewel of Muscat was built in a specially constructed ship yard at a beach in Qantab, Oman. The ship's voyage begins in Oman, with stops in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, before ending in Singapore. The journey retraces part of the historic maritime trade route between Arabia and the Far East. During its voyage, the team will use 9th-century navigation techniques. The voyage began in February 2010, with the Jewel of Muscat reaching Singapore by June 2010.

http://www.jewelofmuscat.tv/

Rumassala

2010-04-05T11:49:00.002+07:00

Rumassala is a massive hill oddly out of place in the landscape just outside the Galle harbour. Legend details that during the Rama – Rawana war Rama's brother Luxhmana, was injured and Hanuman was sent to Himalayas to fetch medicinal herbs. Hanuman forgot the name of the herb but he brought a chunk of the peak containing many herbs. However the mountain fragment slipped and broke into five pieces of which one fell to Rumassala. It should be noted that the renowned scientist Sir Arthur C. Clerk has a bungalow in the precincts of Rumassala, as it is said to be the place that has the highest specific gravity globally.

Virgin White Tea

2010-03-04T13:11:00.005+07:00

Sri Lanka's virgin white tea fetches $1500 per Kilo.

Tea maker Malinga Herman Gunaratne uses an ancient Chinese method of harvesting the tea. The tea is plucked without a human ever touching the leaf. In keeping with the Chinese tradition the tea is cut instead of being plucked using gold plated scissors. The virgins that the Chinese used to pluck/cut the tea are, however, no longer a requirement.

Marco Polo's Journey

2009-12-28T12:59:00.000+07:00

Marco Polo's Lies

2009-12-28T12:55:00.002+07:00

"Marco Polo often reported hearsay and had a tendency to stretch the truth. He wrote of enormous p'eng birds, or gryphons, from Madagascar, for example, that were large enough to consume elephants as well as men with dog features. Some of his accounts were outright lies. In one section, he relates how the Polos helped the Mongols capture the southern city of Xiangyang from the Southern Song dynasty by introducing the Mongols to catapults. It turns out the Mongols already had catapults and the city fell two years before the Polos arrived in China.

Some historians have suggested that Marco Polo never went to China and that his adventures were based on accounts that he heard while working at his family's trading outposts on the Black Sea and in Constantinople. These historians base their argument on: 1) the fact that Rustichello was a fiction writer who probably embellished the account; 2) that Marco Polo failed to describe the Great Wall of China, chopsticks, tea, calligraphy or the binding of women’s feet; 3) that the things he described—paper money, porcelain—were well known to travelers who came to Constantinople and other trading areas; and 4) that Marco Polo wasn't mentioned at all in the extensive Chinese archives between 1271 and 1295 even though he described himself as a personal emissary of Kublai Khan.

Historians that contend that Marco Polo’s journey probably did take place argue: 1) that tea and chopsticks were so commonplace perhaps Marco Polo failed to mention them because he was so used to them; 2) that foot binding was something practiced mainly by upper class women who rarely left their homes so Marco Polo didn't see them; 3) that the Great Wall as we know it today for the most part was built after Marco Polo's death (in his time it was decaying mud bricks) and walls around towns and cities were as common in Europe as they were in China; and 4) that documents that may have mentioned Marco Polo probably were destroyed (many Mongol documents after the Mongols were ousted from China)."

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=48&catid=2

Rama preparing for the siege of Lanka

2009-12-28T12:50:00.000+07:00

The story of Kirchhayn

2009-12-02T23:34:00.003+07:00

The wonderful story of Kirchhayn, a tea planters bungalow...

"The first Bostock arrived in Ceylon in 1884- John Henry Bostock. He arrived to take up the post of a resident engineer at the Colombo Harbour. Norman Bostock, J.H. Bostock’s son was born in England and on leaving Marlborough College in 1910, he travelled to Sri Lanka.

At around the same time, Elizabeth Pyman and her sister Ruth, the two attractive daughters’ of a wealthy ship owner, embarked upon their cruise around the world. As organized by the girl’s grandfather, on arrival in Ceylon, they were met by A.J. and Oswin Wickwar. They escorted the girls on many expeditions and adventures while they holidayed in Ceylon. It so happened that Norman Bostock happened to join them on some of these outings.

In a very short time Norman had decided that Elizabeth was the girl for him. Norman proposed to her in the Churchyard of a little village called Aislaby in Yorkshire. They were later married in Colombo in 1923. The wedding was a grand affair and included several Ceylonese friends in the guest list. During the 20’s Norman Bostock began to buy land 3 miles from Bandarawela with A.J. Wickwar. After convincing the Colombo Commercial Company, which was at the time wholly British owned, to invest the capital so that Aislaby factory could start functioning, Norman Bostock’s planting years began.

Mark Bostock, Norman’s son was born in Ceylon, in September 1926 and spent most of his time here. In 1945, Mark returned to Ceylon when changing aircraft carriers as his ship, ‘The Indefatigable’ was going to Australia and he was destined for the pacific in a frightful American Liberty flat- top which he joined up in Trincomalee. During the short time he spent with his father in Colombo, they purchased Kirchhayn, another small tea estate adjoining Aislaby in Bandarawela.

When demobilized from Trincomalee in 1947, Mark headed straight to Aislaby Estate, where he began to learn the art of tea planting, and tasting. Aislaby become a leading estate in the Uva with probably the most up-to date factory in Sri Lanka.

It was a devastating blow when Aislaby was nationalized in November 1973 and all that was left was “Kirchhayn Bungalow” and the 50 Acres of land that the family were allowed to retain. Mark retired from John Keells in 1986. He sadly passed away in April 2000 and leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth and 2 daughters."

http://www.kirchhaynbungalow.com/history.html

Pilgrimage to Kataragama

2009-10-30T22:07:00.000+07:00

We travel for this...

2009-10-26T21:55:00.001+07:00

"We travel for this: to settle in to our body and connect with our heart; to savor diversity; to be surprised; to remain flexible. We travel to remind ourselves that compassion must overwhelm narrow–mindedness and fear, and that we are a part of the human community."

Lisa Lindblad
www.lisalindblad.com

A letter to Bill from Udurawana, Sri Lanka

2009-10-18T10:10:00.003+07:00

"Dear Mr. Bill Gates,

This letter is from the Udurawana from the Kandy Hilly`s. We have bought a Computer with Microsoft for first time to our home and we have big problems, which I want to be bringing to your notices.

After connect to internet we planned to open e-mail account so we filled the form in Hotmail in the password box but something funny happens only ****** appears (stars), but in the rest whatever we typed the letters and numbers appears nicely, but we face this problem only in
password box.

One friend told that there are bites on his computer but he cant receive them. Can you also include some bites in my computer - I mostly like Cadju and Rata Cadju and Bola Kadala but I like to try anything interesting you also have !

Your esteemed customer,
K.P.G. UDURAWANA. (Kiri Panu Gaya)
The House on the Hilly`s
KingsTown, Kandy"

Sri Lanka: Gateway to Other Worlds?

2009-10-14T22:22:00.003+07:00

"Long before modern scientist ever dreamed of the existence of gateways between parallel universes, the ancient world already regarded Lanka or Serendip as being the Antipodes, a topsy-turvy wonderland inhabited by nagas, yakas and various other-worldly spirits. Oral traditions still current in Lanka tell of hidden gateways situated islandwide through which yogis and siddhas, could travel to distant places or even to other lokas or worlds in the blink of an eye.

Lanka’s longstanding reputation as a mysterious gateway to other worlds has been testified to in modern times also by the great pioneer of dream-related psychology, Dr. Carl G. Jung. In Memories, Dreams and Reflections, Jung recorded his own experience of an intensely vivid post-anesthesia dream in which he suddenly found himself floating in space hundreds of miles above the earth’s surface. He especially recalled seeing the island of Ceylon directly beneath him like a vast emerald in the shimmering blue Indian Ocean"

http://www.kataragama.org/research/gateways.htm

2009-10-14T21:54:00.002+07:00

"Not only is the universe more complex than we ever thought, it is far more mysterious and magical than we ever believed."

American physicist Dr. Fred Alan Wolf

Tea Horse Road

2009-10-14T21:40:00.002+07:00

"An ancient route that spans a not unimpressive 2,350 kilometers, traversing some of the most diverse and mutable terrains in the world. For thousands of years, travelers have been lured across its snow-capped mountains, precipitous canyons and lively streaming rivers to discover some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of China.

As its name suggests, the Chamadao, literally translated as 'Tea Horse Road' or 'Tea Horse Path', was a central trade route for exchanging Tibetan horses and Chinese tea. The corridor came to play a crucial role in the communication and exchange between the cultures of present-day Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, with the route passing through, among a number of important posts, the volcanic ranges of Tengchong, the colourful culture and dwellings of the Khamba people in Changdu, the breathtaking gorges of Lijiang, through Tibet as far as Burma and India."

http://english.cri.cn/725/2006/02/19/168@52713.htm

Frangipani Tree

2009-10-06T13:10:00.000+07:00

Crystallized tears of Buddha

2009-10-04T22:05:00.004+07:00

"The interior of this mountain (Adams Peak) produces red rubies, blue sapphires, yellow Oriental topaz, and other gems; they have each and every precious stone. Whenever heavy rain occurs, the water rushes out of the earth and flows down amidst the sand, and the people search in the sand for the stones. There is a saying that the precious stones are the crystallized tears of Buddha"

From The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores by Ma Huan, who accompanied Cheng Ho on three of the later expeditions. They remarked on the curious impression in the country's highest mountain, a giant 'footprint' which Buddhists associate with the Buddha, Moslems with Adam, and Hindus with the god Shiva.

Anoma

2009-10-03T11:27:00.004+07:00

"Human insecurities, greed and conflicts blur the boundaries between reason and passion and explode the tensions that exist within all of us. We create and destroy in our search for immortality, never accepting life’s unalterable fact – impermanence."

Anoma Wijewardene

http://www.anomawijewardene.com/home.html

Green light district?

2009-09-24T09:04:00.001+07:00

"Prostitution originated in Mesopotamia, but in Thailand some part of the law in the U-thong era 628 years ago mentioned prostitutes. They lived in a market outside of the palace wall and included Chinese.

At the end of the King Rama IV, Rattanakosin Era, some part of the bill for protection from diseases mentioned “there should be a lamp for the symbol in front of the house [brothel],” but it did not specific the color. It is assumed that green was used because it is associated with officers. That was the first law controlling prostitutes to follow the law. After that people called brothels a “green lamp place “ and called the prostitute a “lady of the green lamp.”

The Photography of Alison Wright

2009-09-16T16:35:00.003+07:00

An extraordinary woman called Alison Wright. On January 2, 2000 Alison’s life was nearly cut short during a horrific bus accident on a remote jungle road in Laos. Alison’s recent memoir, “Learning to Breathe; One Woman’s Journey of Spirit and Survival,” chronicles this inspirational story of survival and years of rehabilitation, and her ongoing determination to recover and continue traveling the world as an intrepid photojournalist.

Here is a synopsis of the story: http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200502/alison-wright_1.html

www.alisonwright.com

Doorman Kuttan

2009-09-04T11:44:00.006+07:00

Doorman Kuttan, at the Galle Face Hotel, is among the longest serving employees in the world. He is at the hotel since 1942. He still remembers (and tells the story with great gestures) the day when - during World War II - a Japanese Zero fighter grounded in front of the hotel on the large green field, called the Galle Face.

He can be found charming as ever saluting guests at the lobby of the Galle Face Hotel.

Its good for you

2009-09-04T11:30:00.004+07:00

"Dear Cyril Gardiner; Maybe you have changed my life. After living for years in air-conditioned Singapore, used to enter lift cabins pressing the “shut-the-door”-button before anything else, landing at the Galle Face Hotel was a relief from the hectic day-to-day life of the Lion City.“Why don’t you walk up the stairs?” Cyril asked me. “It’s good for your health!” You have made this a principle of this hotel, and wooden boards still display your philosophy on each floor of the hotel, cleverly placed next to the lift doors"

Andreas Augustin (Still taking the stairs)
http://www.famoushotels.org/hotels/270

Anouska Hempel

2009-08-24T12:03:00.003+07:00

"Anouska Hempel, director of the first Sri Lankan Biennale to be held in Colombo in September, is a fine artist, interior designer, and yoga practitioner. A woman who likes to trailblaze new ideas – and always in unique, spiritual spots – she has a natural affinity for the arts and in particular the teaching of yoga; which she does on her spiritual trips known as ‘Journeys to Nirvana’.

Aimed at yoga lovers, these one- and two-week tours take in both known and relatively unknown sacred sites of Sri Lanka. Yoga and meditation are practiced daily at all the spiritual places visited, which include the beautiful Arankale – an ancient Buddhist temple with meditation walk leading to a purification tank; Ritigala – another centuries-old Buddhist monastery set in the jungle and surrounded by ancient ruins; a meditation cave in Sigiriya; Polonnaruwa; Kandy; and the littleknown Nalanda Gedige (20km south of Dambulla), where a small temple, also of great antiquity, marks the very centre of the island.

The mystical Ramboda Falls, one of the many tour highlights, is within the locale of the Hanuman temple, where rituals – rich with drumming, chanting, and incense – are performed daily to the Shiva Lingam (sacred Hindu phallic stone). The yoga trip finishes at Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada, or Samanala Kanda), where climbers must start at 2 am to ensure that the summit is reached in time for the spectacular sunrise. Anouska Hempel moved with her family from England to Sri Lanka’s Galle Fort seven years ago, where she opened the first Fort art gallery. In December 2004, when Galle was ravaged by the Boxing Day tsunami, the building became headquarters for PG’05, a year-long relief operation which gave help to over 10,000 Sri Lankans in need. Shortly afterward, Anouska moved to Colombo for her children’s education, and combined studying yoga with launching the arts initiative ‘Imagining Peace’, with the aim of creating the very first Sri Lankan Art Biennale (September 10-14).

Anouska says: “It’s not only about showcasing Sri Lankan art; this is a project with a vision.” She feels that CAB’09 ‘Imagining Peace’ will be a groundbreaking event that will not only mark and herald this historic and long-awaited time of peace in Sri Lanka but will inspire, and act as a launch pad for a celebrated, internationally recognized biannual presentation of Sri Lankan expressive creativity."

Published in Serendip Magazine | July 2009

Perahera

2009-08-13T18:34:00.001+07:00

The spell of Sri Lanka

2009-08-13T11:10:00.001+07:00

My friend Jessica just found an old coffee table photo book in their local thrift shop - serendipitous! - an enormous old tome published in the early 70s of photos by Roloff Beny with epilogue by Arthur C Clark.

He writes " ...if you have read this far you may already be doomed - my conscience will not allow me to close without a warning. I came to Ceylon in 1956, intending to stay for six months to write one book about the exploration of the island's coastal waters. Fourteen years and twenty books later, I am still here, and hope to remain for the rest of my life."

Manampitiya Flag

2009-08-08T10:36:00.002+07:00

"The above photograph shows the Manampitiya Banner from the private collection of Mrs. M. G. Fernando, the author of the book ''Sri Lanka Flags - Unique Memorials of Heraldry", 1980. The banner has been faithfully reproduced from the original found in Manampitiya, by a local artist A. Albert Appuhamy."

"The banner shows a mounted Elephant as the principal device with emblems of the Sun, Moon and Stars, the fish, a monstrance, a Pyx and very specially a crucifix. The flag has belonged to members of the Karava caste, long settled in the area Manampitiya, in the District of Tamankaduwa. The families have fled from the maritime provinces of Negombo, to avoid persecution by the Dutch. The flag itself may have originated in Portuguese times or much earlier. On conversion to Christianity the symbol of the cross and the Pyx have been added. Over a century later the families that settled in Manampitiya adopted the Hindu religion."

http://www.defonseka.com/k25.htm

Faces of Buddha by Bill Bevan

2009-08-08T10:26:00.003+07:00

Bill Bevan is a photographer, writer and archaeologist.

He specialises in visualising and writing about archaeological and historical sites from around the world. "My aim is to evoke the sense of place and people's engagement with a site as well as its historical importance"

http://billbevan.photium.com/portfolio51655.html

Sihigiri

2009-08-08T10:16:00.004+07:00

"Hail! It is certain that those who go to Sihigiri, remembering it, will go there again. Even though other things should be forgotten, wherefore should this not be remembered?"

Early engraving in Sinhala verse.

http://www.srilankainstyle.com/sri_lanka_experience_page.php?expid=17

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

2009-08-06T18:22:00.003+07:00

Originally created in the reign of the Sinhalese King Wickramabahu III during the 14th century, these gardens were improved by his successors and later by the English after their conquest of Kandy.

Marianne North in 1876 during her visit to the island befriended and wrote about the then director, Dr G. H. K. Thwaites, who with his great acquirements and steady devotion to science, gave a world wide reputation to the Gardens during his tenure of office from 1849 to 1880. “He had planted half the trees himself, and had seldom been out of it for forty years, steadily refusing to cut vistas, or make riband-borders and other inventions of the modern gardener”, she remarked with astonishment. The trees were massed together most picturesquely, with creepers growing over them on a natural and enchanting tangle.

Here is a great gallery by Alex Meeres: http://www.pbase.com/alexjet/garden

Thai Matchbox Museum

2009-08-02T22:59:00.004+07:00

"There's a thin line between passion and obsession. In a dusty shophouse on Wong Sawang Road, picture frames are piled on tables and hung on walls, and miscellaneous items are placed on the floor and poke out from a glass cupboard. Only the sign outside, written in Thai, indicates that this is a matchbox museum.

"I wish others to learn more about matchboxes here," said Chuan Sunthranan, the 81-year-old owner and enthusiastic matchbox collector."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/070608_Outlook/07Jun2008_out001.php

Night Theft

2009-07-31T04:25:00.006+07:00

In the News: Australian Woman Arrested for "Night Theft" in Phuket

"Further adding to the exotic reputation of Thailand, A.S, an Australian woman, was arrested for stealing a bar mat and charged with “night theft". There is actually no specific “offense” in Thailand termed as “night theft.” There is, however, aggravated theft, which is a theft case that is considered more serious based on a number of factors, one of which is having the theft occur at night time."

If you intend to steal something do it on a bright shinny day!

http://thailawforum.com/blog/in-the-news-australian-woman-arrested-for-night-theft-in-phuket.html

Sophal Ear

2009-07-31T03:59:00.007+07:00

TED Fellow Sophal Ear shares the compelling story of his family's escape from Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. He recounts his mother's cunning and determination to save her children.

Scorpion Wine

2009-07-16T12:42:00.002+07:00

"Cambodians rarely eat scorpions, but often preserve them in sra sor, or rice wine. Drinking the wine relieves aches and pains. My experience is that, if you drink enough scorpion wine, it can be very effective, at least in the short term. However, the aches and pains often reappear with greater severity the next morning. Maybe you need to actually eat the scorpion after emptying the bottle"

http://becambodia.com/

South East Asia with Nicolas Pascarel

2009-07-16T12:18:00.005+07:00

"Nicolas Pascarel was born in Paris in 1966 and worked as a photographic reporter for over twenty years. Since the early 90’s, he has been spending most of his time in Naples and Havana, but now has decided to return to his first passion – South East Asia – with the intention of remaining to work in the region for years to come. Nicolas did numerous photo workshops for the Royal Academy of the Fine Arts School in Phnom Penh, in the city of Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand and Bangkok; as well as Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He often collaborates with a Cambodian NGO taking care of street children in Phnom Penh. He has exhibited his works in galleries and photo international festival across France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, Cuba, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and China. He also created a documentary about Cambodia called “Durant la Pluie”. Fotoasia is a cultural organization that promotes exchanges between European and Asian photographers. The purpose of Fotoasia is to promote and present exhibitions of young Asian photographers in Europe."

http://www.pascarel.com/workshop.html

Bolaven Plateau

2009-07-04T15:57:00.001+07:00

"The Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos is a poor, but fertile agricultural area known for its coffee plantations and spectacular waterfalls. Various coffee growing co-operatives are now established growing the coffee beans for domestic Cafe Lao and export abroad.The main ethnic group living in the Bolaven Plateau are the Laven people - Bolaven literally means the "home of the Laven".The Bolaven Plateau was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War and unexploded ordinance (UXO) is still being found and diffused. The French first introduced coffee to the area when Laos fell under French colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.An area of fantastic, natural beauty the Bolaven Plateau is slowly escaping its grinding poverty with the help of fair trade initiatives and a nascent tourist industry."

Laos: Plain of Jarres

2009-07-04T15:55:00.000+07:00

Chami Jotisalikorn

2009-07-01T00:47:00.001+07:00

http://www.chami-j.com/

Koh Samui Flash Map

2009-06-30T02:12:00.008+07:00

Thaiwijit Poengkasemsomboon

2009-06-24T18:13:00.003+07:00

"Thaiwijit Poengkasemsomboon is considered Thailand's foremost abstract artists. He creates works in a variety of media, and often works with abstractions that stimulate the viewer's emotions. Thaiwijit perceives himself as an ordinary person and his paintings are a reflection of an ordinary human's life."

http://www.rama9art.org/thaiwijit/index.html

Galare Chiang Mai

2009-06-24T18:02:00.000+07:00

http://www.galare.com/

The owner of Galare Guest House, Ajarn Poonsak, is a retired professor from Chiang Mai University. Inspired after spending time in the United States, he decided to turn the family's business motel into Galare Guest House. Cheap and cheerful...

Villa Savanh

2009-06-23T11:19:00.002+07:00

The Villa Savanh has opened in Luang Prabang adding another option to the boutique property scene. Located on the main street in downtown, Villa Savanh gives off a true ‘home away from home’ vibe by offering only three duplexes for guests in a converted French villa. Each of the large duplexes features a large sitting room, private bathroom and garden views.

Bo Klua

2009-06-19T16:55:00.002+07:00

Making this remote part of Nan Province more accessible for visitors is Bo Klua View, nestled in the foothills of Doi Phu Kha. Overlooking the Mang River and the ancient salt well village of Bo Luang.

http://www.bokluaview.com/

Doi Suthep

2009-06-11T21:21:00.001+07:00

Baan Kingkaew

2009-06-11T21:08:00.003+07:00

"Happy faces comes from loving careat Baan Kingkaew Wiboolsanti Orphanage. Since “Baan Kingkaew” opened in 1966, the home has worked continuously to improve and develop living conditions and the quality of care it provides for poor and otherwise homeless orphans.

Today, Baan Kingkaew provides a home for 50 children aged between 3 months to 6 years old. In their important early childhood years, we strive to ensure them a good quality of life in a loving, caring environment. Qualified and experienced carers including nannies, kindergarten teachers and a healthcare team drawn from relevant medical & health science faculties of Chiang Mai University, ensure the children are looked after around the clock."

http://www.baan-kingkaew-orphanage.org/

Dao Anh Khanh

2009-06-05T09:06:00.005+07:00

"Located to the east of Hanoi, close to the Red River, is the home of artist Dao Anh Khanh. Comprising of a charming traditional stilt house filled with paintings and surrounded by landscaped gardens, decorated with various sculptures and installations, this home / studio has become known in Vietnam as a centre for installation and performance art. Anh Khanh has traveled the world extensively, primarily in the US, exhibiting his artwork and giving live, eclectic performances to pleasing crowds."

http://www.daoanhkhanh.com/

Artist Mai Kien’s

2009-06-05T08:45:00.004+07:00

"Located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Artist Mai Kien’s studio and gallery is tucked away in a tiny alley next to a sewing shop. The first impression from the outside may not be very appealing but once inside, the beauty of her painting takes you to ‘a world of arts’. The studio opened in May 1990 and Mai Kien has been creating her distinctive contemporary lacquer ware artworks. She is one of the first Vietnamese artists to use lacquer in contemporary art. A visit to her gallery is not just about buying her paintings, as she is very happy to take you on a tour of the gallery and show the painstaking process of her labour of love."

http://buimaihienart.com/default.asp

Commuters in Hanoi

2009-05-27T20:59:00.001+07:00

Commuters in Hanoi II

2009-05-27T20:55:00.004+07:00

Reading Glasses to Rural Ethnic Minority Women in Vietnam

2009-05-27T20:23:00.006+07:00

The need:
The rural areas are poor, the mountainous areas more poor, and the tribal areas most poor. The “poverty line” in the mountains varies, but hovers near $50 US a year (not a month). Reading glasses are rarely seen in the most isolated communities. Older people, especially women, often have poor eyesight, in part from hours of embroidering in bad light, etc. Although inexpensive by Western Standards, the $3-4 that they cost is a problem there. For older women, embroidering is one of the few ways to contribute materially to the family (by making embroidery for sale).

The source:
In Hanoi, reading glasses cost around $3. US. In the mountains, they cost more (transport costs, no competition, etc. In the US, drug-store chains charge over $10., but good ones can often be found in “99 cent stores” for…99 cents. In New York City, Jack’s 99 Cent Stores are “the place” (40th and Madison in Manhattan, others). The range needed is 2.00 to 4.00, with preponderance at 2.50 to 3.75. 4.0 is rarely found). Also needed is an object upon which to have the potential recipients focus, to get an estimate of strength (in diopters) best suited for him/her. Postcards (especially New York City skylines) are great for this.

The “drill”:
When entering a village, connect with the child who will, inevitably, be the first one to greet you. Identify respective homes (“Viet Nam, New York. Viet Nam, New York) with appropriate pointing. Establish that the postcard shows your home, again by pointing (alternating between the postcard and yourself, and saying, “N.Y., N.Y.”. Autograph the postcard on the back. Give her the postcard. She will run home, show it around the family (siblings, parents, etc., ending up in the hands of the elders). When you arrive in the village, observe the distance at which each elderly person holds the PC, which is the distance at which it is in clearest focus. Estimate strength needed (14”-need none; 18”- 2.0 diopters; etc. up to fully extended arm’s length (which demands the strongest that you have- usually 3.50 or 3.75). Give her a pair; it is often obvious that she does not know how to wear them. Demonstrate on you and then on her. Observe what she picks up to be the first object seen – almost always, it is her coat or other textile. The realization that the glasses would allow her to embroider (by making visible the weave) is immediate. Smile, shake hands, and get a picture of her and you (for the folks back home). Leaving tag on for the photo is good. Refuse any token offered as compensation, unless they seem to be offended by this (in which case, you yield). Cut off the tags with scissor, nail clipper or pocketknife. Watch the other kids who observe this interaction; they will scamper off to tell their own elders, then wait for the arrival of other elderly who know a good thing when the “see” it.

Although women have the greatest need, men will also want them- to read, etc. However, few (if any) will participate in the aforementioned public distribution. Presumably, this is because (being guys) they are unwilling to admit their “imperfection” in front of the whole village. Expect women of progressively lower ages to come and request glasses. Some do, in fact, need them now. For the others, it is, “Hey, the price is right, and sooner or later, we WILL need them.)
If possible reserve 2 or 3 pair for your departure from the village. Expect a few men to tug at your sleeve (in semi-private), indicating a need for them that they were unwilling to acknowledge in more public surroundings. Bask in benevolent and justifiable joy.

Tell everyone that you know to bring glasses to Viet Nam. If not coming any time soon, send glasses (or the money to buy them) to the 54 Traditions New York office to buy glasses for others to transport and still others to distribute. It’s admittedly a second-hand experience, but, still - It’s a mitzvah!

Courtesy of Mark Rappoport

Mount Fasipan

2009-05-23T11:31:00.003+07:00

Fansipan or Fan Si Pan (Phan Xi Păng in Vietnamese pronunciation (help·info)) is a mountain in Vietnam, the highest in Indochina, at 3 143 m. It is located in the Lào Cai province in Northwest Vietnam, 9 km southwest of Sa Pa Township in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. Fansipan is dubbed "the Roof of Indochina"

Art Vietnam Gallery

2009-05-22T18:59:00.004+07:00

"The story of Art Vietnam Gallery and its Director, Suzanne Lecht, is as dramatic and transformative as the recent history of Vietnam itself.When Art Vietnam opened its first gallery in a traditional Vietnamese "tube house" in Hanoi's ancient quarter of "36 Streets," it blended the old with the new and quickly established an international reputation as the authoritative source for contemporary art in Vietnam.

With a track record of identifying and developing exceptional new talent, Art Vietnam became a destination for art tours of the world's leading cultural institutions, private collectors and diplomatic visits.Having outgrown the original gallery, Art Vietnam recently moved from its "tube house" on Hang Than to just around the corner at 7 Nguyen Khac Nhu. Visitors to the new space will find that the evolution of Art Vietnam's style mirrors the breathtaking pace of change of Vietnam itself-- a country steeped in tradition which stands poised on the leading edge of the international art world.

Now housed in a large contemporary space, Art Vietnam Gallery has three floors of video, photography, painting and sculpture, a piano bar and a large outdoor terrace. With international tours and invitations, Art Vietnam Gallery is recognized both in Vietnam and abroad as an avant-garde voice of Vietnam today."

http://www.artvietnamgallery.com/

54 Traditions

2009-05-22T18:21:00.003+07:00

"54 Traditions Gallery is the only gallery in Vietnam focusing on the antiques, artifacts and art of Vietnam's 53 minority groups and the Kinh majority people. We have over 1000 objects on display and objects from our collection have been exhibited in museums in Hanoi. We focus on the cultures of Viet Nam’s 53 minority peoples-the things they make and the things they use.What we offer can be called antiques, art, or material culture.

We have a room dedicated to each of the following categories: The Central Highlands, Tribal Textiles, The Shamanic Tradition, Functional Objects and Water Puppets, Older Things.Our approach is “anthropological”- we believe that the value and appreciation of an object is increased when we know what it is , when and why it was made and who made it, who used it, why it looks the way it does.

We also offer select objects from the Viets (the Kinh), the majority culture of Viet Nam, including objects from the recent past and also from the distant past"

http://www.54traditions.com.vn/

The PURE essence of travel..

2009-05-22T08:47:00.001+07:00

"Travel in 2009 and beyond is no longer about simply going away, indulging in "bling" holidays and coming home relaxed. It is now about participating in life enriching experiences and returning home transformed. It is about fulfilling the next and very final level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-actualistion. Self actualisation is characterised not by a willingness to consume prestige goods or services for the sake of upgrading oneself socially but, by a quest to find one's own true happiness through connections with loved ones or with the world. This is the PURE essence of the true travel experience."

Serge Dive, PURE Life Experiences.

Old Bangkok

2009-05-18T10:08:00.002+07:00

Connections Vietnam

2009-05-17T15:16:00.004+07:00

Travellers are constantly seeking a genuine cultural experience, but are often thwarted by the next bus load of tourists. Connections Vietnam aim to bring the real flavor of Saigon through meeting, eating, cooking, and learning activities. Through Cook, Dine, Learn and Meet, you can get a real perspective on the city, something that for most visitors would be totally out of reach.

http://www.connectionsvietnam.com/

Mekong: Milton Osborne

2009-05-15T22:50:00.004+07:00

A popular account of some of the historical highlights of exploration and development along the Mekong, Milton Osborne's offering is as much travelogue as history. For the more recent material he draws on forty years personal involvement with Southeast Asia, focusing on development issues; for the earlier period he is most fascinated by the history of European exploration. The result is episodic and personal, but also readable and informative.

http://www.amazon.com/Mekong-Turbulent-Past-Uncertain-Future/dp/0802138020

The morning stroll around Luang Prabang

2009-05-15T22:45:00.001+07:00

Why I love the Tea Country

2009-05-12T20:42:00.006+07:00

The tea country is wonderful. This is the area of Sri Lanka I know best. I love waking up early in the morning and going on a long 5 or 6 hour walk through an endless maze of trails surrounded by lush fields of tea. I love to cross rivers, climb mountains, reach villages, talk to a planters I meet along the way and then return to the bungalow for a well-earned lunch, a swim in the pool, a massage or a herbal bath. And at the end of the day, I love to sit around the fire in the evening with friends and fellow travelers, playing games, playing the guitar and telling travel stories.

The Norwood Estate, Hatton, Sri Lanka, 2003

The wheather in Thailand

2009-05-12T16:48:00.011+07:00

Lao Air Connections

2009-05-11T13:09:00.001+07:00

Sri Lanka's Barefoot Act

2009-05-08T14:36:00.001+07:00

The government is considering a proposal to usher in a new ‘barefoot revolution’ in Sri Lanka as part of its philosophy to revive ancient Sinhala traditions.

This will see the systematic phasing out of footwear use in all government offices, and other places where politicians and officials are present. The practice will be first introduced in Parliament, as well as offices of the President and Prime Minister, and later extended to cover all government offices.

“Wearing shoes and slippers is a recent habit introduced to our people by western colonialists,” says Emeritus Professor Amaradasa Gunasekera, originator of the idea. “The ancient Sinhalese knew that we living in a tropical country do not need to cover our feet. In our current quest to revitalise indigenous knowledge and traditional Sinhala Buddhist culture, we want to restore this excellent practice.”

Professor Gunasekera, who is Presidential Advisor (No 223) for reviving ancient traditions, has drafted a policy paper on transforming Sri Lanka’s public sector into a ‘barefoot zone’. When introduced, this will require visitors to all public places in local, provincial and central governments to remove their footwear and leave them in a secure place at the entrance.

“We don’t anticipate a problem in public cooperation,” says Professor Gunasekera. “After all, we all do it willingly when entering temples and kovils. So why not extend this good practice to our ‘temples of public service’?”

He was emphatic that this should not be seen as a ban. “Bans are another decadent concept of the crumbling west. We in the east do everything voluntarily through enlightened public consensus. Barefoot Nation will be introduced on this basis.”

Asked whether public officials themselves will be allowed to move around inside their offices with footwear, he said the matter was still under discussion. “We have to tread carefully on this one,” he said, intending no pun. “We don’t want any retrogressive public official petitioning Supreme Court on his fundamental rights being violated.”

Creating barefoot public offices is to be the first step in transforming Sri Lanka into a fully-fledged barefoot nation under the prevailing chinthana. The Health Ministry is to send a top level delegation of officials to study China’s barefoot doctors programme, with a view to emulating it here.

Meanwhile, a defence ministry source denied that this new national policy had anything to do with fears of disgruntled members of the public throwing shoes, sandals or slippers at politicians or senior officials.

Ethnic Minority Music of Southern Laos

2009-05-06T12:39:00.004+07:00

This is a collection of landmark recordings by Laurent Jeanneau documenting music created by the Harak and various Brao ethnic groups in Southern Laos. Here you can hear the true historic roots of Molam music (now a venerable popular music style in Laos and Thailand) played on the Khaen along with vocal styles from this region. Also featured here are Gong ensembles, various stringed instruments, cymbals, drums, and sung poetry all captured live on location with the ambient sounds of the surrounding villages. These recordings were made in Xekong, Champasak and Attapeu provinces and because much of this music is unknown, this is probably the first time recordings have ever been released of indigenous music from these remote areas of Southern Laos.

http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/item.asp?Item_id=39&t=Ethnic-Minority-Music-of-Southern-Laos

SUBLIME FREQUENCIES is a collective of explorers dedicated to acquiring and exposing obscure sights and sounds from modern and traditional urban and rural frontiers via film and video, field recordings, radio and short wave transmissions, international folk and pop music, sound anomalies, and other forms of human and natural expression not documented sufficiently through all channels of academic research, the modern recording industry, media, or corporate foundations. SUBLIME FREQUENCIES is focused on an aesthetic of extra-geography and soulful experience inspired by music and culture, world travel, research, and pioneering recording labels.

Need a shoe? Check out Chatuchak

2009-04-27T15:54:00.002+07:00

Chatuchak market in Bangkok, also known as JJ, is widely regarded as the world's biggest, with more than 15,000 stalls set amid 14 hectares of narrow, windy lanes. Officially open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, it's also open on Fridays to wholesalers, although individuals won't be turned away. More than 200,000 people shop at the market each day, buying everything from clothes to watches - imitation, brand new and second-hand - leather goods, silk, food and livestock.

Heritage of Phuket Town

2009-04-27T15:42:00.002+07:00

Famed as beach resort, Phuket in Thailand also has an old town on the other side of the island. The old quarter of Phuket city, formerly called ‘Tongkah’, is the home of the Baba community, a cultural community of mixed Thai-Chinese heritage.

The townscape of old Phuket is unique in Thailand, and rather resembles that found in the former British Straits Settlements, particularly Penang. Since the 1990s, the people of Phuket have spearheaded several initiatives to showcase their cultural built heritage.

http://www.lestariheritage.net/phuket/index.html

Phnom Pen, 1971

2009-04-21T07:13:00.001+07:00

Big Brother Mouse

2009-04-20T10:12:00.003+07:00

Photo courtesy of the author.

http://www.bigbrothermouse.com/

An organization dedicated to bringing books to the people of Laos, and in particular to the children in small, remote villages. An organization that employs enthusiastic young Laotians as writers and artists, and publishes colourful books that make it fun and easy for Lao people to learn to read.

Angkor Wat BBC Documentary

2009-04-16T20:25:00.001+07:00

Impressions of Angkor

2009-04-16T07:04:00.006+07:00

Photographer: John McDermott
http://www.asiaphotos.net/gallery/Angkor/

Photographer: Martin Reeves

http://www.thehiddenrealms.com/

“There is a touch of surrealism, details that blend together in a dream-like brightness, architecture that would better lend itself to a Tolkien novel than to the rigours of scientific documentation. Martin coaxes something as solid as stone into an ethereal world, as weightless as it is intriguing. These images relate the photographer’s most intimate sensations surrounding the complexities of Eastern culture”.

Lionel Wendt

2009-04-03T09:15:00.004+07:00

Lionel Wendt was born in Colombo, Ceylon on December 3, 1900. Educated in Colombo and Cambridge (he studied Law). He also studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. On returning in 1924 he practiced law for a short time , but then devoted himself to his enormous talents as a musician till 1935 when he turned to what became his true and obsessive métier, photography. He had a one-man show in London in 1938 . He died in Colombo on December 19, 1944.

A fellow photographer destroyed all his negatives some time after he had died, on the ground that this was an accepted practice in photographic circles ('the negative is the score; the print the performance', -Ansel Adams-).

"All photographs in stock are vintage (toned) silver prints from the period 1934 – 1944. Very few of his prints are signed but all are stamped with a Certificate of Authenticity by Gallery Ton Peek." http://www.tonpeek.com/wendtintro.html

Lionel Wendt´s Ceylon, London, 1950

2009-04-03T09:13:00.001+07:00

Jack in Sri Lanka

2009-04-01T10:30:00.003+07:00

Great Blog! - http://www.jackinsrilanka.blogspot.com/

"Having lived in Sri Lanka for almost 11 years I am finally keeping a diary. I thought I would make it available to anyone who wants to read it for two simple reasons. 1 - stories that we have shared during the last few years have opened some eyes about life in the tropics. The stories, that are all true and recounted from personal experience have caused a mixed reaction - shock; laughter; sadness; bewilderment; concern or all of the above and as such I thought might have the same effect on a wider audience...and 2 sometimes I do not believe something happended and so I have to share it for my own sanity."

Jack Eden, Galle Sri Lanka

Ámantee

2009-03-30T17:58:00.003+07:00

http://www.amantee.com/

Ámantee is a new venue for art lovers and connoisseursin suburban Bangkok.

Ámantee (which means 'peaceful space') is an exquisite complex of traditional Thai-style houses in an artfullylandscaped tropical garden. Ámantee is a place enhancing personal serenity.

Ámantee is a repository of Oriental and Tibetan antiques & arts, where favourable prices equitably benefit sources and buyers alike.

Noel Rodrigo - Sri Lankan Leopard Safaris

2009-03-30T08:37:00.004+07:00

http://www.leopardsafaris.com/home.html - Sri Lanka

An interview with Noel:

http://www.srilankainstyle.com/the-magic-of-travel-series-Noel-Rodrigo.php

"Having extensive knowledge of the island’s national parks, jungles and wildlife, Noel Rodrigo has created a unique camping safari adventure which brings not only his expertise but also his passion for leopards and everything in the wild. With enthusiasm, he doesn’t only show guests where the animals are, but he trains them to guess where they could be; watching for tracks, listening out for wildlife calls and patiently waiting for that most elusive of creatures – the leopard – to emerge. His method is successful for his record in just one safari has been a staggering 14 leopards. At night, over a delicious BBQ beside the camp fire guests are treated to exciting tales of close shaves, animal conflicts and exciting adventures in Yala, Uda Walawe and the Knuckles mountains before a final walk of the secure campsite to look out for anything that moves. Guests sleep in the luxury of spacious African safari tents with hygienic chemical toilets and hot water showers under the stars. There is little more romantic than this."

Cambodia Weaves

2009-03-23T15:03:00.004+07:00

http://weavescambodia.com/

"WEAVES OF CAMBODIA: Blending in perfectly with the stylish, big-ticket items on the shelves of Barneys New York, Weaves of Cambodia silk scarves swaddle the buyer in sumptuousness while opening a world of possibilities to the land-mine survivors of Tbeng Meanchey, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold eight hours' drive along a bumpy dirt road from Phnom Penh. Carol Cassidy, the innovative American weaver behind Vientiane-based Lao Textiles took over the town's craft studio from Vietnam Veterans International in 2003, training, employing and providing health care to over 40 disabled but gifted artisans whom she says "possess natural abilities to weave high-quality silk in spite of their disabilities." - C. Rosenfeld for TIME

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1642444_1659467_1648061,00.html

FCC Angkor

2009-03-22T18:25:00.000+07:00

The Continental Saigon

2009-03-22T16:19:00.003+07:00

"1964-1975: Philippe, Mathieu Franchini's son, who had run the hotel until 1964, left Vietnam like his father before him. Then came the time when "Newsmen covering the Vietnam War measured the ups and downs of its course by the fortunes of the hotel, "according to Martin Meade, Joseph Fitchett and Anthony Lawrence in their book "Great oriented Hotels". Or as William Tuohy, Newsweek magazine''s Saigon bureau chief, wrote in his book "Dangerous Company": "After writing our stories, we would gather around the Continental Hotel for dinner and drinks. Many drinks.".

Mystic Travel Art

2009-03-11T22:30:00.001+07:00

The Thai Beverage Delivery

2009-03-09T13:03:00.002+07:00

See it with Thai Eyes...

By Thai-Eyes März 6, 2009
While in the most western countries service is a foreign word, in Thailand You still get good service with a smile. If You´re ordering a certain amount of beverages, the beverage delivery service brings the goods to Your house,without any charge, but with friendlyness and a smile.

http://www.thai-eyes.com/

The Jayavarman

2009-03-04T11:37:00.003+07:00

From the well known to the rarely visited ports of call include:

Saigon

Multifaceted city, traditional and modern has retained the joie de vivre that makes it so charming and attractive.

Can Tho

See the most impressive floating market in whole Indochina

Chau Doc

Deep in the Mekong delta, experience Vietnam's fish farmings capital by boat and cyclo.

Phnom Penh

Explore the "Pearl of Asia" famous for its charm, historical treasures & striking Royal Khmer and French Colonial architecture

Kampong Cham

Rarely visited provincial capital, encounter monks in saffron robes, pagodas & stunning hilltop temples

Siem Reap

Home of the World's largest city in the 13th century and its greatest Temple - Angkor Wat, our final destinations

http://www.heritage-line.com/departuresnrates.php

The Full Moon Calendar

2009-03-02T17:33:00.000+07:00

The moon has long been regarded as a mark of femininity. In past times the moon was revered and is considered by many as an influential source of energy. Many individuals are also of the belief that there is a connection between the moon and the unconscious mind as well as humanity's femininity. The holiness of the moon is also believed to be linked with most elements in a life's cycle. Besides being associated to the growth and re-growth of crops according to their timely seasons, the moon's varying phases is also seen to play an important part in a female's menstruation cycle and thus, indirectly have power over fertility. Since the beginning of time, the moon calendar holds a vital role in people's lives especially as varying festivals are celebrated in its different phases. full moon dates.

Plan nothing in Asia without checking this first:
http://fullmooncalendar.net/

2009-02-27T21:13:00.000+07:00

Is there a perfect trip?

2009-02-27T21:09:00.001+07:00

I think we should never ceases to ask fundamental questions about travel. What is travel? Why do we travel? Is there a perfect trip? There are no right or wrong answers. People travel for a variety of reasons, all perfectly valid. But one thing I know, the more I travel, the better I travel, the more I seem to be able to extract overall from the experience. I am not referring to business travel. I am referring to the sort of travel driven by the desire to venture into unknown territory, to learn and experience faraway lands, fueled by wanderlust, curiosity and love for this incredibly varied planet we live in. And the more I think about the ideal of a journey, the more I believe in people. The more I regard the people I meet along the way as the keys to understanding what’s happening, what’s the story, what’s special, what’s true… about wherever we are. Access to people, theirin lies the true magic of travel.

Miguel Cunat

Saskia Fernando Gallery

2009-02-26T09:54:00.006+07:00

"Saskia Fernando Gallery was established in February 2009. The gallery organizes and curates exhibitions for contemporary artists working in multiple mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, video and new media. It is inspired and motivated by the creativity and determination of a new wave of artists wishing to be exposed and to be accepted by the world that motivates us.

Offering new works on a regular basis from the finest of Sri Lanka's emerging artists and well-established artists, Saskia Fernando Gallery will continually present exciting, dramatic and provocative works of art in Colombo, while providing exposure to the international art market."

http://saskiafernandogallery.com/

info@saskiafernandogallery.com

61 DHARMAPALA MAWATHA, COLOMBO 3, SRI LANKA

TEL: +94 (11) 7429010

Raan Jay Fai

2009-02-20T13:43:00.001+07:00

New York Times Review
"Like rock bands, the best noodle slingers attract groupies. Outside this simple open-air restaurant in old Bangkok, lines of cars, tuk-tuks and motorcycles crawl through the hot air, belching exhaust toward Jay Fai’s al fresco seating. Still, at Jay Fai’s opening time of around 4 in the afternoon, a line waits to be served, and the cook throws handfuls of chicken chunks and noodles into a pan as if she were a metronome on double time.

Jay Fai noodles stir-fried with spicy Thai basil is a dish also called drunken noodles. Some Thais believe the dish got its name because street cooks serve it into the wee hours, when their clientele is the drunkest. The broad rice noodles come out of the pan thin and chewy, as if they could tear easily. Yet they never turn tough, and the chef throws in large bits of sweet Thai basil, the edges seared with a slight soy aftertaste."

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/thailand/bangkok/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1194733495893

Thai drug sniffing dogs get the sack

2009-02-20T13:39:00.004+07:00

"Two Thai street dogs who became ace sniffer dogs at an airport near the notorious” Golden Triangle” opium-producing region have been fired. The dogs, named Mok and Lai, were part of a program begun by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to turn strays into police dogs. Despite their proficiency for drug sniffing, the two were fired for behavior considered unbecoming of a member of the police force. “[Mok] liked to pee on luggage while searching for drugs inside,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Jakapop Kamhon, said. “He also liked to hold on to women’s legs.” He added that both were just as good as foreign dogs trained for use in drug missions, but they had bad manners because both used to be soi dogs" Reuters

Comments:
by Ha: bad doggie! stop humping the woman's leg!
by Garth: Once a soi dog, always a soi dog........!
by Hoi: You can take the dog out of the soi, but you can't take the soi out of the dog!

Scent of a Thai

2009-02-20T13:34:00.004+07:00

"Science is proving that love, like memory, is a slave of scent, our strongest sense. And in the pursuit of sweet pheromones, Thais leave all in their trail. In a mid-1990s US-run survey, around 10,000 respondents from multiple countries each ranked the scent of diverse nationalities on a scale of men to hom. With no whiff to favoritism, the Thais won by more than a nose. Officially the world’s best smelling people, Thais can put their hom-ness down not just to their thrice-daily soap and powder regimen, but apparently to a diet light in dairy, meat and the ranker spices, but rich in pore-purging coriander, chili and lemongrass."

Shrine of the Goddess Tuptim

2009-02-18T20:12:00.003+07:00

"Besides Buddhist temples and Buddha Images, Bangkok abounds with numerous small and large spirit houses and shrines to Hindu Gods and animism related deities. One less visited shrine is located on the grounds of the Nai Lert Bangkok Hotel (also known as Swissotel) on Wireless Road (Witthayu Road).

Penises abound at the shrine of Goddess Tuptim. Most are built of wood, and are quite huge, including some which stand 10 feet tall. Follow a brick path lined by knee-high wooden phalluses, and you will arrive at a huge cluster, in varying shapes and sizes, including some adorned with pastel-colored scarves. In an anthropomorphous flourish, some of the biggest penises stand on two legs, and display their own set of genitals near ground level."

Very Thai

2009-02-18T19:32:00.002+07:00

"This pioneering insight into contemporary Thai folk culture delves beyond the traditional Thai icons to reveal the casual, everyday expressions of Thainess that so delight and puzzle. From floral truck bolts and taxi altars to buffalo cart furniture and drinks in a bag, the same exquisite care, craft and improvisation resounds through home and street, bar and wardrobe.

Never colonised, Thai culture retains nuanced ancient meaning in the most mundane things. The days are colour coded, lucky numbers dictate prices, window grilles become guardian angels, tattoos entrance the wearer. Philip scoured each region to show how indigenous wisdom both adapts to the present and customizes imports, applying Roman architecture to shophouses, morphing rock into festive farm music, turning the Japanese motor-rickshaw into the tuk-tuk."

http://www.verythai.com/

Prasart Museum

2009-02-18T16:27:00.001+07:00

Prasart Museum is in a private house on the eastern edge of the city -this is an unusual open-air exhibition of traditional Asian buildings, collected and reassembled by wealthy entrepreneur and art lover Mr. Prasart.

The place is rarely visited by mass tourists, partly because of it's intentionally limited for number of visitors. The admission is by appointment only, and usually requires one to two days notice, but it makes a pleasant day out and is worth the effort.

Set in a gorgeously lush tropical garden, it comprises about a dozen replicas of traditional buildings, including a golden teak palace inspired by the royal residence now housed at the National Museum, a Chinese temple and water garden, a Khmer shrine, a Sukhothai Period teak library set over a lotus pond, and a European-style mansion, fashionable with Bangkok royalty in the late nineteenth century. Some of these structures have been assembled from the ruins of buildings found all over Asia, but there is no attempt at purist authenticity - the aim is to give a flavor of architectural styles, not an exact reproduction.

9 Krung Thep Kritha 4
A LaneKrung Thep Kritha Road
Huamark Sub-District
Bangkapi
Bangkok
Thailand 10240
Tel: 66 2 379 3601

Chinaman

2009-02-02T15:13:00.002+07:00

Studio Naenna

2009-02-02T10:05:00.007+07:00

"Located in a charming and peaceful environment at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Studio Naenna offers you a collection of exquisite clothing and eco textiles in ikats, silk, and cotton designed by our founder, many of which are dyed in natural dyes. Under the direction of Lamorna Cheesman, both the city branch "'Adorn' with Studio Naenna" and the main gallery Studio Naenna have a variety of hand woven products to suit all sizes and tastes. Tailor made and export products are also available. Studio Naenna is a learning experience. At our main studio, you can see our products being produced by hand, using natural dyeing, featuring 100% natural indigo vats and backstrap loom weaving. The Studio was founded in 1988 by Patricia Cheesman, an expert in antique, Lao and Thai textiles, and lecturer in Tai textiles, ceramics and contemporary design at Chiang Mai University."

Studio Naenna
138/8 Soi Changkhian, Huay Keow Rd
T. Changpeuak, Chiang Mai
Thailand 50300
Tel. (66-53) 226042
Fax (66-53) 217707

Minimal Chiang Mai

2009-01-17T14:41:00.004+07:00

Housed in a roomy white building, Minimal Gallery is a downtown hot spot for art lovers. Located in Soi 13 Nimmanhaemin Road, this chic, minimalist bar & restaurant (and, of course, art gallery) is a space to view ever-changing art exhibitions from local artists, participate in debates and discussions about the contemporary art movement, interesting photographic exhibitions, the new style of graphic design and visual art, and other arty themes, or simply to sip a glass of wine, soak up the laid back ambience and enjoy a funky repertoire of smooth tunes.

24 /2 Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 13
Tel 081 6714662, 084 1693283
http://minimalgallery.org/

Jeff Fuchs

2009-01-13T09:00:00.002+07:00

http://www.jefffuchs.com/

Bangkok to Ayutthaya

2009-01-08T18:25:00.008+07:00

2009-01-08T08:35:00.002+07:00

“When there is nowhere else to go, interacting with the existing environment in a different way, is the journey"

Brewing the perfect cuppa

2009-01-07T12:13:00.004+07:00

Start with your favorite spring or filtered water. Heat the water to a boil, or about 210F.

Use about 3 grams of tea per 6 oz serving. Please note, for denser teas this is about 1 teaspoon; for larger-leaf teas this could be up to 2 tablespoons.

Steep for 2-3 minutes. Remove the leaves when ready -- rely on taste, not color. Use a large enough strainer basket to allow the leaves to open and release their flavor.

Get to know the tea by playing with the amount of leaf, the water temperature, and steeping time. Re-steep to make another cup!

For more about brewing tea, visit our Brewing Notes page.

Silom Art Walk

2009-01-06T17:40:00.004+07:00

A bias for action

2009-01-06T14:06:00.001+07:00

http://www.ad-asia.com/news/situationrepoupdate.htm

"Before I retired I was a partner in a big public accounting firm in San Francisco. I remember a client CEO of a medium-sized bank trying to shake things up. The bank had been stodgy, family-run for 100 years. The new CEO wanted to streamline operations, offer new products, and compete more aggressively. To do these things, he told me, he planned to hire people with a bias for action. That phrase--a bias for action--stuck in my mind. I decided that's the way I wanted to live. Vicki and I talked it over and made it a rule. When we're indifferent, we choose the path that involves trying something new, taking a step, or shaking things up. We bias toward errors of commission rather than errors of omission.

Consider small things. If choosing from a menu between a favorite dish or something new, other things being equal, opt for something new. Can't decide whether the weekend trip is worth the hassle of driving out of town? Take the trip. If asked to take on a fund-raising drive--pros and cons, can't decide--take it on.

The rule also works for big things."
Paul TerhorstRoving “Retire Early” Editor, International Living