Research I'm glad you did your research. When we were in Thailand they took us to an event that we really didn't ask enough questions and were sad when we saw the elephants we kicking soccer balls and painting. Looks like you found a great place to experience.
Research Nothing is perfect though. They still offer trekking chairs for some people which are supposed to be hard on the elephants. These are for very short trips so people can get used to the motion of the elephants but still, not great.
And a baby was born to one of the elephants. It's only a year old so is kept with it's mother across the river but it wasn't clear what they would do with him when he gets older. They don't use males to transport tourists.
We've had experiences like you describe with other animals and in other countries. It's so hard to navigate. Especially when accurate information you can trust is not easily accessible.
So happy to read of your adventures! Awesome! I think our friends Dag and Maria have been there working with elephants. Love the UFO! Keep having fun guys!
Wow! That's really cool Heather. We did so much research about where to go to make sure we were supporting a project that was good for the elephants. It was amazing. Joe send me a note about the Bowen swim and picnic and I hear the weather has been good this May - we're thinking of you guys!!
Love Luang Prabang Too! Loved your blog! In Feb. 2009, a friend and I traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos independently (we were both close to 70 years old at the time). LP was our last stop and we were sad to leave. We absolutely loved doing just what you described- wandering around, visiting a temple, going to the river. We had a 'long' boat ride (just the two of us) and the fisherman up the river. He stopped half way through at another boat which turned out to be a floating gas station. I have a picture in my dining room done by a street artist names 'Tony' of 3 monks in their orange robes all carrying umbrellas. I love to look at it and be reminded of the sweet days in LP. BTW we had stopped in Vientiane first and did not care for it at all. It was full of sterile gov't buildings and no sense of Laotian culture. My blogs are under my blogger name 'gunga'. If you'd like you can go look at my blogs from that trip. Carolyn
On of our favorite towns! It has a charm to it that so many other places to not offer. The food was excellent and the people are friendly as you discovered. Love the photos
Nice Blog Good story and nice pictures. We visited Luang Prabang and, like you found it beautiful. The bamboo bridge across the river washed out on the day we arrived during rainy season. Glad to see it up and working again. We enjoyed visiting the small village across the Mekong. Some small children acted as our tour guides to the Wat located there. Thanks for reminding us of a good memory in one of our favorite places.
Missing You Hi M&R - we had a wonderful day yesterday swimming Bowen - Smugglers' and Columbine Coves. Then we had a great picnic with too much food and a watermelon. A day to be remembered. We missed you of course, but see that you are still having a fantastic time and it is such a different experience when one has the time to absorb all the finer aspects of a culture and get to know real people. Keep on enjoying and one day you will be able to share with your buddies back in BC. Love Joe
Missing you guys back! Hi Joe,
thanks for the note - I could picture you guys swimming and hanging out and laughing and it definitely made me a little homesick. Not sure if I'll be able to join in when we get back since we've been drydocked for months now! The beaches here are beautiful but once again, not the most suitable for swimming. I am definitely out of shape! But we are having a blast. This trip has been so great for us in so many ways. It's been cool letting go of everything and just living day by day.
Thanks for keeping in touch.
xo
Roberta
Appreciation I shall not look at the rice in my cooker the same way again. How many people walked through it to dry it? Did it cure in the road? On a sidewalk? In a parking lot? I know it had an interesting journey to find its way to my plate. Thank you for the culinary education Roberta.
Slow travel Getting to stay and know a place is so wonderful. I loved -- "After a month or so everything seems to exhale around you and in the next the breath you are taken up into the rhythm of the days." Perfectly worded. Happy exploration.
Burnt rice fields Would have loved to have seen the young green rice fields.... think we were perhaps a couple of weeks too late. Our home stay overlooks the fields and they are now mostly burnt out, but it is still beautiful sight nonetheless. It is really cool seeing the rice drying on the road and the respect everyone gives it by driving around it, and not over it.
Happy Birthday Matt! I've just caught up on your latest blogs. You guys are making us miss Vietnam... your house sounds noisy but beautiful, and I love the pics of the adopted family :)
Little wooden house Hi guys... This place looks great. My wife and I will be stating a while in hoi an shortly and were wondering how you found this place and what you paid? As we too will be looking for a short term rental. Many thanks!
Awwww, Man...... So, I did figure that being in a humid climate you would be dealing with lots of bugs. But, a bat!!! Flying into your ceiling fan???!!! Oh, how I dearly wish I hadn't read your blog at 10:20 pm before climbing into bed. Now I have to stay awake for awhile. You didn't have to say anything else. My imagination is taking over quite nicely. I'll report tomorrow on my NIGHTMARES! Love you. Mom/Dawn
Finally...some diving! You must have been happy, albeit cold, to be back in deeper water and diving again. I'm sorry you didn't get to see any big but there were JELLIES!!! Gotta love those jellies. Looks like the one you were racing was relatively large. As usual some beautiful pictures. When and where are you planning your next dive? Love you so much, Mom
Absolutely Amazing! I feel like I title my comments on your blog this way everytime. What an awesome experience! The pictures look like something out of National Geographic! So happy (and jealous) of you guys of your adveture (as I type this from my office computer and listen to the ambulence sirens at the hospital). Can't wait to hear what's next!
I have stories that I would like to share with you. First, there is no doubt that there were Vietnamese people who were against the communists but unfortunately, many were on the same side of French or Japanese before and that explains why Vietnamese today do not want to talk about it because again
it could stir up the division among Vietnamese people due to long and bloody division. If you want you can check in the Internet, probably more than 90% of political and military leaders of the South Army were serving for the French under colonial time and were then on the same side of American after the French left the country. That made them unpopular to the majority of Vietnamese population. Second, do not think former South Vietnamese soldiers ride cyclos for their living. Many of my family \'s friends who used to be soldier for the South Army have their own business and they are very successful.
Of course, you have your own way of understanding about Vietnamese history. But for a Vietnamese man like me, I would recommend you to read a little bit Vietnamese history since the first day the French colonized Vietnam and how the American stepped in Vietnam. You may see the lines of such
bloody history. One important fact: American intervened in Vietnam\'s affair not later than 1941 during the war against Japanese empire. Unfortunately, American changed its Vietnamese allies.
DMZ Thanks for your comments, they are very interesting. I can understand why people would not want to bring up old divisions. We've read some about unpopular leaders in the South, especially President Diem and his brothers. We've also read about how the Americans funded the communist Viet Minh during World War II. The history of Vietnam is so complex and intriguing. We're very happy to be here learning about it, and we're very happy to have perspectives like yours.
Happy Birthday Hi Matt and Roberta,
Firstly congratulations - what a great way of enjoying your anniversary. It looks like you are still having such a lot of fun, but I can imagine that it is also stressful or sad to see some of the horrors left by such senseless wars, like Vietnam. Here Spring is threatening to stick around, or at least make a proper entry, but it is still hesitant with as many cold-rainy days as good days. When are you planning to head home? Cheers
Joe
Home? Hi Joe!
We had a few overcast days here ourselves but I'm happy to hear that Spring is peeking around the corner in Vancouver. Not sure when we'll be heading back yet or if we'll move on to somewhere else for a while. We're hoping to make some decisions soon! Miss you guys.
Happy Birthday Matt, whatever the date Another wonderful blog entry Roberta and beautiful pictures Matt. I must say my favorite pictures are ones that include the two of you. So, Matt...in Vietnam, what is the equivalent of blowing out candles on a birthday cake? Did you get to do that? We sang to you here and are having a party for you and Kristin next weekend. We'll miss you and Roberta. Love you both, Mom
Matt and I met while we were both traveling in Puerto Rico in 1998. He worked on a research site in El Yunque Rainforest on the main island and I worked as a divemaster on Vieques.
After 10 years living a settled existence in Vancouver, Canada, we felt a real need to get back to traveling. So we sold our house, put our stuff in storage and set off in search of great places to freedive and new adventures.
Right now plans are to explore SE Asia until we feel the call to move on...... full info
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Research
I'm glad you did your research. When we were in Thailand they took us to an event that we really didn't ask enough questions and were sad when we saw the elephants we kicking soccer balls and painting. Looks like you found a great place to experience.