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Published: December 19th 2007
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Minority Baby / Bebe Minoria
An example of the tremendous ethnic diversity in the Golden Triangle.
Ejemplo de la enorme diversidad etnica en el Triangulo de Oro. Solo necesitas cruzar la frontera con Laos para hacerte millionario (y es que por 10 pesos te dan 10 mil kips). Asi, cargaditos de billetes, nos tomo un minuto para familiarizarnos con los "sawngthaew", una rara mezcla de camion y combi, para transportarnos a Mouang Sing, antigua base de uno de estos legendarios mercados de opio del famoso Triangulo de Oro entre China, Burma y Tailandia.
Hoy dia, no hay mas opio que el que te ofrecen senioras en las calles polvorientas. Nuestra meta aqui es ser parte de una expedicion a las tribus del area, operadas por un innovativo proyecto de turismo comunitario. Despues de hacer los contactos necesarios, comenzamos esta travesia de dos dias, guiados por un miembro de los Tai Lu llamado Singdi. La hicimos muy bien y llegamos a tiempo para pasar la noche en una famosa aldea Akha. Como parte de su origen Burmo-Tibetano, los Akha rigen sus vidas con un muy estricto codigo que hace bien facil que los extranjeros se metan en problemas.
Nuestro guia puso claro, por ejemplo, que no debiamos (ni quieriamos) tocar nada dentro de los limites de la aldea, incluyendo edificios y menos ninios, si no queriamos hacer
The Hmong / Los Hmong
On our way to the mountains.
En nuestro camino a la montania. calabaza de un complejo orden de espiritus guardianes. Nuestra gran sorpresa vino esa noche, despues de que habiamos sido ofrecidos con un masaje tradicional, y es que dos jovenes Akha iban a consentir nuestros cansados musculos. Lo chistoso es que, en un minuto, las manos de estas chavas estaban ya en nuestro trasero, quedando claro que, si nosotros no, ellos si pueden tocar.
Dos dias despues y ya de camino a Mouang Ngoi, una aldea en la rivera del rio Ou que es solo accesible por lancha de motor. De este pedacito de paraiso solo puedo decir que fue la base perfecta de un buen descanso antes de salir hacia la civilizacion, a Luang Prabang, nuestra proxima parada.
Nuevamente voy a dejar a las fotos contar la historia de Luang Prabang, solo descriptible con colores mas que palabras. Durante mi cumpleanios 41 me anime a echarme un licor de vibora (y cobra) de un curioso vendedor callejero que prometia inmediato sentido de superioridad (el hecho es que, por esa noche, me senti como un jovencito).
Noticia de ultimo momento, ser mexicano no es exactamente una fortuna cuando intentas cruzar para Tailandia. necesito tramitar una visa y esto
5 Hours / 5 Horas
Painful hours to get to the 6,000 feet high village.
Horas penosas para llegar a la aldea, a unos 2 mil metros de altura. nos manda a 10 horas de aqui, a Vientiane, capital de Laos. Ya ni modo.
35 grados y baguettes doraditos nos han dado la bienvenida. De Vientiane vamos a cruzar a Tailandia, con la idea de pasar la Navidad en Chiang Mai.
Los mantenemos informados. Pero de cualquier forma: FELIZ NAVIDAD A TODOS!!
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Crossing the border with Laos and we became millionaire (one US dollar makes 10,000 Laos kip). With our pockets stocked with bills we became instantly familiar with a "sawngthaew", which is a converted truck with benches in the back, to make the trip to Mouang Sing, former base of one of the legendary opium markets in the Golden Triangle made by the border lines of China, Thailand and Bhurma.
Nowadays, there's not much opium but the one ladies dressed in traditional clothes will offer you on the dusty
First Impression / Primera Impresion
Of the Akha village.
De la aldea Akha. streets. We came with the idea of being part of one of the well known hiking expeditions to the area tribes operated by a local community based tourism projects. So, after making the needed contacts we took off in this 2 days journey guided by Singdi, a member of the local Thai Lu people. We did great, getting up a steep range of mountains, on time to spend the night in a famous Akha village. As part of their Bhurman Tibetan origin, the Akha rule their lives by a very strict code of behavior that make ignorant foreigners difficult not to get in troubles.
Our guide made it clear, for example, that we were not suppose to touch anything in the village, not buildings and, specially, children, if we didn't want to disturb the spirits breaking a complex structure of taboos. Our surprise came that night, after we knew we were granted with a massage, young Akha ladies were going to give to our tired bodies. It was very clear we couldn't touch but they could and in a way that caught us by surprise, after their two hands were firmly massaging the whole of our tired rear ends.
Calling to School / Llamando a la Escuela
Gorgeous kids are the same everywhere.
Los ninios son todos preciosos, aqui y en China. A couple of days and we were off to Mouang Ngoi, a river village only accesible by boat. I can just tell you this piece of paradise was the perfect base for us to rest before getting to "civilization", Luang Prabang, our next stop.
Again, I will let the pictures tell the story of Luang Prabang, a place only colors can describe. I wold not ommit to say that, on my 41 birthday I got a peculiar shot of snake (and cobra) alcohol from a street vendor. He promised an immediate feeling of strength (the fact is that I felt like a youngster the whole night).
On a last minute news: to be Mexican is not an advantage when you need to enter Thailand. So, I need to process a visa and this send us south to Vientiane, a 10 hours bus trip to the capital of Laos.
95 degrees (Farenheit, 35C) and fresh croissants gave us a great welcome. Yes, I have to think of you gFrom Vientiane we plan to cross to Thailand and spend Christmas in Chiang Mai. We will keep you posted. But if we don't get in contact before please HAVE
A GREAT CHRISTMAS!
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Astra
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ah laos
It is such a joy to get your email travel updates. This one from Laos made my heart pound. I traveled by boat through Laos about 10 years ago. It was such a delight to see the photos.Thank you. I don't think too much has changed there... but somehow I missed out on the buttock massage!! THANK YOU! Love to you both. PS I am about to go edit an EL Civics Unit for Abby - missing you!