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Published: December 20th 2015
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Betle nut teeth– The rural woman (and some men) chew betel nut and it turns their mouth and teeth a dark brown red to black. They think this is beautiful and don’t brush or floss to enhance the black teeth. Oh, did I mention that it also gets them high? Started chewing yesterday and should be well on my way to “beauty” before I arrive home. Goodbye Dr. Glenn!!!
Water Puppets - Puppetry performed in water and accompanied by folkloric musicians. Even without any grasp of the Vietnamese language, the message is clear. Enjoy life, have fun with your friends, keep traditions and be aware of lurking dangers. What fun!!
One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam's most iconic temples, was built as a tribute to a Buddhist goddess. Lý Thái Tông, an emperor in power from 1028-1054, who was childless dreamt that he met a bodhisattva who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower. He later met and married a peasant girl and she bore him a son. The emperor had the pagoda constructed similar to the one he saw in the dream as a gesture of gratitude. This tiny temple has the old and
new mixed together, the ancient altar is embellished with Buddha and modern day neon and many offerings are presented daily. Many visitors come today seeking the blessing of fertility,
Temple of Literature, first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11
th century. Many graduating students go to the temple with their friends for photo opportunities. It was a great pleasure to watch them with their selfies shots and see their proud smiling faces. The family is rarely present as most live far away and have little money to spend on a visit to Hanoi to witness the graduation of their children.
Moon Garden, Enjoyed a Vietnamese cooking lesson at this beautiful location. I blamed my poor chopping skills on the fact I left my glasses at the hotel. Shared the lesson and lunch with a couple from Germany, Elise and Norbet. Our lunch was yummy and was followed by a traditional herbal hand spa treatment and a foot bath.
Tam Too Village – enjoyed lunch in a private home, prepared by one of the performers of the Quan Ho music group, part of the living heritage of this rural area. The French fries, which I suspect were
Offerings / Traditional and Modern
Seeking and offering thanks for Fertility prepared for the “westerner” were served cold and the beer warm. The local cuisine was delicious! The home was modest and offered no heat but did have a TV, and DVD player. The family had two beds and the traditional sleeping arrangements are mother and daughter and father and son.
The musical performance was the story of courtship and I was the only paying patron. The villagers gathered to watch the watcher and the finger puppets became the magnet that drew them in for a great group photo.
Lacquerware Artists These amazing artists spend endless hours to perfect the process of Lacquer ware. At least 20 stages and not less than 100 days and 20 artists are a part of making each piece, be it a coaster or a painting. The traditional, generational form of art is tedious and uses duck egg shells, mother of peal, gold and/or silver leaf and prolific patience.
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