Traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet Show

As I was walking down the street today, I noticed an interesting one string instrument in a shop. I stopped to look at it and and learned it was called a Dan Bau.  It wasn't very expensive so I bought it. Later this afternoon I attended a water puppet show and saw another Dan Bau being played. 

 

How Lo Prison: a.k.a. Hanoi Hilton

Today I visited the Hao Lo Prison museum; the place where many American pilots, shot down over North Vietnam were kept. The prison was actually built by the French to confine the Vietnam who defied French rule. The first part of the museum focuses on the museum under French control and emphasizes the brutal inhuman treatment of Vietnam prisoners by the French. The later part of the museum shows a much kinder scenario of the confinement of American prisoners.

How might this compare to the ways our country has chosen to portray its history?  What are some ways Americans are now looking at their history that are different from the way it has been portrayed in the past?  It always helps to take a closer look at yourself before you judge others. 

First Night in Hanoi

I had a very good and very  inexpensive dinner on my first night in Hanoi. It was hot and humid but that didn't keep the locals off the street on a Friday night. 

COPE Museum

The COPE Museum chronicles the continuing devastation brought about by the U.S. Bombing in Laos during the Vietnam "Conflict".  Exhibits include illustrations of how as much as 25% of U.S. Cluster bombs did not detonate when dropped and remain throughout Laos only to explode years later by unexpecting farmers or children. Other exhibits feature homemade artificial limbs that victims have fabricated after losing arms and/or legs from these explosions. 

 

 

Laos was declared a neutral country during the Vietnam Conflict but the CIA coordinated covert bombing missions in Laos despite these international agreements.  Many have debated the strategical impact of these bombing missions as well as the moral judgments.

I'm sure some of you have studied more than others about this part of our history. There are many complex issues to consider. My advice is to consider a range of perspectives before you form your own opinions. 

As an American, how does this part of our history affect your national identity?  What other parts of our history might trouble you?  How do these pieces of our history affect your identity as a global citizen?  What actions can you take to address these parts of our national image as you move forward as both an American and citizen of the world?

Village Featival

I spent one night in the small village of Naduang where they were having an annual festival. 

Weaving Silk

This shops raises its own silkworms and weaves the silk that will provide the fabric for clothing and other silk products. 

Paper and Silk Shop

The women working at this paper making shop first soak and pulverize pulp from banana trees to make their paper. 

On the Road in Rural Lao

After leaving Luang Prabang, I headed into the Lao countryside where I was able to see lots to rice fields with mostly women and children planting rice. I also passed several roadside markets that were selling a variety of dried fish and buffalo hide. 

Morning Offering to Monks

Each morning at sunrise the people of Luang Prabang "make the merit" by giving food offerings to the monks as they walk down the streets. 

Mekong River

As I cross the boarder into Laos, my journey continues by boat.  It was nice to feel a cool breeze as the boat moved down the river. 

The boat docked in a small village were I spent the night and explored the local market. 

My river journey continuee the next morning.  By mid-afternoon, we came upon the famous Buddha Caves. 

The Old City Food Market

I spent most of the afternoon yesterday just walking around the old city part of Chiang Mai. 

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

They say have not yet arrived in Chiang Mai until you've been to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. 

Last day in Bangkok

Day three in Bangkok took me to Wat Pho, the Temple of the reclining Buddha. Later tonight I will board an overnight train to Chiang Mai. 

Day Two in Bangkok

As I begin my second day here in Bangkok, the humidity is already very high. Nonetheless, I began my day with another morning walk which included this monastery. I will be meeting the other teachers this evening. In the meantime, I have another day to explore on my own.

A Walk Near My Hotel in Bangkok

I made it to my hotel around 1am this morning. I got about four hours of sleep and then decided to explore the streets near my hotel. 

 

A Difficult Start for My Trip

 

I live in downtown Dallas and I was just finishing my packing and getting ready to take the DART train to the airport as I heard the chanting of what was intended to be a peaceful protest in the park across the street. I could also hear a helicopter overhead and I decided to go down to the street to get a closer look. Before I was able to leave my loft, my friend Nick texted me, "Active shooter downtown. Stay inside buddy."  I then turned on my tv and monitored the events as they unfolded. 

I was in grade school and didn't live in Dallas when President Kennedy was shot. Fourty years later, after I moved to Dallas, I was riding DART for the first time when the train passed Elm street and I saw the bend in the street next to the grassy knoll.  Though until that moment, I had only seen photographs and video of this infamous street, I recognized it instantly and memories of that tragic day flashed through my mind. 

As I write this entry into my blog, I am in flight heading to Bangkok. I have not been able to get the latest news. I don't know who the shooters were or what their motives might have been.  I do know that the images of this day will have a lasting place among my memories.  My question is: How must we as a society preserve our collective memories of events like this?  There are many social issues related to these events with many different perspectives. Many of us have very strong opinions and I have already seen many fingers pointing at one another. 

You have heard me say that the ability to recognize and understand different perspectives is an important skill in becoming global citizens. We needn't travel beyond our own neighborhood to practice this skill. Some of you may still be deciding how you feel about some of these issues and some of you may already have formed strong opinions. It's important to become familiar with the issues and understand them as best you can before you form your own opinions. But, it is even more important that you strive to understand how and why others have formed their opinions. That is the only way we as a society can grow. 

As the events went into the early morning hours, the shooters were taken into custody and police began letting people out of some of the downtown buildings. My friend, Nick, had been detained in a downtown restaurant and was now able to get to his car. My street was still blocked off but, I as was able to meet Nick at a 7 Eleven and from there, he took me to the airport. 

Yes, I have now begun another great adventure but, at this moment, my heart is still with my Dallas community. 

Final Preparations

It's just a matter of hours now before I leave for Bangkok so, I'm going over my checklist and taking care of some final details. I just got some extra passport photos which I will need for my paperwork txo enter each country.  I also need to pickup a few items before I leave. 

Once I arrive in Bangkok, it will be pretty late in the day and I'm guessing around midnight by the time I get through customs but, rather than take a taxi to my hotel, I'm thinking about taking the train from the airport. I found this video on YouTube of the exact route I will need to take and it looks pretty easy. 

https://youtu.be/IQ87pITxTYE