A Few More Bright Spots

Some of the towns we visited were cool others could have been skipped all together.  Dege was one that I enjoyed.  The library in Dege was a magnificent original building spared from the Cultural Revolution.  It is where the sutras are manually printed using a block printing methodology and stored.  Truly a treasure. 

It is also a beacon for those who do Kora every day. The majority of the practitioners are elderly often with their grandchildren.  Occasionally there were a few younger persons in the mix.  This particular woman was wearing lots of large jewelry, something I did not see much of outside of the photos from 2008 and back of the large Horse Festivals now cancelled by the government.  She wasn’t too interested in obliging me, so I had to chase her around a few laps just to grab this snap shot of her.

 
The other curious aspect of this location were the old couches and chairs that circled the building.  They served as a place for the local people to take a break and socialize between circumambulation. And then there were the pack of street dogs who also took advantage of the handy trash cans and cushy rest spots to call home. 

Here is my favorite “Rasta Dog”



Another cool spot was Guarang, home to the Chang Tibetian minority.  The village was sort of a fairy tale like setting with the hills dotted with castle like homes. 


We did a home stay for 2 nights which afforded me the opportunity to start early in the morning, catch a woman weaving fabric from sheep’s wool for her winter coat and attend a local festival.  Food was passed around to me and barley wine cooked up & shared in a communal pot.  3 weeks and no intestinal distress- I passed.

Woman drinking home made Barley wine with a straw from a communal pot
Got to dash and catch my plane to Nepal.  

More to come
Carpe Diem
Lorrie
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com

Be Careful of What You Wish for

In the spirit of making use of every second I have, I hired a private care to take me to a Thursday Market 2.5 hrs away before departing on the night train back to Hanoi.  A very small market but an opportunity to see the colorful Flower H’mong ethnic minority and several other Hill Tribe  people Warm weather and a touch of sun was in my favor.

The usual fare of people doing their weekly shopping. More unique were the horse drawn carts that some used, and the piglets that arrived to market in sacks with leashes on squealing the whole time. Despite being a meat eater myself, it is still disturbing to hear. I had previously seen dogs on their way to market in Laos and China, this time I got to seem them weigh the dog in. You know he wasn’t being sold as a house pet.


Then on to the train station for a 5 hr wait for my night train back to Hanoi and further south to Hoi An via an airplane. I had been taking a better class train, only 4 to a berth. 2 Europeans and I Vietnamese in my carriage. During my last hotel re-pack, I had thought to myself that I had brought perhaps 1 pair too many socks. No problem, my friendly bunk mate took care of that. Gone to the bathroom on the train for less than 5 minutes and so were my socks that were lying on my bed.

A relatively inexpensive reminder, NEVER LET YOURT GUARD DOWN. I hope that the people of Vietnam are a lot gentler in the South.


More to come soon,
Carpe Diem,
Lorrie Dallek
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com

They Found the Water Buffalo - Sa Pa

The next day I spent the morning working on my logistics for the next city. When I came down for breakfast, I was informed that Dave the owner of the photo gallery was looking for me. Usually a good sign. Still in my sleepwear (not PJ’s), I ran down the hill – never let an opportunity slip through your fingers was what I was thinking to myself. Sure enough Dave told me that his employee, Cu, a Black H’mong woman and her village had located her long lost Water Buffalo.  Cause for a party. Did I want to come? You know the answer. A quick shower and breakfast and off we went on a motorcycle.


The found Water Buffalo

When I asked Cu how she knew this was her water buffalo, she said that she could just tell. Maybe its special long eye lashes??? What do I know about water buffalo anyhow :)

By 11 am the rice wine was out and all the guests were getting shit faced. Home made rice wine, pig, morning glory and rice. I limited the rice wine intake, shot some images and miraculously escaped getting sick from this experience. All and all a fun day.

More to come soon,
Carpe Diem,
Lorrie 
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com

 Happy New Year- สวัสดี ปี ใหม่

So much in such a relatively short period of time. On Jan 1, I left the shelter with Mickey, the Founder and  another volunteer heading north. The intention was to make a stop in one of the Hill Tribes and interview a few girls for possible inclusion at the shelter as well as visit a few of the hot spots for sexual trafficking of children. Our first big event was when we spotted 2 Westerners (ex-pats) on the road with large backpacks asking a local for directions. The three of us looked at one another and discussed whether we should give them a ride? After passing them yet a 2nd time we did indeed extend an offer. Mind you we were way up North heading to a remote Yao village in DoiWawi, Thailand, West of Chiang Rai. Well, they hopped into the back seat and rather than purse their original plans after being dropped off at the wrong spot by the local bus they, Alan and Galey ended up spending the next 2 days with us as we made out way along the Thai/Myanmar /Laos borders. They were a great addition, both working for NGO’s (non-government organizations) out of Bangkok. Truly wonderful people and I think long term friends.

At our 1st major stop, DoiWawi, we were hosted by the chief of the village, his wife, several young children and the chief's 80 year old mother. Grandma was quite skeptical at first, refusing to look at us but eventually let me take a few photos of her. 3 of the older girls at the shelter had originally come from this same village. We were absolutely treated like royalty, fed an enormous quantity of delicious food for both dinner and breakfast the next morning. After arriving but before dinner, we went to pick fresh oranges in their orchards. After dinner, 4 “at risk” girls were briefly met with for consideration at the shelter. The next morning we got up at 5 am to hit the mountain top for sunrise. The men and woman slept separately, so Gelay became my “new best friend”, sharing a room with me. Showers were skipped and  bathroom visits kept to a minimum at our personal discretion as both were outside in a very rudimentary structure with very basic appliances – need I say anymore!

 80 year old grandma

Sunrise at Doi Wawi

Mai Sai, official and unofficial border crossing into Myanmar was our next major stop. The Guest house were stayed in was right on the river between Thailand and Myanmar. Hot showers a real treat in Thailand, were taken immediately upon check-in, then out to explore. Border crossing for the Thai & Burmese at Mai Sai cost 10 B (Baht), which is about 30 cents. Many do so on a daily basis to sell their good on both sides. Being New Years holiday it was sheer pantomime. There were a huge volume of people going in both directions. To me the most interesting point was how porous the border actually was. Some were just opting to avoid the 30B walking across the river others skimming along the fence and hopping over. Lot of very poor people, some selling merchandise, other just begging – it was very sad to see. Mai Said is also a populist border crossing for a "Visa Run" – place to get a 2 week extension on a Thai Visa.

A very poor "Day Trader" coming from Myanmar
to Thailand to sell her goods

Illegal Bording Crossing from Thailand to Myanmar

Thailand on the left, Myanmar on the right

One man carried his bicycle overhead

as he crossed the river and by-passed the

official border check.

Alan and Gelay wearing every stitch of clothing they had

to try and stay warm - clearly not enough

After Mai Sai, we headed East to Chiang Sean a river port were cheap Chinese goods are dropped off & Chinese Cargo ships restocked. Another curious site as I got to see live ducks purchased and transferred, to the cargo ships.

Next stop, Chiang Kong, border crossing to Laos. This is where people can also make a visa Run – go into Laos and get a 2 week renewal on their Thai Visa. Phinn, the volunteer traveling with us opted to ender Laos this way, travel south to Vientiane, capital of Laos to apply for a 3 month Visa extension at the Thai embassy. A much quieter border crossing, a mere small boat crossing on the now low tide Mekong River to the other side.

A few more hours on the road and we arrived in Chiang Rai where Alan, Gelay and I were dropped off.

More to come soon,

Carpe Diem,

Lorrie 

www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com