Shout it Out Lao

Blog Post #25 - Family's Christmas Vacation through Southeast Asia (Part 3 - Laos)

Now I may be a bit biased, but Laos never fails to impress and I am very glad that my family got the opportunity to visit where I currently live and work. Such a beautiful country, along with its people! It may be easy to overlook when planning your next vacation to Southeast Asia, considering the pull of its more well-known neighbours. BUT do not skip! It will not disappoint and it is a very nice break from the busy chaos that is Vietnam and Cambodia.

LUANG PRABANG

Highlight: Luang Prabang was my favorite stop on the 3-week trip, so its tough to narrow down to one thing. I think the river cruise we did is definitely up there on the list though. Also swimming at Kuang Si falls is probably the closest thing to the Garden of Eden (without the throngs of tourists of course)

Discussing the meaning of life (or the next video game he plans to get)

A unique way to make jerky.....maybe a future design for rice drying?
The rice will come with a satellite TV package

They outplayed me. Obviously too much sticky rice. Valid excuse?

A couple of sirens on the rocks

Somehow managed to cut out all the people, but believe me they are there in numbers

Probably my favorite of the trip.
I want to live at a temple....just for a week

Talk about relaxing. Such gentlemen making the only lady sit

Such a gentleman sharing my coffee....

Practicing my Laos (despite my 'wise chin rub', the conversations are not deep)

Told you about the flowers

Timed perfectly

....sure is

Wouldn't be a showcase of Laos without some BeerLao

VIENTIANE

Highlight: Introducing the family to my coworkers and going out for a coffee at my go-to spot was pretty cool! Maybe staying at the swanky Lao Plaza Hotel down the street from my apartment was another highlight. Back to having showers over my toilet...

My standard spot for coffee breaks (and naps) away from the office

She is a volunteer English teacher back home. Those monks are lucky to be working with a professional. My mom felt more fortunate though

[After a short conversation]..."I'm going to have to call you back. Nearing the end of monk's prayer"

I swear we don't choose to cut my dad out of the photos. He was probably just sleeping somewhere

And the album wouldn't be complete without (more) dogs!

Can never have too many

Finally, I spent this past Sunday playing around with Movie Maker at a cafe. Here are the results. Hope you enjoy and happy 2017!!! (it's also on Facebook if you want better quality)

Stay tuned for more of the weekly posts as I start the second half of my volunteer placement in Laos

Blog Post #24 - Family's Christmas Vacation through Southeast Asia (Part 2 - Cambodia)

I can skip the lengthy introduction and jump straight into the pictures. If you missed Part 1 showcasing Vietnam, be sure to check it out.

We only had a few days in Cambodia, so it's definitely a place I will return to...someday.

PHNOM PENH

Highlight: Although a very sad part of Cambodia's history, the killing fields and S21 prison were my favorite part of Phnom Penh. Reading the victim's stories made for quite a somber day. Depressing but important for everyone to know about. We must make sure it never happens again!

A quote from the museum, "The world has turned its eyes away a number of times during some of the 20th century's worst catastrophes: Armenia, the Nazis genocide, Rwanda, Darfur - the list goes on. Is it possible for us to learn to see sooner the next time a catastrophe is occurring? Could we, by better understanding the reasons behind why we look the other way, possibly prevent ourselves from making new mistakes? Can we learn from history?"

The Genocide Memorial

Teeth continue to surface from the soil

Never again

Couldn't stop taking pictures with a statue, flower or coffee cup unfocused in the foreground

No shortage of Halasa hats in Cambodia. They know where the fashion is heading

"Guys, what are we all looking at?"

I wouldn't mind living at this palace

Trying to be artsy. It's a metaphor...I think

Definitely artsy. Thanks for the inspiration Ian

Slightly different effect. Love them both (created with Prism)

SIEM REAP

Highlight: The morning of December 31st we awoke to a great breakfast buffet at our hotel. By noon I knew something was wrong, but we still had to see Angkor Wat. Perfect timing allowed me to puke before walking into the ancient temple, walk through and puke shortly after leaving the temple. Now I would call that well scheduled.

Showing shopkeepers who is boss

Spot the white boy

Spot the white boys....at the Chinese-tourist photo shoot

The overtaken photo at the Angkors

"That man likes postcards. Get him!"

The spread eagle dwarfed by some massive temples

Fish massage....talk about weirdly enjoyable. Made better with the free beer

The competition giving me all their rice secrets

We took (too) many family shots, but this was my favorite

Up next, LAOS! You do not want to miss it (apparently the favorite country of the family)

Blog Post #23 - Family's Christmas Vacation through Southeast Asia (Part 1 - Vietnam)

I am back at the office after a fun-filled family vacation through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos! It would have been a pretty sad holiday season sitting around my Christmas palm tree crying and listening to Bing Cosby all alone. Despite the family bringing along the Christmas cheer, it was not the same in Asia. While the old white guys with beards and jolliness are still around, they are a little less chubby around here and lack the red costume. The Christmas carols were also drowned out by the roar of scooters (Vietnam has 90 million people and 70 million scooters!!!!)

Not Santa

Although the sticky rice industry crashed while I was away (HA!), the rice farmers sent regular update emails (HA!) and I am confident that we will make some great progress in 2017 (YES!). While we may be far away from organic certification or export, we have some business planning workshops scheduled to set the foundations for the LOPA business model. As I have been designing tools to support business decision-making and in the process developing my own set of recommendations in 2016, our objectives will be to connect as a team to review analysis and align on the organization's direction. Important questions for discussion will include where along the value chain LOPA will operate, how we can balance improving farmer livelihood with business profitability, and what roles and responsibilities the existing team will adopt.

BUT that detail is for another post. For now, enjoy some fun pictures from Vietnam. I will soon also post pictures for the Cambodia and Laos legs of the trip.

HANOI

Highlight: Apart from the family reunion in the hotel lobby, the sights, sounds, tastes and 'chaos' of Hanoi's old city did not disappoint. I could spend days wandering, finding local eating spots and people watching.

The reunion!!
I had such a big smile because my flight was only 1 hour to Hanoi versus 20+ hours of travelling by the others

Either I am growing or my mom is shrinking

Talk about a lazy way to see old Hanoi....not complaining though, sticky rice takes its toll on the cardio and legs

HA LONG BAY

Highlight: Being able to lay in bed and slowly float past the spectacular beauty of my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Calgary.

The classic Jesse pose. Not sure what I am trying to imitate

Wow so pensive....or just sleep standing

We know who does must of the hard work in this arrangement

I think I got lucky with that boat behind us

I want more of my coffees like this. It wouldn't even need caffeine for me to stay awake

HUE and HOIAN

We arrived a week after major flooding and left a week before major flooding. I'd call that a Christmas miracle. We would not want to have missed these ancient cities.

Highlight: The lanterns of Hoian were a more than satisfying replacement for our usual lights on Christmas Eve.

All hail the new emperor! Bringing back ancient styles with the aviators

Blending in with the locals

Careful looking up, you never know what you will walk into

When can we bring these to Calgary?! Maybe hanging off the +15s???

I am glad she was speeding away from us

Get lost in the lantern trance

HO CHI MINH / SAIGON and the MEKONG DELTA

Highlight: The War Remnants Museum is a MUST see in Vietnam. It gives an eye opening and heart wrenching perspective to our usually biased narrative of the Vietnam War. Extremely well made with lots to read and see, giving you a glimpse into the emotion and suffering of the innocent Vietnamese people still impacted by the war.