Au Revoir Viet Nam and Cambodia

Gentle, sweet, curious, intelligent, eager to be friends...the faces of the children are memories that make our time in Viet Nam and Cambodia a reality, even six weeks later. We'll remember the girl in blue from the orphanage in Hue who was thrilled to see her picture on the camera, the girl with a beautiful smile at the Buddhist Monastery, the two girls from a hill tribe by the bridge on the way to Da Lat . . .

the child we dubbed "Henry" because of the resemblance to our grandson (until we discovered "he" was a girl - sorry Henry) . . .

the Cambodian rice farmers' baby girl who, as can be clearly seen, was a little imp . . .




the child sitting at his mother's loom at the Silk Farm in Siem Reap, the poised young teenager named Lilin selling souvenirs

near the Banteay Srei Temple (from whom we bought a gift for Ella's birthday),

the village children in Tho Ha where rice paper is produced and the boys in the basket village --- these children are the living signs of rebirth in their respective countries.

What follows is a photographic recap of the people that brought a new depth of understanding in our search for the cultural differences that make our lives richer and, as always on these adventures, discovering the same human needs and hopes that make us one. Finally, the trip that began by taking us towards the rising sun concludes with this entry. The realization that the sun is always rising first in Viet Nam and Cambodia encourages us to remember the people and their stories as each day begins.

Thanks to Elaine Panitz who shared this beautiful photo of our tireless guide in Viet Nam, Lam, and his youngest daughter. Lam's name means "forest," and his wife Thuy's means "water." And this is why their daughters' names translate in English to "Guppy" and "Rabbit."  Lam had surprised us by stopping at his in-law's house where his family was waiting with Vietnamese sweets and tea.

Remember Giovanni from a few posts back? Here he is with the little fellow who was holding tight to his hand at the orphanage in Hue. A gentle creature of another sort attached himself to Giovanni at the Banteay Srei Temple in Cambodia. The calf kept nuzzling him until mama cow called him away. We decided Giovanni must have been channeling St. Francis.


This was one of Jerry's favorite sites, one of many such hotels in the Hanoi area. Anyone wanting to know more about "Nha Nghi" needs to ask him about it.  (Hint: it has something to do with the millions of people sharing space in cramped quarters and needing an occasional romantic escape.)



We never tired of viewing the many modes of transportation, especially those that involved entire families on one vehicle.
















Another intriguing sight was the vast array of eating establishments on the sidewalks - the original sidewalk café. Since we only looked at the offerings and never actually partook of them, we can only imagine they were as delicious as those in more traditional settings --- lots of fish, of course, Banana Flower Salad (a favorite), White Rose, a dumpling of sorts, Pho (a kind of soup that is on the menu at a Thai restaurant only two miles from our house!) and lots of French bread sold on the streets (a reminder of the 100 years of French occupation).

An image that floats through our minds often is that of the gentle monks in their orange robes - an integral part of the landscape in Buddhist countries.

MOVEMENT
by Thich Nhat Hanh
My head pillowed on waves--
I drift with the flow--
broad river,
deep sky.
They float, they sink,
like bubbles,
like wings.

Some unique structures remain in our memories--- a graceful bridge over Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake, a tall skinny building only eight feet wide (!), again in Hanoi. And, on a Cambodian river, two men on a see-saw contraption pulling fish from the water.














Here are a few observations from our time in southeast Asia:
1. In Viet Nam there are two essential items in every home, no matter how primitive: a family altar and a TV set.
2. Lam had cell phone reception EVERYwhere we went in Viet Nam.
3. There's a fortune to be made in the manufacture of plastic stools and tiny tables. (See "sidewalk café" above)
4. Our group of 16 Overseas Adventure Travelers multiplied by the 26 other groups in southeast Asia in February received four plastic bottles of water each day during their 22-day trips, a total of approximately 36,708 bottles. (Note to OAT: instead of t-shirts, perhaps you can give your clients stainless steel canteens.)
5. Organizations such as Grand Circle and individuals from around the world have donated schools, desks, school supplies, wells, clinics and have provided monetary and organizational support.


Our next-to-last flight took us to Bangkok on a colorful Thai plane. The adventure concluded in this huge, busy city with a quick check-in at our hotel and fast taxi ride over and under Bangkok's maze of freeways to meet friends Fr. Cyprian Consiglio and Willie Yaryan for dinner at a restaurant on the river. To sit with two men we have known so well in another part of the world and share our mutual experiences of different cultures was a perfect way to ease us into the reality of returning home.

The title of this post is "Au Revoir" which means "to see again." Not only will these pictures and words help us do that, but staying in touch with the new friends who shared these adventures will also help us to "see again." And when we do, perhaps we'll recall that once upon a time we were all guests at a fairy tale wedding in a kingdom that existed long ago.