this is real

Today is our last day in Vientiene. We visited more NGOs and government agency who remove UXOs. It is very different to be here hearing what really happens to a family and community in the UXO contaminated areas. From far away in the US we learned and had an idea. But here, it is really and these organizations are all struggling to make a dent in an insurmountable task. we go to each meeting and we are served a little tea and little water and they tell us of their challenge. Then we show them our Legacies of War video about all the projects we do, and I catch a little smile. This is something new. Lao Americans returning to Laos to help their community, their global community, the diasporic family. Perhaps we bring with us some hope.

Vientiane

Vientiane is hot! The heat here is unbearable and getting around outside is like a sauna. Nonetheless, we are here to see what efforts are taken regarding UXO issues with the Legacies of War group. The group of 14 or so treks around town meeting with NGO's, offices and routinely meet and greet many people. Some of the challenges have been language and translation but we do get by. The major story on UXO right now in Laos is victim assistance and preventive education. The road to clear all UXO in Laos is daunting so many angles on the issue are being addressed...primarily the immediate needs for villagers to make a living. Laos. Poor country. Poor people. It's going to take a while to get this country moving forward.

As for the arts scene we have not seen any theaters or artists. So we are still in search of a possible venue or live performers to meet. We just heard about the Lao National Puppet Theater Company and hope to connect with them in the next few days before we head to Xieng Khouang.

The country is changing...city life and country life are two very distinct lifestyles. Vientiane is one very specific area. We've yet to visit the rest of Laos and the countryside to see the other aspects of life. So far...Vientiane is a modernizing city.

There are times I feel that I don't belong...my Lao is weak. My sense of direction...lost. I feel very foreign in a place that I have very little memory of. Tourists pervade the streets and hotels and I am not them...yet I am...a visitor connected to this country if only simply by birth...but not much else. Laos. Land of a million elephants. It was before my time before your time.

In Laos

It's been a trek to get into Laos as we didn't fully plan out our trip in. We had a hard time because we tried to book our flights too late. Not to mention the fact that we've ridden on every form of transport from planes, trains, boats, automobiles and motorcycles...it's all exhausting. We were fortunate enough to connect with Aunty Betsy in Chiang Mai who was pivotal in guiding our way into Laos. We left Chiang Mai heading west to east on a long 12 hour overnight bus route to Udon Thani transferred to another bus to Nong Khai and finally found our way across the Friendship Bridge into Vientiane. It was a long, long, trip...inexpensive but time consuming. We finally were relieved to be in Vientiane thanks to Uncle Sombee, a relative of Aunt Betsy.

We connected with Legacies of War and have been on the meeting trail...with different organizations for this trip. We are also doing a blog on the www.legaciesofwar.org Lao trip as well. Vientiane has dramatically changed in the past few years...lots of development and a major contrast of old and new. You can see it very clearly at the Dalat Sao (Morning Market) where there are vendors in the buildings of old as well as the new Malaysian funded air conditioned mall built as an extension of the market. Selling and buying of goods is still the same just the new materials like computers and cell phones mixed with fruits and vegetables. Development holds a double edge sword as we see the colliding of the new and the old. It been the biggest issue for us as we visit different organizations and speak about the work that we do. You've got major poverty with a push to progress...how does a country that has been slow to change do so...so drastically. We will find out in the next few years.

Theatrical Bangkok

We had a great day in Bangkok catching up with an old friend Cecily Chow, aka the illustrious former Technical Director of SOMARTS and robert karimi's show at OUTNORTH MAN/MARDAAN. She took us to alternative performance venues in Bangkok she's been working with. Wow, we couldn't have asked for a better tour in just a day or so. Pictures to come as soon as we can get the photos uploaded. Eat your heart out Robert Karimi, we are having lemongrass juice with Cecily at a cafe/performance venue on the river in Bangkok. Took a water taxi to get there!

Here today, gone to Laos

We've been home in Los Angeles for almost two whole months! Amazing! We've been so quiet on the blog because we've been taking care of business, getting ready to be gone once again, but this time to Thailand and Laos. We are excited and terrified. We are joining Legacies of War on a fact finding learning trip to the villages of Laos still dealing with the consequences of cluster bombs some 30 years after they were dropped. We are ready to learn, be inspired, be changed by what we see. As many of you know, we have also been helping raise money to build a preschool in one of these villages. Hopefully we will get to meet some of the kids who will get to go to the school. TeAda raised $1,000 toward the effort lead by Legacies of War called the Schools not Bombs campaign. Check out their web page for information if you are interested. In the mean time, we will take pictures along the way and try update the blog as often as possible.