WELCOME TO 2-2-2 TUESDAY
Here are 2 Cultural Highlights, 2 Quotes, and 2 Short Stories for you to enjoy.
Inspired by Laos
2 CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
1.
“A Monk’s Morning Routine:
It’s 4 AM in Luang Prabang, Laos.
After meditation and chanting, monks walk barefoot into the neighboring community before the sun comes up. Why? They set out to collect food from members of the neighboring community. Did you know monks do not buy or prepare their own food? Neither did we. However, it’s an important distinction to learn that monks do not beg. In this culture, alms givers freely provide for the monks.
Last Thursday, my wife and I were invited to participate in this daily ceremony, which is known as Tak Bat.
Picture this: In complete silence, dressed in saffron orange robes, hundreds of monks walked in a single file line to collect alms. Each monk carries a collection bowl, which is strapped around their shoulder. As instructed, we placed food in their bowl without making eye contact. As monks received their food, they said to deliver silent blessings as part of this mutually beneficial exchange.
In Luang Prabang, they typically receive a combination of sticky rice and sweets. After returning to the monastery, the monks share their collected food among the group, which becomes their breakfast. Any extra food is set aside for lunch: their only other meal of the day.
2.
Collateral Beauty – Making Jewelry out of Bombs:
More than 260 million. That’s the staggering number of bombs dropped on Laos between 1964 to 1973 by the United States.
Tragically, after the war, undetonated bombs have killed and injured more than 20,000 Laotians. Can you guess which populations have been the most affected? 1. Farmers at work 2. Children at play. Sadly, it’s estimated that around 70 million unexploded bombs still remain in the soil.
Yet, amidst this dark narrative, a beacon of hope shines…
Farah and I briefly connected with a local Laotian woman selling jewelry at a night market in Luang Prabang. Despite the aforementioned disturbing realities, we learned that numerous individuals and companies have emerged to transform the grim remnants of war into jewelry and accessories.
How is the jewelry-making process carried out? First, trained experts locate and destroy undetonated devices. Once a bomb is dismantled, we learned the salvaged materials belong to the landowner where it was found. Most of them sell the scraps, which are then acquired by skilled jewelry makers.
Next, these pieces, borne from the ashes of conflict, are melted and skillfully crafted into earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and accessories. You can find them at markets and online.A portion of the profits from all purchases goes back into the mission—accelerating the discovery and elimination of unexploded bombs.
It’s a powerful transformation, turning collateral damage into collateral beauty.
2 QUOTES TO CONSIDER
- “Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.” – George Carlin
- “Never do tomorrow what you could do the day after tomorrow just as well.” – Mark Twain
2 Short Stories
1.
Pothole Puzzles Lead to Emerald Lagoons:
Preparing to visit the most beautiful lagoon in Vang Vieng, Laos, our local host posed the million dollar question: “Do you want to hire a Tuk-Tuk driver, or rent a motorbike?” He then outlined the pros and cons of each:
- Tuk-Tuk drivers are familiar with the rough roads, ensuring a safe round trip at a cost of around 500,000 KIP ($24.14 USD). However, they’ll only wait a few hours at most.
- Opting for a motorbike grants more time flexibility, with the bike priced at 150,000 KIP ($7.24 USD), but would require a stop at the gas station. The roads are in terrible condition, a mix of dirt, loose gravel, and pavement riddled with massive potholes. One of the bridges is barely drivable, but walkable if necessary. The roads pose risks, especially for westerners, given their terrible condition and the somewhat aggressive local drivers.
- “Is that all?” I asked.
- Additionally, corrupt police often stop westerners, invent a violation, and coerce a fine.
After weighing our options, we returned with our answer: “We’ll take the motorbike!,” I exclaimed. He looked both surprised and please with our choice.
The next day, cautiously navigating a barely drivable road, our host’s warnings proved accurate. The roads resembled the most perforated piece of Swiss cheese. We slid a few times on loose gravel, prompting me to put my foot down to avoid falling. However, with the wind flowing through our hair, we felt ALIVE.
Finally, we reached the most magical lagoon, and had the place to ourselves. The water, clean and crystal clear blue-green, surrounded by pristine green jungle and a hillside featuring caves to explore. At the lagoon, we indulged in the Tarzan swing, ziplined into the water, swam with fish, and floated on bamboo rafts. It was the definition of paradise.
We hopped back on the motorbike, and explored the countryside at our own pace. Dressed in long sleeves and wearing helmets, we had no issues with the police.
We happily returned to our homestay without any incidents.
In the end, the adventure day was one of the brightest highlights of our travels.
If you’re interested, below is a brief framework we sometimes use when facing difficult decisions.
Life is short, and it’s worth taking plenty of calculated risks.
Risks: How can we mitigate them?
Rewards: Are they worth the risks?
Worst-case and most-likely scenarios: Can we accept them?
Note: Absolute certainty is rarely attainable. Plans should be adaptable to changing circumstances.
2.
River Magic: A Nature-Powered Ferry
In June 2023, just a few short months before we arrived in Laos, the renowned orange bridge in Vang Vieng was destroyed during a severe flood, rendering it impassable. This bridge served as the primary access point to iconic locales like Tham Chang Cave in Vang Vieng. However, in the face of this adversity, a resourceful and inventive response emerged – the introduction of a reaction ferry, constructed to facilitate continued access to the captivating sites that define Vang Vieng’s charm.
Last week, we used this ferry to easily cross a violent river. Can you guess how much it cost us? Priced at 5,000 KIP, roughly 48 cents round trip, we were happy to learn this ferry ensures affordability for everyone residing in the region.”
How is it so inexpensive? Like magic, the ferry doesn’t require any external energy source to cross the river.
It’s basically a special kind of boat that uses the power of a river’s current to move across the water. It’s like a big kite on the river. The ferry’s shape is designed to catch the water current, just like a kite catches the wind. There’s a cable above the river, and the ferry moves along it with the help of the current. The cable is set up across the river in a way that makes it easier for the ferry to cross. It’s a cool way to use nature’s power to travel across rivers more efficiently.
A reaction ferry proves to be a game-changer, especially in places like Laos, where economic conditions can be challenging.
Thanks for tuning in to 2-2-2 Tuesday! If you have any feedback, comments, or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you. Have a wonderful week.
Much love to you and yours,
Zack and Farah
