Mekong River – Streaming thru America

Overseas Adventure Travel, a familiar name in international group tourism, has a recognized history of offering an array of immersive tours that not only prioritize cultural engagement but also emphasize sustainability while remaining affordable for travelers. Their unique approach allows adventurers to connect deeply with diverse populations and local traditions, fostering genuine interactions.

In alignment with this mission, their charitable partner, Grand Circle Foundation has made a profound commitment to uplift and support the communities they visit around the world. This includes providing essential services in areas such as education, access to clean water, and leadership training, ensuring that the benefits of tourism extend far beyond the travelers themselves.

Since 1992, O.A.T.’s active participation in conservation initiatives aimed at protecting natural ecosystems and preserving cultural traditions has created a positive and lasting impact in every location they’ve ventured into, thereby enriching visitors and communities alike.

We were about to experience this, first-hand.

Our Ancient Kingdom itinerary carved out a few days to explore the ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang and its ethnic surroundings.

Wall-mounted clocks displaying the times in Sydney, Tokyo, Luang Prabang, London, and New York.

Leah and I got our bearings during our group’s late-day orientation walk through the historic district, where we admired Wat Sensoukharam,

Sunset view of the ornate rooftops of traditional Lao temples, featuring intricate designs and vibrant colors, surrounded by greenery.

built in 1718 during the reign of King Kitsarath, and restored to its current state in 1957.

A decorative golden boat with intricate designs and dragon motifs, situated under a tent, showcasing traditional craftsmanship.

Also known as Wat Sen, the temple is believed to have been built using 100,000 stones from the Mekong River, giving the temple its name, roughly translating to Temple of 100,000 Treasures.

Interior view of a traditional wooden boat with ornate decorations and a dragon sculpture, showcasing artistic craftsmanship.

With the sun setting on the Mekong,

A scenic view of the Mekong River surrounded by lush mountains under a clear sky, featuring two traditional wooden boats on the water.

and commuter traffic saturating Sakkaline Street,

A man riding a yellow scooter with a child seated in front of him, both in a busy street filled with vehicles and pedestrians.

the sidewalk eateries busily prepped for dinnertime crowds.

A vendor stands behind a stall with roasted meat, including pig and various dishes, in a local market setting.

Down the road, merchants appointed their stalls with purses, pottery and paintings before the weekend procession to the night market, where family and friends flocked for a social evening.

A view of a traditional Lao temple illuminated at dusk, surrounded by colorful market stalls with red canopies in the foreground, and palm trees against a twilight sky.

The following morning, we scrambled into jumbos,

Two local men chatting near colorful shared transport vehicles in a vibrant street setting.

and rode to the Royal Pier,

Scenic view of the Mekong River with traditional wooden boats moored at a riverside pier, surrounded by lush green hills under a cloudy sky.

where we boarded a traditional wooden boat that transported us upriver to a nearby Buddhist temple on the western bank.

A wooden sign featuring ornate golden lettering that reads 'Vat Muangkham Mang Kalaram' against a red background.

We roamed the modest temple grounds, surrounded by ramshackle monastery dorms,

Rural wooden houses with metal roofs in a village, showcasing traditional architecture against a clear blue sky.

and temple buildings that had long forsaken its gold leaf …

A detailed view of a traditional Lao temple with ornate golden roofs and decorative pillars, featuring statues of Buddha and mythical creatures at the entrance.

for peeling paint.

View of a traditional Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang with intricate architectural details and surrounded by lush greenery.

Just beyond the temple walls, a steady show of curious children received us,

Two young girls standing outdoors, one wearing a pink hoodie and the other in a beige shirt and black pants, with a wooden stump in front of them.

acting as welcome ambassadors to Mouangkham Village,

A young girl holding a small, fluffy dog, wearing a blue polka-dotted hoodie, stands outdoors with greenery and wooden logs in the background.

an O.A.T.-supported community that was eager to share its hospitality.

A smiling woman holds a young child dressed in a patterned outfit, while the child clutches a plastic bottle, surrounded by nature.

The villagers have banded together to literally sustain themselves in a grass roots business by producing khai paen, a dried, river weed delicacy for wholesale food markets.

A person tending to a large tray of drying river weed in Mouangkham Village, with traditional buildings in the background.

We observed a demonstration: from washing and rinsing,

A woman uses traditional methods to process river weed in a communal setting. She is seen washing and preparing the green delicacy, with various drying frames placed nearby.

to beating the weed into submission, until it’s been reduced to a fine green veneer of fiber.

A man in a blue shirt uses a wooden tool to spread green river weed on a bamboo mat as part of the traditional preparation for khai paen in Laos.

It didn’t look overly complicated, requiring just enough finesse to master the battering. Only a scattering of thinly sliced tomatoes, shredded garlic and a sprinkle of sesame seeds was needed to complete the process.

My best effort was donated to the local economy.

A man sitting outdoors, showcasing a tray of dried river weed, with greenery in the background.

As a cottage industry, it may not seem like much, but it’s enough to provide for toddler high-tech.

A young child in a fluffy, light-colored outfit thoughtfully holds a smartphone while sitting on a wooden stool next to a tree in a rustic environment.

The following day, we boarded a bus to Mouang Khai Village for A Day in the Life experience among Lao, Khmu and Hmong people, who share humble homesteads,

A rustic outdoor area showing a wooden workbench, various tools, and containers, with a stack of firewood in the background. A chicken is visible near the ground.

but celebrate a rich cultural heritage, like playing the qeej (a reeded bamboo instrument) during a teenage courtship dance.

The village chief hosted a traditional Lao lunch, cooked by us with appropriate guidance…

Tourists engage in cooking while learning about local cuisine in a village setting.

but the highlight of the day was attending primary school with a dozen youngsters at their Grand Circle Foundation-funded, one-room schoolhouse, where we were exuberantly serenaded,

while the older children…

Two young girls sitting together on a wooden bench in front of a weathered wooden wall, one wearing a beige jacket with a character design and the other in a white t-shirt with a colorful print.

Two smiling young girls posing closely together, one holding a small object and waving. They are outdoors in a natural setting.

looked after the younger children.

Three young children sitting outside against a weathered green wooden wall, one child is wearing a colorful shirt and beaded necklace, another is in a light pink outfit, and the third is seated in gray attire, all appearing curious and playful.

After a special presentation to the village teacher of 15 years,

Two women interact in a classroom setting, with one handing a booklet to the other, who is smiling. A chalkboard with writing in Lao is visible in the background along with classroom materials.

we were escorted back to our bus.

A child holding hands with an older woman, walking on a dirt path surrounded by greenery and traditional houses.

It was a special day-in-the-life.

By reaching out and connecting with communities around the world, we learn to appreciate firsthand, not only our diversity, but our commonality — and the understanding we gain can be life-changing.

While sifting through hundreds of photographs taken during a recent tour of Southeast Asia (see past posts), I weeded out a wave of watercraft shots, and thought a maritime montage of nautical notions would make the perfect post.

During our visit to Kanchanaburi, Leah and I enjoyed time on the River Kwai in a traditional long-boat…

giving us splendid views along the water,

and a glimpse of river-lounging for well-heeled tourists:

But it wasn’t until we returned to Bangkok’s Chao Phraya that we gained a greater appreciation of the river’s transportation network:

of river buses, cross-river ferries, water taxis, and sunset party boats.

On another occasion, we boarded a long tail to cruise upriver on the Chao Phraya,

taking in the sites of the ancient capital of Ayutthaya…

along the waterfront.

But the mighty Mekong is Southeast Asia’s “Mother of all Rivers” and most significant waterway. It winds its way from the Tibetan Plains to the South China Sea, running through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, making it the region’s longest river at nearly 3,000 miles.

The Mekong is also the most productive river on the planet–boasting the world’s largest inland fishery–

which accounts for up to 25% of the global freshwater catch while providing livelihoods for 90 million people,

and supporting 54,000 sq mi of rice crops.

While touring upper Chiang Rai, Leah and I were hypnotized watching the confluence of Myanmar’s Roak River flowing into the Mekong–

separating Thailand and Laos to form the Golden Triangle.

But it wasn’t until our visit to Luang Prabang, Laos that we caught a second look at the Mekong–this time during golden hour–

which set the stage for our cruise the following day on a traditional wooden boat.

We motored slowly upriver to where the Mekong meets the Nam Ou River at Ban Pak Ou,

and disembarked directly across from the village…

to explore the Pak Ou Caves–Tham Ting and Tham Theung–located on the west bank of the Mekong River.

The first Lao people arrived at Ban Pak Ou from South China during the 8th century. They brought a strong belief in spirits and a profound respect for all things nature. It was an animistic religion known as Ban Phi.

The villagers believed that the caves were enchanted with river spirits, and they performed periodic blood sacrifices for prosperity and protection, but by the 16th century, Buddhism had been adopted by the royal families of Lao, who offered their patronage until the last days of the monarchy in 1975.

While Buddhism remains a unifying feature of Lao culture, animistic rituals continue to thrive and have been seamlessly integrated into Buddhist ceremonies, allowing Shamans and monks to symbiotically tend to the spiritual needs of their worshippers.

These days, the caves are a well-known repository for over 4,000 miniature Buddha sculptures, mostly old or disfigured impressions dating from the 18th century.

We were reacquainted with the Mekong during our stay in Phnom Penh, where we enjoyed a delightful sunset cruise on the river,

with all the beer we wanted!

The ever-shifting city skyline…

stands in stark contrast with Akreiy Ksatr Village on the opposite bank.

But a new ferry station supports continued growth along the river in every sector,

making Cambodia an emerging economic engine among ASEAN nations.

Lastly, during our visit to Vietnam, Leah and I traversed the Mekong Delta on a chartered riverboat.

As we navigated inside a shallow tributary, my mind quickly turned to Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” with haunting visions of Marlow’s journey on the Congo River.

Initially, our captain wondered if the incoming tide would lift our boat over the mud, unlike other sidelined sailors,

as we managed to crawl through the middle of the passage at low tide.

Eventually, we exchanged our boat for an excursion by sampan,

until we reached our next location,

where Siamese crocodiles are on the menu and not on the Mekong, thankfully!

There were many other water activities throughout our tour, yet nothing prepared us for a day on Tonlé Sap, where we observed Cambodians living on the water, full-time.

But that’s a story for another time…

Tag: Mekong River

Impact Tourism through O.A.T.

River Reverence

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