Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked sovereign nation located in South Asia. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 27 million. Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India.
The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha.  

The landscape of Nepal was a stark contrast to arid Tibet as the first two pictures show. Our guide told us that Nepal is focused on two economic goals, increase tourism and develop hydroelectric power for Nepal and to export.

Kathmandu is the capitol of Nepal. Our guide said that during the 60's and 70's it was a popular place for flower children. Marijuana was legal and plentiful. Our guide showed us marijuana growing along the side of a road we were traveling. He said the psychedelic patterns on vehicles we saw originated during this time.

In Kathmandu we saw many children in school uniforms. We were told those in uniform go to private schools. Other children attend public schools. Sadly, many children do not attend school at all.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was seeing Rotary in action, as shown by this sign in Kathmandu.

These students were waiting to attend the school sponsored by the Rotary Club.

I have not been to India, but Nepal had the feel of the India I have seen in the media.

There are many Hindu and Buddhist sites in Nepal. Our guide told us that Nepal is 90% Buddhist and 90% Hindu, meaning the two religions get along in Nepal.

Cows are sacred here. We did not see beef on the menu. 

Monkeys were as plentiful as stray dogs in some areas.

Women obtaining and carrying off water from a public water source.


We left Nepal with gratitude for our own circumstances and more respect for other cultures.

Tibet

Tibet is a region governed by China. Before we went to Tibet, we were told about the symptoms of being at high altitudes, shortness of breath and headaches, to name two. One of our Chinese friends obtained a prescription for us to take before our journey that was supposed to lessen the symptoms. With our experience living at what we thought we high altitudes in the Mountain West and our Chinese prescription, we flew to Lhasa the capital of Tibet, whose elevation is over 11,000 feet. The prescription and experience were no match for altitudes that in some areas where we traveled exceeded 15,000 feet.

We are standing in front of one of the most sacred places for Buddhists, the largest Buddhist temple in Lhasa. Many people who had made a pilgrimage to to this site were walking around and around the temple when we arrived. Many brought offering for the temple, including yak butter that was fuel for candle-like light in the temple.

 It is probably difficult to overestimate the significance of the temple at Lhasa to many who worship there.

This view gives a better idea of the size and complexity of the structure. We are standing in a large square. While we were there,  two soldiers asked to have their picture taken with me.  This was a real surprise because everywhere we have been in China we have not been allowed to take pictures of the military.

Tibetan women that we saw were in there traditional dress. The men often wore western clothes.

 We saw many yaks along the way. We had yak to eat and it tastes like beef.

Here it is! Mount Everest on the Tibetan side. It is a breathtaking view, literally. Altitude symptoms are real. I had shortness of breath and Marilyn had headaches. But all that we saw and experienced eclipsed a little discomfort.

On the way back from the base camp of Mount Everest we happened on a local festival. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

The northern side of the Himalayas is desolate. We saw very little wild life. 

 As we crossed the summit on our way to Nepal the vegetation became lush and the waterfalls sere stunning.

 We say good-by to our guide, center, our driver, and Tibet before crossing the border to Nepal.

Cambodia Angkor Temple Ruins

A little background information from Wikipedia about the area in Cambodia we visited:

Angkor (Khmer: "Capital City") is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The Angkorian period began in AD 802, when the Khmer Hindu monarch Jayavarman II declared himself a "universal monarch" and "god-king", and lasted until the late 14th century, first falling under Ayutthayan suzerainty in 1351. A Khmer rebellion resulted in the 1431 sacking of Angkor by Ayutthaya.
The ruins of Angkor are located amid forests and farmland to the north of the Great Lake (Tonlé Sap) and south of the Kulen Hills, near modern-day Siem Reap city in Siem Reap Province. The temples of the Angkor area number over one thousand, ranging in scale from nondescript piles of brick rubble scattered through rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, said to be the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, and together, they comprise the most significant site of Khmer architecture. 

This tomb raider failed to maintain a low profile.

 There are international organizations devoted to preserving and restoring these amazing temple sites.

We climbed some stairs as steep as these to see some views from the top. 

This view shows some of the scaffolding used to restore the ruins as well as parts before restoration. 

Our guide saved the most spectacular sites for the last day. Temples overgrown by the forest have a surreal appearance.  

This pictures gives you a idea of the size of some of the tree roots. 

At another place in Cambodia this girl waits for tourists with her pet snake hoping to make some money selling pictures.

In Cambodia we used American money. When we arrived in the country we found an ATM after we deplaned. To our surprise, it dispensed U.S. dollars, some of which we had to use to pay for our visa to enter the country. We continued to use U.S. dollars during our stay, although we would sometimes receive Cambodian money for change.

We thought the parts of Cambodia we visited seemed less prosperous than Vietnam. Unlike Vietnam and China, we saw children who appeared to be school age who were not in school. Also, unlike Vietnam and China, we saw many children, again young children who should have been in school, selling trinkets for "a dollar, a dollar." 

We found many American products in stores and most were less expensive than what the same think would cost in China. We also found a great hamburger and fries after our trek in the "jungle."

Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon and Surrounding Area

Ho Chi Minh City is still called Saigon by many of its residents, and it is a bustling, lively place with many foreign tourists and a developed tourist economy.  French influence, as seen in some architecture still remains.        

It seemed unusual to be in a country where this national symbol is frequently and prominently displayed.

A view of the skyline from the river. 

 

In a place somewhat removed from Saigon we took a boat to an area where coconut products were produced.  The captain's daughter took a turn at the wheel when the boat was docked.

Our guide, whose English name is Happy, telling us about how coconuts are processed and about the many uses of coconuts.

 

 

 

 

The entry to a very large wholesale market in Saigon.  One could not purchase one hat here, but several boxes of hats could easily be purchased.

 

 

 

Some of the varied items in the wholesale market.

 

Another view of the wholesale market.

 

The opera house in Saigon.  We saw a performance of young dancers/musicians/acrobats/gymnasts/actors who exhibited wonderful talent in a creative production.

An exhibit outside of the war museum in Saigon.  The story told at this museum was not pleasant and was, of course, one side's version of what happened.

One room in the former presidential palace.  The building was indeed palatial. 

A Catholic church in downtown Saigon that was constructed in the 1800's. 

Sculpted fruit for dessert at a Saigon restaurant that served delicious food.

Hanoi and Surrounding Area

 

During the break between semesters we traveled some with other BYU China teachers.  One tour was to Vietnam and Cambodia.  This post is limited to Hanoi and its surrounding area.  For Marilyn's and my generation, Vietnam signifies more than a country.  Vietnam is an emotionally charged word and I expect it always will be.  No matter what one's view is about the Vietnam conflict, I think all would agree that it had a profound impact on America.

 

 

 

 

 

A hostess at one of restaurants we enjoyed.  The people in Vietnam are very gracious, and the service in hotels and restaurants is superb.

 

 

A view across the way from in front of the Hotel in Hanoi where we stayed.

 

Scooters seem to be the main form of transportation.  They are everywhere.  In Vietnam people seem to pay more attention to traffic signals than they do in Nanjing.  In Nanjing there are may electric scooters and most are used on sidewalks.  They travel silently, and it is extremely important to walk in a predicable way.  In Vietnam the scooters are gas powered and stay on the streets.

 

 

 

 

Scooters are for families too, as you can see, and this was not an unusual scene. 

 

 

 

The Hanoi Hilton, a place I never thought I would visit. 

 

This prison was first operated by the French to house Vietnamese political prisoners.  Later it was where American POW pilots were kept.  Each side has its own version of the conflict, and the American version is not told here.  Most of the displays had more to do with how the French treated the Vietnamese than about the conflict with America.

 

 

 

 

As we travelled by bus from Hanoi to a scenic bay, we passed many rice fields.  We were told that in some areas of Vietnam three crops of rice are raised in a year.

 

 

 

We stopped at a pearl harvesting  operation. 

 

There was a separate show room with pearl jewelry for sale.  We looked but did not buy.

 

 

Halong Bay is beautiful

 

 

 

Dinner on the boat. 

 

All of the food in Vietnam was good.  It seemed light and fresh.

 

Another traveler.

 

 

 

One of many scenic views of the bay.

 

 

 

 

The view out the window of the hotel room where we stayed near the bay.

(I hope everyone appreciates the sacrifices we make on these trips.)