Laos is landlocked and lies between Thailand, Myanmar, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. The Mekong River forms the countries western border and the Anna Mite Mountains form its eastern border with Vietnam.
The total land area is approximately 237,000 sq km. An area similar to that of the United Kingdom. The main features of the country are its mountains and the Mekong River valley.
Laos has a monsoon climate of a dry and a wet season. The dry season lasts from November to May with the cooler period in December and January. At its coldest, the temperatures can fall to as low as 15. The cold periods tend to be at night and early morning with colder temperatures at higher altitudes. During the hot period of the dry season, between March and May, temperatures can reach the high 30s. The rainy season is a lot cooler, and rainfall varies according to altitude. Generally speaking, the monsoon season produces severe rain that lasts for short periods of time. The wet months vary according to location, in Vientiane, they are from May to September, in Luang Prabang, and August is far wetter than any other month.
Parts of the Anna mite chain are covered with tropical evergreen forest, where rainfall is highest and in the south, tropical pine forests can be found.
Laos, the land of a million elephants and one of the last places to see old Indochina. The pace of Laos is slow and its people relaxed and friendly.
There are 68 official ethnic groups in Laos, belonging to three main groups.
For much of its history, Laos has been under the thumb of its neighbours at various times the Cambodians, Burmese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Siamese. The result is that Laos has experienced great difficulty in establishing a national identity.
Laos folk music uses the Khen a set of pipes. Lam Wong is a popular folk dance where couples dance in circles to Lam Vong music.
It has a large number of animal species, including as many as 500 different birds. Reptiles include many snakes, including king cobras. There are a large number of lizards. Mammals include wild cats, bears, leopards and tigers. There are up to 500 wild elephants, although more than twice those numbers are in captivity. There are a number of rare species which include rhinos and wild cattle.
The Lao language is a member of the Tai language group, sometimes known as Tai Kadai or Kadai.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture offres Masters and Doctoral Scholarships to the nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore,Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam
For scholarship updates visit scholarships portal to get to know the latest happenings about various national and international scholarships and all the requirements for those scholarships.
Scholarship Description: The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) invites applications for its graduate scholarship(MS andPhD)in agriculture and related fields (including biologicalsciences, socialsciences, economics andstatistics, forestry and fisheries, environmental sciences, agro industrial technology and engineering,biochemistry, and development management) for School Year 2012-2013.
For scholarship updates visit scholarships portal to get to know the latest happenings about various national and international scholarships and all the requirements for those scholarships.
The scholarship is open to nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore,Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam who are regular employees of academic or research institutions or government agencies and not older than 35 years old.
For scholarship updates visit scholarships portal to get to know the latest happenings about various national and international scholarships and all the requirements for those scholarships.
This scholarships is open to the residents of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore,Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam with good personality, clear about research and with motive of excelling in the field of the prescribed course.
Scholasrhip Application Deadline: 30 July 2011
About the Author
For scholarship updates visit scholarships portal to get to know the latest happenings about various national and international scholarships and all the requirements for those scholarships.
Ecotourism simply means visiting pristine environs that are completely protected from human intervention. Ecotourism can boost awareness on environment and local cultures and enlighten people on ecological systems, besides funding conservation programmes.
It can also make the visitors gain a better idea on the importance of protecting Earth's natural beauty and biosphere for future generations. Ecotourism is the best way to minimize and even eradicate the threat or damage caused by tourism towards nature. Ecotourists have a greater responsibility than regular tourists while touring ecotourism-based destinations.
Today ecotourism plays a key role in tourism, drawing nature enthusiasts, researchers and students from all parts of the world. Ecotourism is just as popular in India where Kerala, a southern state, is ideal to explore nature at its best. This state boasts two national parks and 12 wildlife sanctuaries inviting you for countless encounters and adventures. With green carpeted mountains, rolling hills and evergreen forests that sprawls over 9000 square kilometres, Kerala is indeed rich in biodiversity.
The state of Kerala in India boasts of several ecotourism centres. These centres include Agasthyavanam Biological Park, Arippa, Konni, Thenmala, Kumarakom, Pamba and Mangalavanam to name but a few. Agasthyavanam Park and Arippa are ideal places for trekking and bird watching. Konni will take your breath away when you encounter the untameable giants on earth, the wild elephants, being tamed and trained. Mangalavanam is a birders' haven as it is a nesting area for migratory birds.
Conversely Thenmala is the trailblazer of Indian ecotourism. It is a small village that sits about 72 kilometres off Thiruvanandapuram, Kerala's capital, tucked away in the foothills of the Western Ghat Mountains. Awaiting you at Thenmala are leisurely adventures at the tea and rubber plantations. You can also observe timber of all types, exported from all corners of India.
Kerala State also boasts of ecotourism villages; the best example is Kumbalangi Ecotourism Village. This village is said to be India's first model tourism village that lets the visitors experience the bliss of nature at its best. You can observe and learn more about backwater and mangrove ecosystems at Kumbalangi. The comfy heritage houses complemented with delicious local delicacies will take you right into the heart of Kerala culture. While you are there, don't forget to check out coir production and fishing methods, among others. Brace yourself for a pleasant surprise when you encounter the Chinese fishing nets here.
If you are looking forward to a holiday of ecotourism and a natural retreat that wraps you in mystifying wonders and magical moments, why not try Kerala? You can spend your nights at one of the cosy hotels in Kovalam and start exploring ecologically enriched sites. A few minutes drive from the Trivandrum International Airport, you can reach The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach, Kerala, known as one of the biggest beach resorts in Kerala. Wrapped in striking vistas mingling green and blue shades, this is one of the best Kovalam hotels to relish your Kerala holiday.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
laos development="laos development" How much would it cost to build a school or library?
I am asking mainly about Laos, but some information about Thailand would be helpful too.
It looks like I am going back to SE Asia soon....if not this October, then next April. I would love to do something to help in the economic development of Laos.
I was thinking of doing some fundraising to get the funds to build a school or library in Laos; and if the fundraising isn't enough, I or my family will cover the rest.
So......how much would it cost to build a 2500 sq foot library or 10 000 sq feet school? Oh....would I be able to get help from the local government like tax relief, etc? I have asked certain people in Lao construction...they told me $40 000 for a 3000-4000 sq building...to me that seems low...but asking others before committing more would be helpful.
I do not know about the construction costs in Laos, but I would not bother about a library. Go for a school building or teaching equipment/materials.
Do not expect any help from the government in Lao PDR. From my discussions with the Swedish Aid Agency and the (now former) British Consul in Vientiane, I heard that Lao government officials frequently have the audacity to demand bribes in order to approve aid projects.
Instead, you should consider finding and approaching a NGO or a corporation that may be willing to help co-sponsor your project. The link will give you an idea of some that are active in Thailand.
The essence of Yin and Yang from a Chinese perspective is that we live in an ever-changing world. The qualities of change that exist within us and around us can be described and understood by applying the principles of Yin and Yang. These qualities of energy underpin all traditional Chinese practice and are applied in: acupuncture, acupressure, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese astrology, martial arts and Feng Shui.
Early Chinese sages acknowledged that humanity was affected by two dominant forces. Namely: Heaven and Earth. Heaven was regarded as the space above us, incorporating the stars and the Chi from the cosmos, and was given the term Yang, which also represents Father. Its dominant force is that of a descending tendency towards the earth. Earth was regarded as the source of Chi beneath the ground that rose up vertically and returned to the cosmos. This Earth Chi represents the landscape, our environment and the food we eat. It was also given the feminine connotation of Mother.
The first sage to write about Yin and Yang was Lao Tzu in his classic, the Tao Te Ching, written 500 BC. In his poetic prose, Lao Tzu describes how all human affairs are governed by the changing world in which we live, which can be categorised by the forces of Yin and Yang.
Lao Tzu gives many practical examples of this working dynamic. For example, it is impossible to understand heat (Yang) without having any knowledge of cold (Yin). How is it possible to describe the daylight (Yang) without any knowledge of the dark and the night (Yin)?
History of the famous Yin/Yang Symbol
Historically, the followers of Lao Tzu, known as Taoists, are acknowledged as the authors of the Yin/Yang symbol. The symbol itself beautifully expresses the concept of a universe with two dominant forces – Yin and Yang and their perpetual motion.
To begin with, the circle represents the ‘wholeness' of the entire universe. Next, the circle can also represent a cycle. As far as the symbol is concerned, the cycle begins at the bottom, which from a Chinese perspective represents the night or the winter, and when the forces of Yin are at their peak. The colour black always represents Yin – the night and the winter, whereas the colour white represents Yang – the daytime and the summer.
As you progress clockwise around the cycle from the bottom, after the peak of Yin, the tail or the beginning of Yang starts to form and rises towards the top of the cycle, which represents the noon and the mid-summer. It is at this point that the white (the Yang) sector of the cycle is at its peak. At the top of the cycle, the tail of the Yang – the beginning – starts to form and as it descends, on the right side of the cycle, towards the bottom, the Yin is becoming stronger.
Within each half of the symbol appears an eye with the opposite colour. This represents another facet of the Taoist philosophy, that nothing is totally Yin or Yang. In other words, within the Yang there is always a small amount of Yin, and within the Yin there is always a small amount of Yang.
Practical examples of this thinking would be to take extreme Yin (cold) which ultimately freezes and becomes hard or sharp (Yang).
These principles of Yin and Yang are used as the basis for the oldest system of astrology in continuous use today, I Ching Astrology.
Yin & Yang in your living environment
The location of our home or office and its surrounding landscape can have Yin or Yang qualities that can affect us. Within our homes, the colours, the interior design and the layout can create and embody qualities of Yin and Yang – stillness or activity.
Making Balance with Yin and Yang
One of the earliest mentions of Yin and Yang in relationship to Feng Shui appeared in the 6th century A.D. regarding Landscape of Form School Feng Shui. Yin and Yang were simply epitomised by the location of a dwelling on the shady (Yin) side of the hill or the sunny (Yang) side of the hill.
The attributes of Yin and Yang. It's important to remember that all the qualities of Yin and Yang are tendencies and would have been drawn from the sages' experience of the natural world in which they lived and that we continue to do so also. These tendencies or qualities can be classified as follows.
Yang
Hot
Day
Summer
Faster
Active
Bright
Harder
Practical
White, red, green
Rigid
Masculine
Yin
Cold
Night
Winter
Slower
Passive
Dark
Softer
Spiritual
Black, blue
Flexible
Feminine
The Principles of Yin and Yang
There are two vital dynamics of Yin and Yang that are well worth noting and remembering.
1. If there is a dominance of one of the Yin or Yang characteristics present in your life or your environment, it will ultimately make you take on that quality. For example, if you live in a cold, damp, dark basement (Yin), this Chi will affect you and you will become cold, passive and unenthusiastic.
2. At their extremes, Yin turns into Yang and vice versa. For example, if you apply extreme heat to a rock or a piece of metal it will ultimately Yin-ise and become fluid and flexible. If, on the other hand, you apply the principle of extreme Yin – cold – to water, it will freeze and become hard. If you take a holiday in a very hot Yang climate, you will become very relaxed and lethargic (Yin). On the other hand, if you live in the extreme cold mountainous regions of the world, you will become very active, focused and resilient (Yang).
Yin & Yang and Feng Shui
Generally speaking, our home is a more Yin environment compared to the workplace. Our home is where we retreat, where we relax and recover our strength and energy. To help achieve this, we bring many Yin qualities and features into our homes. These include: soft furnishings, softer lighting, mellow colours, soft carpets, music, plants and artwork that is either comforting or relaxing. Conversely, within the work environment, where our Chi needs to be more Yang, we tend to bring in more: brighter lighting, clear and practical furnishings, Yang colours, in particular white, imagery that is focused and practical, e.g. wallcharts and calendars, fewer plants, harder floors, and less music.
Even within the home, we can create more Yin or more Yang rooms or themes within the house. If you are raising healthy, young, boisterous children, they need a more Yang and uplifting environment. This can be achieved with brighter lighting, brighter colours and stimulating imagery. If, on the other hand, the home is occupied by elderly people, they prefer a more Yin environment where the lighting is softer and darker, imagery is peaceful and the general ambience is more mellow.
Making Balance
A useful tip using Yin and Yang is always to bring in a little of the ‘opposite' into your environment. For example, if you occupy a Yang bright office, bring in a touch of Yin – a plant, a flower, an image that is either romantic or mellow. On the other hand, in a Yin darker room at home, use brighter colours, a bright light.
About the Author
Published eight books on and around the subjects of Acupressure, Feng Shui Astrology, The 10 Day Re-Balance Programme, Piatkus Guide to Feng Shui, Feng Shui Journey, Macrobiotics for Beginners, Zen and the Art of Cooking, The Authentic I Ching and I Ching Astrology.
I Ching Astrology Ltd Name Jon Sandifer Email ichingastrologyva@gmail.com Web Address http://www.iching-astrology.com
With no less than 50 offshore islets, Ko Chang is Thailand's second largest island, and the biggest in the Ko Chang National Park. .
Pretty much the first Western contact that the islanders of Koh Chang had was when the corpses of French sailors, killed in a sea battle with the Japanese in 1941, washed up on their shores. The backpackers who started arriving in the mid-1970’s didn’t smell much better to the islanders, but had big smiles underneath their big noses and had what seemed like a fortune to spend. In common with all Thailand’s islands, Koh Chang was then first developed for backpackers, who are now being displaced as the island is turned into a luxury destination: construction work is going on throughout the island, with basic huts being torn down to make way for luxury resorts. This is obviously unfortunate for the budget travelers but will hopefully be good for the environment, provided the developers don’t get carried away, as the more expensive resorts can afford better sanitation and waste disposal facilities than could their predecessors.
Koh Chang’s recent success is due not only to its proximity to Bangkok, but to its lovely mountainous topography, which is rich in primary forest, waterfalls and still thinly-populated sandy beaches. There are coral reefs to the west of the island which, whilst not amongst the finest of a kingdom blessed with such magnificent underwater treasures, are colourful and abundant with marine life.
Ko Samet
Located just 200 kilometres from Bangkok and a three-hour walk from top to bottom, the T-shaped island of Ko Samet is known for its exotic coral, crystal-clear waters and many little beaches covered in sugary white sand. The sand on the island, which has an alternative Thai name that means ‘Island with Sand like Crushed Crystal’, is so fine that it is prized by glass-makers which, in a country with so many gorgeous beaches as Thailand, is a compliment indeed. Forest blankets 80% of an unspoiled island which, whilst lacking the dramatic topography of other Thai islands, is lucky in that it has so far escaped overdevelopment. There is a low-key party scene on Hat Sai Kaew which, with its offshore winds, is also an excellent location for those wishing to do a bit of wind surfing. Windsurfers can be rented out, so you don’t have to lug your own all the way here.
The half-moon bay Ao Vong Duan, in the middle of the eastern side of the island, is particularly beautiful but is rather crowded and is unfortunately afflicted with the jet-skis that are supposed to be illegal in this marine park, so visitors looking for tranquility are advised to stay on one of the two closely-flanking beaches, Ao Chan and Ao Thian, or further afield. The deeply-pocketed should book in at Ao Kiu beach’s gorgeous Paradee resort, which discourages guests from bringing small children.
The pristine reefs and beaches of the four nearby uninhabited islets Ko Kudi, Ko Kruai, Ko Kham, and Ko Pla Tin make them lovely scuba and snorkelling day-trips, on which visitors are advised to bring their own food and water (always a good sign on an island-hopping daytrip). Ko Thalu, slightly further afield, is lushly forested and inhabited by seagulls, flying foxes, and turtles. Whilst high cliffs occupy the west, often-deserted white sandy beaches are to be found on the east and southern sides of the island. Happy days.
Whilst in Thailand, why not visit one of the country’s best three southern beach destinations:
working in laos="working in laos" How long can I stay in Thailand on a single entry non-immigrant visa?
I am going to the embassy tomorrow and was wondering what the best option is for me if I would like to stay in Thailand for 6 months (as a tourist, won't be working or studying). I was told by a friend that you can go on a single entry then after 60 days you apply for another 30 days at immigration in Thailand. After the 90 days you can then go to Laos or Cambodia and re-enter on another single entry non-immigrant visa. Is this correct? If not please advise.
You are not looking for a non-immigrant visa you are looking for a tourist visa, which will give you 60 days on arrival and can be extended an additional 30 days at immigrations for a cost of 1,900 baht.
What you can do is apply for two tourist visas, and use them back to back, after you use the first tourist visa you do a visa run at the nearest border crossing and return and use the second visa. to get an additional 90 days without going to a Thai consulate for another visa. You may even be able to get three tourist visa if you want. Just ask at the consulate when you go.
State budget problems are so dire and rising health care costs so worrisome that some states are considering what may have been unthinkable just a year or two ago -- opting out of the federal Medicaid program. The New York Times reported last week that Texas (see below) and a handful of other states are considering doing exactly that, especially given that federal health care reform will expand (as of 2014) the number of residents who are eligible for the state-administered health care program. In South Carolina, state officials there are considering not paying Medicaid claims as of March 2011 unless they can secure permission to run at a deficit. Some state leaders concede dropping Medicaid could have a devastating effect on their local economies, making such a course unlikely. The fact that it's on the table, however, speaks volumes about the growing problem of runaway health care costs, and the need to develop systematic solutions in the way that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) addressed access issues. Easy To Insure ME has the answers
Health Care Reform Implementation For more detail about the ongoing implementation of the new health care reform law and its potential impact on you, read a new edition of our Eye on Implementation feature.
Federal
With Congress on recess last week, there is no Federal summary for this week.
States
ALASKA: A state health commission created by the legislature this year has begun reviewing rapidly rising medical costs and patterns of health care pricing among providers. Alaska's health care costs are rising faster than the national average. The commission held its first meeting in Anchorage October 14 and 15 after its members were appointed by Gov. Sean Parnell. Most members of the panel were on an earlier health care task force, but this panel has five new members, including two state legislators. In an effort to provide the Commission with relevant cost and quality data, Aetna has forwarded several relevant studies and documents produced by its Public Policy Department.
CALIFORNIA: The state is yet again facing a massive budget deficit -- $25.4 billion projected for 2011, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO). Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will call a budget special session starting December 6 to resolve the current-year $6.1 billion deficit. Next year's budget process will be impacted by two propositions passed during the November election. Voters approved Proposition 22, which limits the state's ability to borrow money from local governments, and they also approved Proposition 26, which makes it harder to raise fees. It also rolls back fees that were passed by less than a two-thirds vote this year. The LAO estimates these two propositions will create a $1 billion hole in the budget. Democrat Governor-elect Jerry Brown, who campaigned on a pledge of no new taxes, will release his budget proposal in early January.
NEW JERSEY: Last week the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee took up legislation that clarifies out-of-network payment responsibilities under health benefits plans, requires certain coverage and procedure disclosures to consumers, and revises procedures for changes to managed care plan contracts. After more than two hours of testimony, Chairman Schaer used his discretion to withhold formal action on the bill. In his comments the chairman noted, "The rising cost of health coverage is crowding out other socially important efforts for government and resulting in economic stress for employers." Led by the New Jersey Hospital Association and Medical Society, the provider community was virtually unified in its opposition to the legislation. The business community, NJ Association of Health Underwriters, and a large contingent of trade unions expressed their support for the bill. Aetna, along with other commercial plans, remains concerned about provisions in the bill concerning non-participating, hospital-based physicians and the ability of out-of-network providers to waive member copayment, coinsurance, or deductibles. Aetna will continue to closely monitor the legislation.
TENNESSEE: The Tennessee Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative has announced the members of two newly created Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs). Members of these groups will provide expertise on specific analytical questions to help in the state's insurance exchange planning process. The state is in the process of deciding whether it will operate a health insurance exchange. Mark Schmidt, Aetna Market President, Southeast, has been appointed to the Governor's TAG for State Insurance Exchange Planning. The members of the Actuarial/Underwriting TAG and the Agent/Broker TAGs will provide expertise on specific analytical questions to help in the state's insurance exchange planning process. The volunteer members of each TAG will meet in Nashville this fall and winter. Members of the Agent/Broker TAG will provide a detailed inventory of options for state decision-makers and then post any resulting discussion papers. Once additional information is received from the federal government, the state also intends to convene TAGs of health care providers, consumer representatives, and marketing and outreach experts.
TEXAS: Several Republican lawmakers are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state's estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, estimates Texas could save $60 billion between 2013 and 2019 by opting out of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, dropping coverage for acute care but continuing to fund long-term care services. With 3.6 million children, people with disabilities and impoverished Texans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will release its own study on the effect of ending the state's participation in the federal match program. Some lawmakers say not being able to reduce benefits or change eligibility to cut costs is "bankrupting our state." State Rep. John Zerwas, an anesthesiologist who authored the bill commissioning the Medicaid study, said early indications are that dropping out of the program would have a tremendous ripple effect monetarily, and he worries about who would carry the burden of care without Medicaid's "financial mechanism." Currently, the Texas program costs $40 billion per biennium, with the federal government footing 60 percent of the bill. As a result of federal health care reform, millions of additional Texans will become eligible for Medicaid. Lawmakers want to examine whether Medicaid enrollees could be served more cost efficiently with better outcomes in a state-run program.
WASHINGTON: Governor Chris Gregoire says she gets the message following the recent elections, and as a result has announced that she will seek supplemental budget cuts of $55 million before the end of the year. Voters signaled a strong aversion to additional tax hikes to balance the budget by recently passing initiative 1053, which restores the two-thirds vote requirement for the legislature to raise taxes, and initiative 1107, which repeals a tax on bottled water and carbonated beverages. Also, voters rejected initiative 1098, which would have instituted a state income tax. Among the programs Gregoire is considering for possible cuts is the state's Basic Health Plan. The Governor said she is open to the idea of a one-day special session if there is agreement with legislative leaders on quick action.
Culture of the Ta Oi in A L District, Th Thin-Hu province The Ta-oi ethnic group speaks a language in the Mon-Khmer language family, and is regarded as one of Vietnam's indigenous groups. The Ta Oi call themselves Taoih, or sometimes as Taoih or Ta Uot, and is called by the Paco sub-group as Can Tua or Can Tang, which means "highlanders."
According to the April 1, 1999 census on population and housing, the Ta-oi have a population of 34,960, accounting for 0.07% of the national population. At present, the Ta-oi live in both Vietnam and Laos, in the latter nation where they the Ta oi mainstream population and also call themselves as Ta-oih.
Another sub-group of the Ta-Oi is called as Paco (Pa coh), which means "persons who live behind the mountains." Judging by the family clan origin, marriage and family relationship and language, the Ba hi people who mainly lives in Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, can be regarded as a local sub-group of the Ta-oi. The Ta-oi in Nham commune explain that they called themselves as Ta uot, but the members of the Kinh ethnic group coming from the lowlands of Thua Thien-Hue called them as Ta-oi.
The Ta uot group lives mainly in middle-level of mountains and are sparsely distributed in the mountain tops. In addition to swidden cultivation, they are adept in growing cotton, weaving cloth and brocades, in sewing or fastening glass beads on costumes, and in making some musical instruments (drums, pan flutes, etc.). The Paco live at the foot of mountains and hills, are conversant in slope field cultivation, in bamboo and rattan weaving, but are not adept in cloth weaving. But they are good traders who earn profits through exchanging cloth and clothes, blacksmith goods, beautiful shoulder baskets, honey against other more valuable goods. The Ba hi live in valleys close to the lowland areas and are adept in trading and in wet paddy cultivation. Thus, the Ta-oi do take into account various elements of topography, environment and economic activities in order to assess and analyze their own ethnic group and sub-groups, and their different characteristics. 2.Main method of research Doing research on the Ta-oi ethnic group, I used many different methods, but the main method is participant observation. Because, anthropologists have discovered that the best way to really get to know another society and its culture is to live in it as an active participant rather than simply an observer. This is called participant observation.
From many Ta-oi hamlets, I have chosen as my main research A Huor village, a typical Ta-Oi village that still preserves many traditional elements of this ethnic. I have approached many local inhabitants and tried to learn from them about the history of the village, the family clan relationship, the means of livelihood, as also the customs and habits, religious beliefs and compared them with those of neighboring villages. Doing reaseach, I have received assistance from many Ta-Oi people, mainly the elders who are conversant with the cultural traditions of the ethnic group. We have on many occasions invited many inhabitants to come to his house for discussing and elucidating the issues I have raised or over which I still have doubts, and for providing more precise and accurate information.
I still remember vividly these discussions which are quite lively and involve a good number of different and even contradictory views. 3.Contents This is the first time a deep research on the Taoi will do in Vietnam. This is also a good opportunity for myself to present my detailed research about the Taoi culture in this dissertation within the content below: I.An overview of the Ta-Oi ethnic group 1. The Ta-Oi ethnic group 2. Information on the researche area II.Village and houses 1. History of A Huor village 2. Social relations 3. Village common property 4. Rong house the community house 5. Long house 6. Residential houses III.Family clan and marriage 1. Family clan, relatives 2. Form of family and marriage relationship IV.Means of livelihood 1. Wet paddy fields 2. Slope fields and crops planted therein 3. Industrial crops 4. Forest trees 5. Livestock breedong 6. Handicraft trades 7. The role of male and female labour in the Ta-Oi society 8. Diet habits 9. Hunting 10. Exchange of goods, in the past and at present 11. Traditional agricultural calendar and method of calculating hours 12. Slope field cultivation and related agricultural rituals V. Life rituals 1.Pregnancy and child delivery 2.Customs about marriage 3.Customs about funerals VI.Religious beliefs 1. Souls and supernatural spirits 2. Water spirit 3. Family house spirit 4. Spirit of the long house 5. Ritual dedicated to the Tiger spirit 6. . Love magic Religious beliefs Only a small number of cultural anthropologists possess any understanding about this ethnic group's belief systems. Fundamental to the Ta Oi's spiritual life is animism, the belief that natural objects are animated by spirits. This belief can take diverse forms. Things in nature may all have within them different spirits--each rock, tree, and cloud may have its own unique spirit. In contrast, all things in nature may be thought of as having the same spirit. A Initially, animatism and animism may seem to be the same thing. In fact both beliefs are often found in the same culture. The difference, however, is that the "power" of animatism does not have a personality--it is an impersonal "it" rather than a "he" or "she" with human-like characteristics. Spirits are individual supernatural beings with their own recognizable traits. a).Souls and spirits The Ta-oi follow animism and believe that all things have souls. Mention must first be made about souls. The soul lies from the breast to the head when a human being is still alive. When the human being dies, there is only one soul (avai ving) which wanders in the cemetery. If the deceased is not happy with his/her family, his/her soul used to disturb and disrupt the lives of human beings in the family concerned. The souls of the dead used to come back during rituals, as also through various dreams(am bo) of the living. The Ta-oi believe that the soul can integrate itself into the voice, can create a force that can exert an impact on other things. For example, the soul can come back and knock at your door. The Ta-oi also believe that if no asset is distributed to the deceased, after three days its soul may come back and demand assets.
As a precaution against this, the Ta-oi used to spread firewood ashes in front of their doors in order to identify the footprints of the soul. In 2003, Mr Vo Dau died, and his wife, Mrs Ka Dau, spread ash at her door. As she could see his foot prints on the ash, she concluded that he had come back. Some other persons say that they could hear certain noises that show that the soul has come back, has poured water into a cup or has taken some foodstuffs out of the pot. It is not until the third day following death, that the deceased become conscious of his/her death. Before that, there was no awareness because he/she was in a state of sleep and dream, or half asleep and half-awake. Bad souls are the souls of women who died in child delivery, of men who were devoured by tigers etc.. They would appear in the graves, would cry or return to the village and tease the living. They may come back and demand clothing, shoulder baskets, knives etc.. In such cases, poor families would cut banana leaves into various forms the T symbolizing clothing, the V symbolizing pants and thrust them across the door. Rich families would hurl out 2 pieces of cloth. And all these families say almost the same thing to the souls:e have given you presents, please refrain from asking more, please refrain from disturbing us,please bless us. Spirits are different from the soul of deceased humans, and there are many types of spirits. The brau brieu spirit is a kind of forest spirit that can bless human beings but can also cause illnesses. It can also direct tigers, snakes and other wild beasts and cause them to harm human beings.
In the past, the Ta-oi held annual rituals dedicated to the spirits: the heavens spirit (abang), the earth spirit (katek), the forest spirit (krum kaek). The ritual dedicated to the heavens spirit (giang abang) was held once every 10-12 years. In case prosperity, bumper harvest are enjoyed by the village along with absence of illnesses and death, the village must hold a thanksgiving ritual dedicated to Giang kmuk (ma ng ch ni chung). In case the village is hit by floods and other natural calamities, it must hold ritual dedicated to the heavens spirit, the earth spirit, the Rong house spirit, and the house spirit. Rituals dedicated to the heavens spirit must involve 12 types of foodstuffs, to the earth spirit 8 types of foodstuffs, to Giang kmuk 5 types of foodstuffs. These foodstuffs are: buffalo meat, pork, chicken, blood pudding, grilled meat, mon thai, soup, glutinous rice. Rice must be put in bowls, oak liquor must be served in jars, cups. Incense sticks must be burned. b)Water spirit (giang dak) The Ta-oi inhabitants imagine the water spirit as a short old man with white hair and white beard.
They also respectfully refer to him as ncle (Avo). It is believed that the water spirit can give people a lot of fish as food, and a Ta-oi legend has it that the water spirit creates fish by putting grains of rice in a banana leaf and dropping them into the brook, thus turning them into fish. It is reported that when they were still in Laos Mr Quynh Say, Mr Quynh Chay have seen the water spirit at the water sources. The Ta-oi believe that the water spirit has a special relationship with the water supply pipe of the village: when water is first brought to the village through lo-o bamboo pipes, no one is allowed to use it; the village head and the heads of family clans perform a ritual dedicated to the water spirit with a cock as offering, beseeching it to make sure that the water flow would never dry up and that water would not cause belly ache to those who drink it. Thereafter, the cock is slaughtered near the Rong house and its blood is buried in the place of arrival of water.
In that very place, the pillar where is attached the village water pipe is beautifully decorated and is strengthened and repaired each year, and some chicken blood is buried there (sol rtang dak). Before using the water for the first time, a ritual must be performed by the village head with a pig and a goat and a chicken as offerings to the water spirit (aul avo dak).The inhabitants of other villages are not allowed to use that water. c)The house spirit (giang an teng) In the past, the Ta-oi lived in long houses where each family had its own room, where it worships its house spirit. In his dream, the family head may see the house spirit integrating itself into a loin cloth, a eng piece of cloth or any other thing. Thereafter, he would put that loin cloth or reng cloth..into a kang (a shoulder basket made for this specific purpose) which is put at a corner of the house, and would slaughter a chicken and perform a ritual on the arrival of the house spirit (giang an teng) into his house.
From then on, when the family holds a ritual in connection with a funeral, a wedding, a ritual dedicated to the forest spirit or the water spirit, the ritual must also be dedicated to the giang an teng (house spirit). Any achievement of the family used to be attributed to the help given by the house spirit. The family does not open the ang where lies the house spirit, except in the A ja annual celebrations when each family must open the ang and use the sacred item therein for rituals inside the family and in the Rong house. When a ritual is held, the family head used to put some cooked rice, some rice grains, and meat in front of the ang and offers prayers. d)The spirit of the Long house (giang danh) The long house where lived many families has its own spirit (giang danh) which stayed in the room reserved to visitors/guests, where a small house hung under the roof is the shelter of giang danh. In case of illness or any bad happening in the family, the family used to hold a ritual dedicated to giang an teng (house spirit) and thereafter another ritual dedicated to giang danh.
While participating in village rituals or celebrations, the head of the long house must also perform a ritual dedicated to the giang danh. As and when a family household in the long house eats goat, buffalo or cow meat, it must keep giang danh informed by performing a ritual. g) Tiger spirit (giang avo) Of all forest wild beasts, the Ta-oi regard tigers as the most powerful animal and as a protecting spirit of the village. They regard the capture of a tiger as a gift of the forest spirit. The capture of a tiger is preceded by a number of incidental dreams: because of such a dream, a villager sets up a big trap (ti ho), the trap owner sees in his dream a tiger (a vo bok) who expresses the desire to stay in the village. When a tiger falls into the trap, the hunter and inhabitants must hold a ritual dedicated to the forest spirit, involving such offerings as sol, leo, agate beads and a eng cloth. Only after such an elaborate ritual, would they cut the head of the tiger and take it to the village.
A group of young men build a grave house for the tiger (ping a vo), but it is not until a ritual is held by the village that the head of the tiger could be put in the grave house. The ritual held by the village for the inauguration of the tiger grave house involves a goat, a pig and a chicken as offerings, which are put on a tray and then in the grave house. The village head prayer would be as follows: As giang vo wishes to stay in he village, it must protect the villagers from death; when there is war between this village and other villages, giang vo must keep the village informed through dreams, as early as possible; if any one attempts to destroy or burn the village, giang vo must punish him/her. Local women and visitors from outside are not allowed to attend the ritual dedicated to the head of the tiger. If a visitor from another village wishes to attend the ritual, the village head must be informed and would take a decision. The tiger grave house is usually located on a higher ground in the vicinity of the human graves house, and no one is allowed to enter it. It is surrounded by a stone hedge. In the middle of the house is a stone on which is placed the tiger head. The house also contains a number of presents given by the villagers to the tiger: a bowl (for containing food), armlet, a eng piece of cloth, buffalo and cow horns, pig jaw which have been prepared and contributed on the instruction of the village head. When the Rong house is inaugurated, when new year celebrations and new paddy celebrations are held each year, some food,including new rice, must be presented to the tiger spirit. The tiger grave is visited and cleaned once every year by the villagers. Tigers are worshipped because people believe that the worshipped tiger would keep them informed through dreams about such bad happenings as war, crop failure or epidemics etc.. In Laos, some villages worshipped two tigers heads.
At present, only Nham I hamlet continues to worship tigers as a custom. Ka Linh, Ta Keu hamlets worshipped tigers when they were still located in Laos. One can say that from the end of the anti-US war, such a worship no longer prevails in the Ta-oi ethnic community. h)Love magic This ethnological term refers to the practice of some minority ethnic groups who are adept in using some products for inducing a girl and turning her into one's wife. The Ta-oi call that product as ove medicine (nang). According to the Ta-oi, this is a resin collected from the feet of the o-tach bird, a bird of black and red plumage, similar to a parrot. If you put that resin in the shoulder basket of a girl or in her hair, that girl would follow you. But the o tach bird only lives in Laos and so the resin is only available in Laos, not in Vietnam. External links UNDP Vietnam See also List of ethnic groups in Vietnam v d e Ethnic groups in Laos by language family Vietic Bo Chut (May) Kinh Krih Liha Maleng Muong Phong Phon Sung (Aheu) Thavung Tum Lao-Tai Lao Lu Phuan Phu Thai Saek Tai Daeng (Red Tai) Tai Dam (Black Tai) Tai Maen Tai Na Monhmer Alak Bit Brau (Lavae) Bru Ca Tu Doi Htin Jeng Kaleung Kataang Keu Khang Khamu Kuy Lamet Laven Lavy Makong Mlabri Nghe Nyaheun O Du Oy Pacoh Samtao (Kiorr) Sedang Sou Talieng Ta Oi Xinh Mun (Puoc) Yae (Jeh) Hmongao Hmong Lanten Yao Chinese languages Ho Tibeto-Burman Akha Hani Kado Kaduo Lahu Phana' Phunoi Sila v d e Ethnic groups in Vietnam by language family Vietic Ch Mg Th Vi (Kinh) Kradai B Y Giy Lo L Nung Sn Chay Ty Thi C Lao La Ch La Ha Pu Po Hmongao Dao H'Mng P Th Monhmer Ba Na Bru Bru-Vn Ki Ch Ro Co C Ho C Tu Gi Tring Hr Khng Khmer Kh M M Mng M'Nng u R Mm T i Xinh Mun X ng Xting Chinese Hoa Ngi Sn Du Malayo-Polynesian (Nhm ngn ng Nam o) Chm Chu Ru - Jarai Ra Glai Tibeto-Burman (Nhm Tng) Cg H Nh La H L L Ph L Si La v d e Categories: Ethnic groups in Laos | Ethnic groups in Vietnam | Asian ethnic group stubsHidden categories: Articles that may contain original research from March 2009 | All articles that may contain original research
I have a thing for clouds, especially when they are gorgeously white and fluffy. Everytime I look up at the bright blue sky, I want to reach up to one of those clouds, climb on top of it, and fall asleep basking in the warm sun.
Random, lucky shot taken at the sheep farm on Qing Jing Mountain
In Taichung, I came real close to living this dream. We were on a mountain named Qing Jing, which means "peace". What an apt name; you almost want to whisper it into a mini gourd bottle, cap it forever, and keep it close to your heart. On Qing Jing mountain, we kinda stumbled upon a cosy little homestay resort named Guan Xing Yuan - a place for star gazing. Nothing fancy, but the heartfelt little efforts put in by the owners in sprucing up the place for their guests were what made us fall in love with this treasure find.
The viewing platform at Guan Xing Yuan
Guan Xing Yuan was a three-storey homestay hotel owned by an elderly couple, whom we affectionately called Lao Ban (boss) and Lao Ban Niang (lady boss). The hotel was surrounded by a vast garden, adorned with delicate plants and dainty pots of purple and white flowers which only bloomed in winter. In front of the hotel building, was a platform that extended out beyond the mountains into the open air.
We were hoping to see the yun hai at Guan Xing Yuan. Translated as "sea of clouds", yun hai is a natural phenomenon that depended on the right climate and humidity. It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, you literally get a sea of white, fluffy clouds floating below you, much like what you think you might see when you die and go up to heaven.
Our cosy little room at Guan Xing Yuan
Waking up in the morning at Guan Xing Yuan was surreal. Despite the heated mattress I felt extremely cold and absolutely refused to get out of bed for fear that my persistent cough would act up again. That is, until Jason the tour guide phoned in to our room. Little piggies, time to wake up! He urged. Come downstairs and take a look at this. Hurry!
And then I heard my friend Jezz yell, Oh my god guys, you have to see this!
Gazing far and beyond the yun hai
We tossed away the heavy blankets and scrambled to the window, and collectively gasped. We are definitely on heaven, I thought. I'm so glad I worked on my karma. Suddenly, it didn't feel so cold anymore. We threw on our coats and made a beeline for the door. By the time we got to the viewing platform, we couldn't stop squealing in delight at what was before our eyes. It wasn't a sea of white, fluffy clouds - it was a whole universe of them. And they were all so crowded together and tightly-knit, it looked like a sheer, humongous trampoline made out of billions of bales of cotton wool. You could have thousands of fat Angels wearing heavy Dr. Martens jump on them and they would never give way.
Having Lao Ban's homemade breakfast on a sea of clouds
My legs went wobbly, and I had to lean over the platform railings for support. How lucky am I to be able to witness this? I thought. I gazed far and beyond what was in front of me, tears welling up in my eyes. I felt small, tiny, puny, standing in the middle of this spectacle. I closed my eyes and prayed: Whoever created this magnificent, breath-taking work of art, please... take me away.
Upon request, Lao Ban specially brewed coffee for us
Lao Ban and Lao Ban Niang were nice, homely people who loved making new friends from other countries. We asked Lao Ban if he accepted little helpers, for we would be most happy to come back again and help out at Guan Xing Yuan for free. Maybe give the rooms a fresh coat of paint, or help out with the gardening and cooking. Come back in the summer, he smiled, both eyes crinkling in delight. The weather will be nice, around 15-18 degrees, and you can see even more flowers blooming in the season.
Mesmerizing fireworks at night, at Guan Xing Yuan
Is it right, that I secretly wished for this enchanting little place to be my personal hideout?
About the Author
I realize that in my writing there exists two instincts, in English and in Mandarin. I'm not sure which I am more comfortable with; sometimes they take on different and dual roles in my expressives. So I want this to be the USP of my work. I will try not to give my writing a split personality, in case my readers turn schizo.
SAVE OUR PLANET - Germany funds climate change project in Vietnam and Laos
Biodiversity – the variety of life in a particular ecosystem – is a precious thing, inherently. In species-rich environments, the awe-inspiring intricacies of our planet's long bio-evolutionary history can be found in full flower, growl, flutter, slither and bubble. It is truly an amazing thing to behold.
In the world's biodiversity hotspots, the acute priority placed on conservation means that visitors and travellers must handle with care. We encourage travellers to explore these biological treasure troves, but to do so responsibly. Some of the best ways to do this are on guided tours with local tourism professionals committed to conservation principles and making as little impact as possible. These guided tours also deliver high levels of learning, adventure and fun!
The Travel Word (http://www.thetravelword.com/) is pleased to offer our five favourite ways to experience biodiversity hotspots around the globe.
Scuba Diving the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands enjoy healthy reefs that represent a small part of the Coral Triangle biodiversity hotspot in the southwest Pacific. Divers visiting the town of Gizo on Ghizo Island, which is famous for its submarine seascapes, discover a variety of healthy, warm-water reefs teeming with fish that have not been loved to death. With Dive Gizo, the whl.travel local connection in the Solomon Islands, daily dive tours are limited to eight passengers at each site to ensure there is no great impact on the marine life. The dives, including some wrecks, suit both novices and masters, and promise great photo ops.
Amazon Tree Climbing in Manaus, Brazil
As the largest tropical rainforest system in the world, the Amazon is a place of unparalleled biodiversity. In fact, more than one third of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest. Where is one of the best places to get a sense of this almost preternatural environment? The city of Manaus, is headquarters to a number of rainforest tour activities, from kayaking and river cruises to canopy tours. Now, even Amazon tree-climbing is an option! Outfitted with climbing gear, visitors can hoist themselves up through the branches and up to the jungle canopy the way researchers do to collect data. Even better, with Selenetur Travel, the whl.travel local connection in Manaus, concern for the rainforest is top priority. Tours groups can be no larger than six so no harm befalls the trees. This blissful encounter with nature leaves climbers with a renewed impulse to conserve it!
Waterfall Trekking in Luang Namtha, Laos
Luang Namtha Province lies in the northwest of Laos, sharing borders with both China and Myanmar. Around 85 percent of its 9,325 square kilometres is mountainous and approximately 50 percent is covered by forests, making for landscape with high levels of biodiversity. Home to more than 20 ethnic minority groups, 37 large animal species, 297 bird species and 60 fish species, Luang Namtha has been recognised as having enormous potential for ecotourism.
The 2,230-square-kilometre Nam Ha National Protected Area (NPA) is a primary tourism attraction in Luang Namtha. Lying at the intersection of the Indochina and Himalayan bioregions, the bio-diverse area is a protected area of international significance. A refreshing way to explore the Nam Ha NPA rainforest is a one-day waterfall trek that leaves from the small town of Vieng Phouka, located two hours by car south of Luang Namtha town.
Canoeing the Fifth Season Floods in Estonia
Soomaa National Park, which surrounds the Estonian ‘summer capital' of Pärnu is a naturally quirky place, principally because it protects some of the world's rarest ecosystems – peat bogs and wetlands (the word soomaa means ‘land of bogs'). Estonia is a wet country with almost 25 percent of the territory consisting of different kinds of wetlands, arguably the most important of which are the ancient and disappearing peat bogs.
Another quirk about the Soomaa region is its ‘fifth-season' spring floods. Each year, usually in April, spring melt-off raises water levels by about five metres, submerging everything – forest floors, meadows, fields, roads and even village houses – for two to three weeks during which a boat is just about the only way to get around. This is not a catastrophe but a much-anticipated season and a popular time for canoe trips into the national park, like those organised by Karuskose Ltd, the whl.travel local partner in Pärnu. Some tours navigate the swamped forests – even right up to the doors of houses – using haabjas, or traditional hand-carved dugout canoes made from huge aspen logs.
Hiking Through Primary Rainforests in Sri Lanka
The gorgeous rainforests of Sri Lanka are on the list of the planet's top 10 biodiversity hotspots most at risk of destruction. Sadly, at the top of the list of Sri Lankan rainforests most at risk is Sinharaja (meaning ‘lion king') Forest Reserve, the largest Gondwanan rainforest in South Asia. It is relatively small – barely more than 110 square kilometres – but if taken with contiguous forest reserves, it represents the largest single block (about 475 square kilometres) of wet-zone primary forest in the country. Naturally, it is the green heart of Sri Lanka's unique and enormously important biodiversity, boasting the highest concentration of endemic species in a country fabled for its endemism. The best way to appreciate to call attention to its irreplaceable bounty is simply to visit.
About the Author
WHL Group is the largest local-travel company in the world, a global network of companies that help travellers find unique ways to experience a destination through local tourism professionals. WHL Group companies empower local partners who have practice in experiential and mindful travel and a local's knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place.
Arabic-Web-Laos pins hopes on eco-tourism
ecotourism in laos ecotourism in laos ecotourism in laos
