In LAOS our book project was implemented with Thanta Soyliyasack, head librarian of the Laung Prabang public library, and our new books are now circulating throughout the surrounding regions! |
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Laos was an incredible experience, and it was even better because of the people I met along the way... Thanks to my fellow travelers for making my time there so great - Arne, Mark, Marije, Serena, Belinda, and Steve and Vong from Luang Prabang.. I'd always planned on showing how much fun eco-touring can be, and how it can benefit the local community, but I assumed it would be somewhere like Costa Rica - that was until I got to Laos! Laos provided me with the opportunities of a great book drive for the Luang Prabang Public Library, doing yard work with a group of monks, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary for Christmas, and spending time on the Bokeo Reserve. All in all, Laos is now one of my favorite places in the world.. |
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I showed Mark how to use iMovie for about 5 minutes, and he came up with this to document the fun we had, and let me apologize for my lapse of fashion judgement with my "Rambo" phase... I'm going to miss you all!
Yeah, it's absolutely amazing, but the work they do there is also pretty incredible.. The Gibbon Experience works closely with the local people in the Bokeo Nature Reserve, to transform their economy from one based on slash and burn farming, logging and poaching, to one based on long term, conservation focused activity. This entire region could have been destroyed for one year of logging profits, but they've shown that they can make more than that EACH year through sustainable and active conservation. Through this program they've been able to save their forest canopies, protect the wildlife, provide jobs to hundreds of locals, and create an amazing experience for visitors. Definitely come here..
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In the northeast area of Laos there is a place called the Bokeo Reserve... It's an amazingly beautiful place with stunning scenery and wildlife - but is under constant threat of deforestation, poaching, and other illegal activities. There is a group that created "The Gibbon Experience" (named after the local Gibbon Ape) as an ingenious way to bring in visitors to this remote part of the world. They wanted to save their forest, protect the wildlife, and stimulate the economy with tourist dollars, with most of the surrounding villagers being employed to run the camp - and it worked... Take it from me - it's a kick ass good time as well... I signed up to do this alone, but became very fast friends with my group - Mariah, Serena, Bun Penh (our guide), Mark, Arne, and Belinda... Amazing new people that I was fortunate enough to meet... |
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Boat from Luang Prabang to Houy Xei |
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Today was a travel day from Luang Prabang, and I was trying to get Houy Xei to find a phone to wish my mom a happy birthday... Didn't make it in time.. Happy Birthday Mom! The trip was amazing and incredibly crappy all at the same time.. You can see the day in chronological order below... AMAZING START TO THE DAY! You've got to be kidding me...
Updates: Just got to Houy Xei - 4 hours late.. I found a guesthouse... I'm tired.. (oh yeah, and the speedboat was actually wood, it just looked like bamboo when I was being a baby in the morning.. I blame that on a lack of coffee).. |
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Guerrilla Aid is a style of volunteerism - simply go somewhere and do something,
while teaching others to do the same.
