If you’re like me, some of the best travel memories are always 1) unexpected and 2) momentary. Brief snippets – fleeting encounters that leave indelible impressions. Here are a few of my favorite memories from a recent journey to Vietnam and Laos:
We were staying at the historic Hotel Metropole in Hanoi, located in a gorgeous old neighborhood of lovely French colonial residences and parks. At the suggestion of the concierge, I decided to get up early to check out Tai Chi at the nearby Hoan Kiem Lake.
It was 6AM and all along the broad, leafy boulevards leading to the lake, people were playing spirited games of badminton! I was fascinated and pulled out my little Flip video camera to capture some of the action. People smiled, waved at the camera and held out their racquets inviting me to play. Recalling tennis lessons as an adolescent and the humiliation I felt every time I had to serve the ball, I waved them off with a smile.
There was one particularly determined little boy who provided some amusing video footage.
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Upon reaching the lake, I expected to see pajama-clad ladies doing the slow-motion, zen-like movements of traditional Tai Chi. Progress has come to Vietnam in many forms. With boomboxes blaring, most women were doing a vigorous version of Jazzercize!
As I strolled around the lake, it seemed like half the population (especially the older folks) were walking, jogging or stretching.
I made eye contact with a little old lady sitting on a park bench. She motioned for me to sit next to her. I greeted her with a smile and chao (hello), and she responded in kind. Anticipating the oft-asked question I said, “I am from America.” She nodded and smiled. Then she unfurled a paper fan and started to fan my face. I hadn’t realized that I had already worked up a sweat (without doing any Jazzercise!). We sat together in silence for ten minutes or so, observing the passing scene and periodically smiling at each other. I didn’t dare break the mood by taking her photo, but her welcoming smile and kindness are vividly imprinted in my mind.
My other favorite memory of that journey is from a place near Luang Prabang, Laos. My friend and I were traveling to the Kouang Si waterfalls. As we passed through a small, nondescript village, we requested that our driver pull over and let us out. At mid-morning, men were at work and kids were in school, so the only signs of life were hens and chicks clucking and pecking at the dirt. Rounding a corner, a little girl – probably about 3 years old – peered curiously at us from down the narrow dirt lane. I smiled and waved, motioning her to come closer. She waved back at me as two other little girls joined behind her. She wore baggy shorts, a dirty green shirt and an impish grin. The two girls cowered behind her as she inched ever closer to me. Having snapped several photos, I held out the camera. My friend, observing the scene, captured their delight as you can see in the photo above.
These are the kinds of moments that make journeys extraordinary. And in the case of IndoChina, the indescribable beauty of the area is only rivaled by that of its people. Join us on our upcoming adventure to Indochina (March 2013) and experience your own extraordinary moments. I promise, they will remain as etched in your heart as they are in mine.
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