One of the objectives of my grand tour of Asia, which I have embarked a few months ago, is to visit the three countries that comprise French Indochina: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. I have always been intrigued by the history and culture of this exotic region. My initial fascination by Indochina stems from romantic novels and movies on this region -- the excitement and mystery associated with Indochina are hard to beat. Needless to say, not all movies accurately depict the true character of these countries. Further reading on history and serious literature helped me to understand the their historical and cultural background, but I was also further intrigued to visit these countries. My long time wish was finally fulfilled when I finally visited these three countries. I even did a volunteering stint in Laos for 2+ months and hence spent significant time with the people and learned much about their culture and language.

Vietnam is the bustling of the trio. In Vietnam, your sensory gets overloaded with sight (beautiful natural wonders and dynamic urban habitat), sounds (my love-and-hate relationship of cacophony of motorbikes, people and of course the constant sound of the horn), and taste (Vietnamese food is among the most delicious food around). Let not also forget the beautiful Vietnamese woman, whom I consider to be the most exquisite in S.E. Asia. Visiting Vietnam today reminds me of China 10-15 year. Its nascent economic boom, evident by the sheer number of new factories built on the outskirts of Hanoi and the drastically improved standard of living, is indeed visible and real. Someone in Vietnam told me that just 7 years ago, the primary mode of transportation of the people was the bicycle, today it is the motorcycle or the moped. This is no surprise. The Vietnamese are known for their energy and resourcefulness. They are no pushovers either. As evident in their history, the Vietnamese fought off invaders (too many to list), sometimes lost; but they always rebel and somehow managed to beat off the invaders.

I was unimpressed with Cambodia at first. Then came ambivalence. Finally, a strange love and hate relationship about the country. Initially, I found Cambodians rather skeptical of strangers, the infrastructure of the country crumbling (although has been rapidly improving over the past 3 years and not as bad as some other countries), and yes, police still as corrupted (yep, I had a close encounter with Cambodian finest). But as I immense in the culture and learn of their proud yet sometimes profoundly tragic history, I started to enjoy my stay there. Cambodians do open up once they know you better. They are proud of their heritage and seem to embrace economic progression. In Cambodia, there is something that has become the indispensable national symbol of Cambodia. The flag of Cambodia has it, the banknote has it, the sign of a local store has it; Angkor Wat appears on virtually everything in Cambodia. But does actual Angkor Wat lives up to my expectation. Absolutely yes. The pride of Cambodia is simply divine. And divine it is. The whole complex is a must-see for anyone traveling in the region. Don't just visit the temple of Angkor Wat itself, there are plenty other temples which are just as impressive. It seems that long time ago there was a competition among ancient kings to build temples that are more refined and impressive than those built by their predecessor. As much as I adore Angkor Wat, my favorite temple complex is the mystical Bayon with its awe-inspiring 4-faced Buddha statues. To me, the Bayon is the epitome of Khmer architecture and refinement. But Cambodia's history is also of war and atrocities. The Pol Pot's regime committed some of the worst atrocities in S.E. Asia. Some 1.5 million (estimates vary from 1 to 3 million) were murdered, sent to labor camps, or died of starvation between 1975 and 1979. The genocide eventually spilled over to Vietnam and in late 1978, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia over the massacres of several of its bordering villages by the Khmer Rogue. Finally, by 1979, the Pol Pot's regime was put to an end by the Vietnamese.

Last but not least, there is Laos, which is arguably the most laid-back country in S.E. Asia. If you are looking for a country with still an immaculate environment (cultural and physical), then this is the country to visit. There are still large tracts of natural forest and mountain in the country. But Laos is a country that is about the people as much as it is about the land. I thoroughly enjoyed my long stay in Laos because of the stress-free, relaxing atmosphere and the people whom I consider to be some of most benevolent. Vientiane, the city where I lived while volunteering for a non-profit organization, is one of the most unassuming city I have ever been to. By most standards, Vientiane the capital of Laos and the largest city in the country doesn't feel like a city at all. It has a small-town feel and no hustle bustle or big-city treats. Once you are in Vientiane, time slows down to a trickle and that's a "big" city. In rural areas time can virtually come to a standstill. But that's the appeal of Laos, its unflustered and unhurried attitude. So sip a glass of Beer Lao, a local (and only) favorite, and enjoy watching the world go by.

10/18/2007 8:03:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

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