Topics

1. As Easy as ABC: An Introduction to the Region: This introductory talk will present an overview of the region, with particular emphasis on Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the three countries that once formed French colonial Indochina. We will investigate what made the French adopt this name, and why, later on, other foreigners invented the term Southeast Asia, and see what, if anything, the countries that comprise it have in common. We’ll come across missionaries struggling with tonal languages and discover how a Latin alphabet was used to conquer, before being turned to advantage by the conquered. And just for fun, we’ll figure out just who does and doesn’t eat with chopsticks.

2. Dragon Ascending: Negotiating Hanoi (Vietnam): Fancy taking a guided tour of the Vietnamese capital? We’ll hop on the back of a virtual motorbike, or travel sedately by cyclo-pousse if you prefer, and discover lakes with swords and turtles in them, streets of tin-pans, fans, bamboo poles and party decorations, Ho Chi Minh’s imposing mausoleum, an opera house to rival Paris, and the archaeological excavations of the old citadel. All this while attempting to make sense of the multi-layers of this fascinating millennial city.

3. Lost in the Jungle: Discovering Angkor (Cambodia): Today, let’s head off into the jungle, like Indiana Jones, and re-discover the temples of Angkor. We’ll travel back in time to find out that although Frenchman Henri Mouhot did not really “discover” Angkor, his published account did play a major role in awakening Europe’s interest in the “lost” temple city, and how shortly afterwards French navigational expeditions along the Mekong returned with sculptures that were displayed at the Paris World Fairs. In passing, we will come across a motorcar driving from Vietnam to Angkor Wat in 1908, a future culture minister stealing exquisite carvings from a remote temple, and of course we’ll take a whirlwind tour of the site as it is now: temple-pyramids, giants’ causeways, face towers, underwater sculptures and great walls of narrative relief.

4. Desperately Seeking Shangri La: Preserving Luang Prabang (Laos): Located on a promontory at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers, Luang Prabang has been listed since 1995 on the World Heritage list for its unique and remarkably well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage. With it picturesque old temple complexes, photogenic saffron-clad monks and brightly coloured flowering trees, Luang Prabang oozes atmosphere and charm. Not surprisingly, however, this seeming haven attracts huge numbers of visitors from around the globe.

   Let’s ramble together through the tranquil, almost car-free lanes of old Luang Prabang, and ponder the ever-growing problems of mass tourism. How to maintain the perilous balance between preserving tradition and catering to the needs of money-bringing visitors in search of authenticity. How do we guarantee a sustainable responsible tourism for tomorrow?

5. Personal Stories from South East Asia: Join Dana & Adam as they interview Tek, one of our favorite tour guides living in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Tek will tell his personal story of growing up in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and discuss his amazing journey all the way to the present. Bring all of your questions--from the art and architecture of Cambodia to its current society and politics.