201110 Exploring Ethnic Culture and Traditions in Xishuangbanna with Mekong Tours

In October, a group of aged guests were sent to us from Laos, some already 82 or 83, mostly retired teachers or university professors from US, their travel started from Bangkok, across Laos and all the way up in the north to Xishuangbanna area. The trip was organized by Mekong Tours, this is a tour agency based in United States, specializing in countries or regions around Southeast Asia, especially the areas along the Mekong, historic sites, culture places, ethnic tribes or some remote villages...They stayed 9 days in Xishuangbanna, visited many sites and ethnic villages, as well discovered quite a lot of traditions that local people are still persisting on in daily life...

October 19 - 27, 2011
　
Mengla, a small town near Lao border, the first stop. 　 Canopy walkway in tropical rainforest
　 　 　
　
Group photo with Yao villagers en route to Menglun 　 Touring around in the tropical botanical garden
　 　 　
　
Jinuo ethnic people, the last ethnic nationality of China 　 In a Han-dai village, a sub-branch of Dai, weaving
　 　 　
　
Another branch of Dai, called colorful-waisted Dai 　 Group members watched cultural show in the evening
　 　 　
　
The aged tea tree in village of Aini on Mount. Nannuo 　 Old people greeting each other, looked like wrestling
　 　 　
　
She got a handsome old Akha boy......white one 　 In a tea processing workshop, run by a Dai family
　 　 　
　
Pupil monks in a temple were learning to chant 　 In the Sunday Market of Menghun, a group of Aini
　 　 　
　
Visiting a village of Bulang ethnic people 　 Bulang ladies in the village were friendly
　 　 　
　
Entrance of Aini village, with an animistic gate 　 Women were busy dressing themselves up
　 　 　
　
It's first time that westerners visited their village 　 They presented a simple but very nice performance
　 　 　
　
Women were dressed up traditional way, like festival 　 They were also known as Akha in Burma or Thailand
　 　 　
　
Old guys sang a song to villagers in return 　 Group dance, the most original way of celebration
　 　 　
　
Home lunch with villagers, chatting, singing and laughing 　 Golden stupa and Buddha in the countryside of Menghai
　 　 　
　
In a village of Ake people, a branch of Hani as well 　 Traditional ethnic village near Burma border
　 　 　
　
White Stupa, the most significant stupa in locality 　 Theravada Buddhism is dominant religion through the area
　 　 　
　
Visiting a handicraftswoman, famous for making pottery 　 Her products were very traditional, used a lot in daily life
　 　 　
　
Visiting a handicraftsman, famous for bamboo rockets 　 His products were used a lot for traditional celebration
　 　 　
　
A villager doctor, who uses incantation for bonesetting 　 Tasting rice whisky distilled traditional way in village
　 　 　
　
Rafting for a relaxing cruise along the Mekong 　 A traditional Dai house in the countryside of Ganlanba
　 　 　
　
Woman's busy preparing fish with various local spices 　 Roast fish is done, looking very inviting and delicious
　 　 　
　
Guess what it was? Buffalo rind, very popular with Dai 　 It looked better after it's cooked and cleaned up
　 　 　
　
Guess what it was? Raw fish sauce with different spices! 　 Almost done, normally it went with buffalo rind
　 　 　
　
Minced pork with green onion, how it would be prepared? 　 For stuffing hollowed green pepper, they were to be fried
　 　 　
　
Chopping pork with back of kitchen knife? How? 　 Roasting, Dai people like grilled food very much
　 　 　
　
It was flavored beforehand with soy sauce, chili, ginger... 　 Spareribs in boiling oil, those would be deeply fried
　 　 　
　
Roast pork was done, slicing it up for several portions 　 A square Dai traditional lunch was ready!
　 　 　
　
We enjoyed not only the food, but also the experience 　 Highway across rainforest, connecting China with Laos
　 　 　
　
Tropical rainforest on the way, so lush and bio-diversified 　 Beyond the building, guests would be back to Laos

RELATED TOUR.....to be customized.