Boun Awk Phanza Festival in Vientiane, Laos

I arrived in Vientiane on 19th October 2013 to a rousing sea of people celebrating the end of the month long Buddhist Lent (Boun Awk Phanza). In conjunction with this Lent, there is the Annual Dragon Boat Race Festival (Boun Xuang Heua) along the Mekong River, with its finals held on the 20th October 2013. Besides the boat race, there were beautiful floats sailing along the river complete with music, dancing and singing.

The Mekong riverside was transformed into a carnival site, completely occupied by stalls selling all kinds of everything from clothings, shoes, mobile phones, food, drinks and beverages, cosmetics, games stalls, and toys, etc, etc.

The crowd in town and at the Mekong riverside was just fantastic. I have not seen so many people in Vientiane before, seems like everyone living in Vientiane and other provinces are here. There were merry making - eating and drinking. I believe the air and sound pollution and the sales of the ever popular Beer Lao these few days must have sky-rocketed. People in Laos are easy going, friendly and always celebrating a happy occasion with good food with plenty of Beer Lao.  

I am very lucky that my work schedule in Vientiane this time coincided with this very important festival in Vientiane.

Visit to Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market in Guangzhou, China

I had attended a couple of meetings held in Guangzhou, China.
In the July 2010 meeting, delegates from various countries had the opportunity of visiting the Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market.

 

This market in Guangzhou is the largest wholesale market in China in terms of total sales and volume of imported fruit transactions. It is estimated that 60 - 70 percent of China's imported fruits are transacted through this market. It is also the largest distribution center of fruits and vegetables in China. Some 5,000 tonnes of produce passed through this market each day. More than 1,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are imported and exported every day in this market. About 50 percent of these imports are consumed in Guangdong Province alone.

Our visit there was focused on the Fruit Trade Area of the market, which is about 160,000 sq. meters and housing 510 wholesale stores in the fruit business. There are a variety of local and imported fruit species, such as longans, orange, Pacific rose apple, grapes, kiwifruits, coconuts, mango, papaya, cantaloup, pineapples, etc. We were informed that the major imported fruits are kiwifruit from New Zealand, red grapes from South America, and durians from Thailand. Many local fruits are also exported through this market. The major export markets include North and South Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and other regions around the world.

With Syrian Delegate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Life Stands Here On Earth

I have received emails of good advice a couple of times.
This particular one below is interesting and very relevant.
So I decided to post it on my blog to share with my readers.
Not that I have plenty to leave behind but it is a good reminder to myself.
Not too sure who the author is but it seems to be of Chinese origin.

 

Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty...

Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!

Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!

Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way.

Don't be your children's slave.

Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can.

Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!!

Don't expect too much from your children.

Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help.

(CYCLE/HARSH REALITY OF LIFE; THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE!)

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth.

(THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY RICH FAMILIES!)

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money. (ONE SIDED!)
 
50-year old like you, don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore...

Because your money may not be able to buy your health...
When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough.

You should live happily.

Every family has its own problems. 

Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity...

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness.

As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day. 

One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day. 

One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure;

In a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster;

In high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.
With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.

Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around... and FRIENDS...

They all make you feel young and "wanted"... without them you are surely to feel lost!!
Wishing you all the best.