One of the physically most stunning places I have seen on this incredible earth : Ha Long Ecomuseum.
Impossible for the lens to translate the profound beauty of this place...
When Prof Galla (UNESCO's technical advisor to Vietnam + the only non-vietnamese person who worked on the ecomuseum) was spotted on our boat - we heard "Galla ! Galla! Galla!". And these rowboats, all from the local floating village (one filled with 3 generations of a family) turned around swiftly and followed to meet us at the floating museum (below).
The world's first floating museum, which only employs locals from the next floating village. It's used as a community centre and a museum which exhibits local history, culture, traditions and the environment.
When money came to the community for a solar panel for the museum (as there is no electricity), they decided to use the solar panel for the school instead, as the community felt that was a greater necessity.
Our hosts, who live and grew up in the floating village, are now employed full-time by the floating museum.
When they welcomed us, they said that they had nothing they could give us, but that their gift would be a song.
Here, the tradition before a wedding : the bride and her friends sing, and the potential groom and his friends respond in song - the bride can refuse the groom if she believes that their singing is not up to her expectations.
2 comments:
Hi Nathalie
Do you have an e mail address? Jane in Nottingham
Hi jane - you can contact me on nat.latham@REMOVEgmail.com take out the remove bit - this is to avoid spams - look forward to hearing from you !!! love nat
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