How To Go From A Heavy Sleeper To A Light Sleeper

So ging es also auf Reisen...

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Von links oben nach links unten im Uhrzeigersinn:

1) Cham-Turm in der Naehe von Na Thrang.
2) Die riesigen Wurzeln des Spung-Baumes
verschlingen Ta Prohm (Angkor), und die
Anne staunt.
3) Ein Seiden-Lampigon-Geschaeft in Hoi An.
4) Auf dem schwimmende Markt von Cai Rang.
Ohne Nummer) -hab ich nicht hingekriegt. verflixt und zugenaeht!- Reisterrassen von SaPa.
6) Die vielen Gesichter von Bayon /Angkor Thom.
(Wenn man draufklickt, wird's groesser...)

J a , so ein paar kleinere und groessere Wiedersehensfreudentraenen konnten meine Augen dann doch nicht zurueckhalten, sie kullerten einfach so drauf los. Immerhin hatte ich meinen Bruder sieben Monate nicht gesehen. Sieben Monate, die letztlich aber doch ruckzuck weggefegt waren, als haette es sie nicht gegeben. Gemeinsam machten wir uns also auf, Vietnam und ein klein wenig auch Kambodscha zuerkunden. Einmal von Nord nach Sued und
noch 'n Stueck nach Westen (und zwar drei Wochen lang, von Ende Maerz bis fast Ende April, ja, ich weiss, ich bin spaet dran...). Auf unzaehligen Wanderungen und Spaziergaengen, Boots-, Rad- und Bustouren gab's allerhand zu sehen: malerische Berglandschaften, dschungelige Nationalparks, between tradition and modernity everyday sparkling cities and seemingly endless beaches and lots of sea, the South China. In between, there breathed in temples, pagodas and museums and over again to (cultural) history. How should I now just everything, all the seen, experienced, thought, felt explain in a concise manner? Hmm I'm starting to contact us.
starting point of our trip was Hanoi. After we had there smelled a bit of life, culture and history, it went by night train to Sapa, the destination in northwest Vietnam, the gateway to mysterious Bergvoelkern bezuabernden and landscapes, it describes the Lonely Planet guide books in best-speech. For me a trip high point at the beginning. Rice fields and rice terraces, die von oben ausschauen wie ein einziger riesiger bunter Flickenteppich, umzingelt von den massiven Gipfeln des Hoang-Lieu-Gebirges - unglaublich schoen anzusehen, in der Tat bezaubernd und faszinierend. Ebenso wie die ethnischen Minderheiten der Region, allen voran die Hmong und die Roten Dao, die in ihren bunten Trachten die Blicke regelrecht magisch anziehen. Vietnamesische Voelkerkunde wuerde ich aber gerne an anderer Stelle, in einem Extra-Eintrag noch mal ausfuehrlicher betreiben.
Auf groesstenteils unbefestigten Strassen mit dem Bus nach Hanoi zurueck geholpert und gestolpert, ging es von dort aus in die karstbergige Ha Long Bucht, im Grunde auch beim zweiten Mal nichts von ihrer Magie eingebuesst.
Naechste Station: die kleine Provinzstadt Ninh Binh inmitten the Red River Delta, surrounded by an equally beautiful karst landscape. And because the karst mountains rising water ausdem not here, but from lush green rice fields, one also speaks of the dry Ha Long Bay.
then in the adjacent Cuc Phoung National Park, tasted one of the most important protected areas of Vietnam still a tiny bit of jungle with all the An adjacent Gezirpse and Gesurre and Irma, Johanna, Hien and all the other monkeys in the International Primate Rescue Center "" Good day! " said. Then: once more back to Hanoi and from there again by night train namely belong to the south, in the old and the last emperor or king city of Hue, the historic buildings since 1993, a World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, many buildings in the Indochina and Vietnam War were heavily damaged, but it works hard, restoration and reconstruction are ongoing . a little more moving moment, I felt in the adjacent Thien Mu Pagoda. For there is the Austin, with the monk Thich Quang to Saigon in 1963 you went to with his self-immolation to protest against the militant, authoritarian and discriminatory policies of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, this image was seen around the world. There I felt it very clear the air of recent history.
over the Hai Van, called Seewolken Pass at a dizzying height of 496 m, at the same time also something of a geographical climatic or weather border between North and South Vietnam to buy - we had up there with all kinds of rain, gray clouds, fog and extremely cool temperatures to fight, it was a stroke sunny, clouds clear much warmer - we reached the former port town of Hoi An. And in Hoi An I was instantly in love. What a beautiful little town! A beautiful old town, narrow streets and lanes, are lining up small, usually bright yellow traditional Kaufmannshaeuser, in which there are still small shops, Handwerkstaetten or restaurants. In between, every now and then brightly colored temple. Somehow, Fairy tale also countless silk lanterns, everywhere in the streets, at and in the houses, in the windows, in the shops and restaurants, on the day in their bright colors shine in the dark and light shine. Lovely! And no car to leisurely stroll through the old town will ever disturb.
The plane we went first to Cam Ranh and then finally to Na Thrang, Seaside Resort for a number of domestic and foreign tourists as well as a transparent center of the ancient Hindu kingdom of Champa-Koenig (2nd - 5th century AD). leave throughout the south are still well preserved shrines of that time, the famous about Cham towers eg brick. Including in and around Na Thrang. And we've looked at. Very impressive!
Then: further south in Mui Ne still snatched a little Wuestenflair and through the hot, red Duenensand trudged before we finally got in the biggest city and economic hub of the country came: Ho Chi Minh City, also still called Saigon. I was very curious. And then everything was different than in Hanoi. More mopeds, more cars, even bigger and more expensive, a modern high-rise at the other. A juggernaut! What then n bit lacking: historical flair. So I prefer the older lady Hanoi proud, no question. Very moving and impressive: the war remnants museum, which leads to relentless images of the horrors of war in mind. I could eat nothing dannach long time.
completion of our exploration Vietnam tour was a visit to the Mekong Delta, also called "rice bowl" or "breadbasket" of the country called. In addition to spring rice the fertile soil also Zuckerroht, coconuts and tons of fruits and vegetables. What a mighty, so further river, the Mekong! We have a boat appeared in this very own world. On a very, very early this morning, we visited one of the zaehlreichen floating markets, namely those in Cai Rang, the biggest in the Delta. What a wonderfully colorful, bustling with life and bustle! From the boat is purchased and VER. On long, outstanding dealer Holzpfaehlen hanging samples of their goods on, visibly, so that the customers who umherschippern in small wooden boats from the floating market stalls, find fast, what they seek. I was very impressed by this original.
Yes, and then, on 17 Day of our trip Finally, we whizzed by speed boat on the Mekong-course - over to Cambodia. The remaining 3 1 / 2 days that we stayed, our attention and our interest was primarily the huge temple of Angkor Empire, the capital of the Khmer from the 9th and 13 Century. With more than 300 temples on an area of \u200b\u200b232 km2 and Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world in 1992 it declared a World Heritage Site. Unique, deeply impressive, mythical and mystical, almost surreal. Yes, one is overwhelmed at the sight, stunned, hardly find words. And around the overgrown jungle. Hundreds of years old trees, under, over, between, have grown from the temples, their huge thick, strong Roots enclose, surround, embrace, engulf almost the towers, facades and walls of buildings. A mighty work of man's even more powerful nature delivered seemingly helpless. But it is also the jungle, the temple also kept in front Einzturz that holds them together. So fascinating! I still lack the words.
Yes, fascinating, impressive, elegant and beautiful are words that can describe a lot of things seen on this trip. So I've also experienced. And yet ...

... yet. "Freud" and "suffering" are indeed sometimes not that far apart. And so my trip I was not only fascinated and excited, but in many respects trauig and thoughtful, very much so, voted.
travel takes time, which I had seen. Time to look, internalization, for understanding. Time to dip right to know. Time to do something in the experience with, changed one a little further can. Time that had my brother and me in the sense hardly, unfortunately. Yes, we have seen in just three weeks a great deal. Finally, we have a lot more but then striped umhaucht and guessed as / learn because really. That's sad, very sad! Namely because we had that very fact that our time frame decided to just these three weeks limited, for the more convenient variant of an organized tour, which we see in our case and all kinds of promised to do, namely close to the culture and the country tuned, a meeting of equals, so to speak, the way we wanted it too. What a mistake, as we should see soon. A more or less strict Following Program, raging from one place to another and rushing, really was very little time, to let all the impressions and reflect. The people and places one must under such conditions remain rather strange. Here, too, shows once more: not on the lot, the quantity but the quality, content, not how much you, but what you see is what matters. Or you have a whole lot of time. Sure, if we were traveling on your own, we would have them do not even have had more, but we had had the freedom to stay longer, where there had dislike us and leave a place just when we had nothing felt. And maybe you could have looked here and there about the tourist paths and also married.
we had for the two Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Saigon only half of a day available - where I should have my brother in "my" Hanoi but showed so much so much more - so we had to suddenly having two beach days to arrange, where We at all but both are no bathers. In contrast of most other in our group, whose needs can be ACTING. Do we feel us both anyway rather than traveling for a private holiday primaer Following the desire to discover a different reality than to relax and just have fun. It all sounded so promising, but we were wrong. And it is: once and never again! In the end, but then we tried to make the best of it, that makes you always. And gave insights and knowledge of various kinds are so abundant in spite of everything.
Z. B in terms of the nature of travel. The question is: What is travel? Is traveling in the sense of discovering the world, but not more of an illusion? Because it's so much for this time of need, time, who take most people do not, do not have? Are the people, the travelers at the end so much more cosmopolitan, tolerant and verstaendisvoller than before, or see they do not sometimes, all their prejudices confirmed, at first glance, because they lack the time to look deeper and understand and then to identify any that things are very different from what they seem? Because, the travelers, tourists, after all primaer keep to themselves, to send in their hotels, expensive restaurants, in their rented buses and cars? Because they expect a certain standard, comfort and luxury, which ultimately separates them from the real, actual life? "Whoever wants to become wiser through travel," says Socrates, "not allowed to take themselves." Only the very few are capable indeed to leave at home. If the travel does not become more part of a lifestyle more? Something that fits into a picture? Something you can afford? It is like not in the current version is more like a volatile consumption than a deep understanding of the world and discover the world? You buy travel, just as one clothes, furniture or car purchases. Travel - the pleasure principle, without any consideration for losses?
I was certainly very shocked about the extent of tourism in Vietnam and Cambodia. It is booming in Vietnam, perhaps even more than in Cambodia. Everywhere you look everywhere: everywhere tourists. In regular troops traveling to and from flooding streets, squares, Kulturstaetten, entire villages and the countryside. A luxury hotel joins to the other and there are more, but nature is destroyed. Yes, the tourists bring money. But what happened to it? In Cambodia, so we told our guide, remained only 15% of all tourist revenues in the country, key word corruption, the World Heritage Site of Angkor JURISDICTION probably entirely in private ownership and tourism receipts were not in maintenance and restoration work, concerned about that foreign foundations and research institutes, and as imported hotel, so he goes on to explain even food from abroad. Hm ... I
, tourism as an economic factor to the poor countries on its feet. Maybe. But at any price? So, as I have experienced it in my personal feeling is the whole thing rather a cultural Sale and natural right. When would you kill these countries. Nothing is spared. Nothing is unberueht. The national parks and the beaches are littered. As tourists invade in droves into the lives of the poor Bergvoelker in the north. Yes, they were executed there. They should buy, what people have made by hand. Only a few actually buy. Instead gegafft geglotzt and how the zoo. Since photos are taken by young children, their faces dirty, ragged, their clothes, and they do not even have shoes. The misery is almost a tourist attraction. So bad!
And then they turn back, the tourists, the comfortable hotel. It is eaten well lived, well, it will simply erholt.Es . Toggled Too simple. I think most are on holiday. I have the feeling, in tourism, the differences between the Western industrialized nations and the so-called developing countries shows quite clearly, and that so directly and brutally. Luxurious accommodation, hot and cold running water, good food, and plenty of everything on the one hand, while living on the other hand, people in poverty. In Cambodia there are in the country do not even electricity and water lines, 45% of Cambodian children are undernourished. What is happening only?
And what happens to the culture, if anything, food, goods, clothing etc. more and more to the needs of foreign tourists oriented and aligned? Is it not also dislodged culture? Incredibly
backed up many of my thoughts on this trip. So many things that moved me and made sad. So many things which revolted me and let boil up inside. Questions about questions. And suddenly the breisten places traveled nature, visited Kulturstaetten as were a little disenchanted. Charming and disenchanted at the same time, strange.
I would have liked to have heard sometimes sing louder, all the things. But the tourists ... often too many. And far too loud.
I advocate's other trips.
What a lucky year to have this one,'s for discovering, knowing and understanding. Although I do not think even that is not enough ...

- Bilder zum Bergfest muessen leider ausfallen, weil: Kamera weg, vergessen im Bus von Hanoi nach Cao Bang. :(( (oder mal sehen, ... vielleicht kann ich das noch irgendwie anders handhaben, das Hochladen, meine ich...) Die geliehenen Cao-Bang-die-Zweite-Bilder gibt's aber bald... -

Proraso Shaving Cream Japan

Halbzeit...

Oh, oh...! Bin schon wieder arg in Verzug! Ich leg einfach mal nach. Wo waren wir stehen geblieben?Ah ja richtig: Tet. Also danach...

Ruckzuck hat er einen eingeholt, der Alltag. Wie es wohl sein wird, wenn ich nach einem Jahr wieder nach Hause kommen werde? Nach einer riesengrossen Familienpackung intensivsten Kuemmerns, Umsorgens und Aufgehobenseinsum die Tet-Feiertage herum hiess es nun zurueckzukehren in den selbstorganisierten Everyday life. A little bit strange and I found it strange in the very first moment. Had us, Louise and me, a Vietnamese extended family took a week under their windchill thousands wing, we are, things can sit on it for more happened to bring about, as we they had consciously or deliberately, we were now all of a sudden our natural course of the what eventually but then again it was good. I Was the first confrontation first with the big city jungle, one about to demand little - has Cao Bang but is essentially rural and not nearly as noisy, air pollution and crowds like Hanoi - so our return triggers the same time but also quite pleasant, joyful me from gefuehlein. I am beginning etwa an, mich hier zuhause zu fuehlen?Empfand ich unsere Rueckkehr tatsaechlich als ein Nach-Hause-Kommen?Schon irgendwie oder vielmehr so aehnlich.
Fuer's richtige Zuhause fehlen mir hier einfach die mir allerwichtigsten menschen. Auch die zeitliche Begrenzung meines Freiwilligendienstes und dem der anderen laesst einen nie so 100%ig ankommen. Menschen kommen und gehen wieder in einem regen Wechsel, auch ich werde nicht bleiben. Ich befinde mich quasi in einem zeitlich begrenzten Schwebezustand. Nach einer gewissen Zeit schwebt man schon ziemlich nah am Boden, aber so richtig fest steht man doch nie auf ihm.
Aber es gibt Fixpunkte, Wiederkehrendes, Verlaessliches, neben all dem Unbestaendigen. Unser kleines Chaos-Haus (Chaos laesst sich mitunter nicht avoid with so many different people), in which I have found my little alcove. One or the other volunteers, but also outside of the house that you have yet to my heart. Then, of course: Hang, Xoan, Son, Thuy, Thoung, Hoai, Ngan, Linh, slope and again as they are called all my friends love Vietnamese and industrious workers in Hanoi of need, for sure. It has become familiar with his surroundings, and this familiar works then something like a home, it caused similar sensations like a home. Come again do recognize, enjoy yourself.
Yes, I'm comfortable in Hanoi. This colorful North Vietnamese big city life has been a very special charm, seinen ganz besonderen Charme. Ich kenne die Stadt mittlerweile ganz gut, wenngleich ich sie mir aufgrund ihrer Groesse laengst noch nicht bis in den letzten Winkel erschlossen habe. Ich bewege mich sehr souveraen in ihr. Ich weiss, welcherBus mich wann wohin bringt, dass ich mit den Bussen 31, 55 oder 58 immer wieder heim komme. Ich weiss, wo man richtig lecker com rang (gebratenen Reis) oder pho (Hanoier Nudelsuppe) futtern oder gute Buecher, Filme, Musik, oder auch huebsche Souvenirs kaufen kann.. Ich weiss, dass sich der Westsee, der Botanische Garten oder der Literaturtempel hervorragend zum Entspannen und Spazierengehen eignen.Ich weiss, dass man in der Hanoi Cinematheque, einem kleinem alternativen Kino, auch mal andere Filme gucken kann. Und ich weiss, I actually get in derChua Boc street clothes in my size, but if I need some some. It turns out here in general, namely a bit more difficult, the Vietnamese are all so small.
I'm here already. And I am. When I am with the first upward glance at the morning the children in the immediate sing loudly behind our house are school hear, for example, "Better come may and do" in Vietnamese. Or if I am the bread lady, when I always for some 2000 VND (oh God, maybe the 10, 20 cents) buy my Fruehstuecksbrot me from afar waving to me and when fate plays, with him on her scooter. Or when the nice woman in an internet cafe every happy times to see me and every now and then gives fruits. Or if the young woman load in the small to the corner, asked me recently by my name and me her revealed, namely slope, always laughs when I look at cakes, biscuits or Eiscremebei you buy and then all disbelief and checking my gourmet rolls covers. N bissel but am just larger than the Durschnittsvietnamese. All so familiar, by now. The somewhat more stable life. yes, there's also the ...

Back in the day. Back to work. Well, after Tet is not the same. For days after the Tet also were in the Bo De Pagodedie New Year celebrations still in full swing. In real crowds, people flocked to this holy place to pray and ancestors, to honor gods and spirits. An English class was not the question. First, the entire premises were, so our "classroom", used ritually and beyond that the kids were all involved in the preparations for the memorial ceremonies. Also, our newly established kindergarten had to stay a while "closed", the excitement was just too big. All the well-meaning visitors and guests, the children with sweets and caresses moved entertaining in its spell, and the rain in a change. No chance to keep their child's attention. The pagoda pagodas and basic as a kindergarten, it does not work quite so easily. You come now and again in the way, since not only all around Tet, but bestaendig Rituale und Gedenkzeremonien stattfinden und das Getuemmel dann jedes mal entsprechend gross ist. Und ein ganz eigener Raum, in dem wir die Zwerge ganz fuer alleine haben, fehlte uns bislang.
Ein Pagodenkindergarten also. Irgendwann stellten wir fest, dass die Kinder in der pagode zwar ein Zuhause haben, mit Essen und Kleidung versorgt werden, ansonsten aber ein ganzes Stueck weit sich selbst ueberlassen, auf sich selbst zurueckgeworfen sind. Die groesseren Kinder gehen zur Schule, doch die kleineren...Niemand, der sich ihnen so richtig und ausschliesslich annimmt. Niemand, der sie beim Grosswerden begleitet. Es fehlt an finanziellen Mitteln, an Personal, auch motiviertem und qualifiziertem. Und so kam uns die zuendende Kindergartenidee. Aufmerksamkeit and pay close attention, consistently, at least stable. Routine work. Give a sense of trust. Excitation. Just go with a piece to accompany. Sort of. The space for it, now it is him, how nice. After intense deliberations and agreements concerning the further development of our pagoda project to reorganize the division of responsibilities within our team that has been reported ones except that we wanted to end all celebrations loss after starting up again at last. and then this: Windpockealarm! Hm There it was again, the sudden, non-predictable, unpredictable, but this time perhaps more familiar, universal, or more generally, across countries. Such a sudden, one knows her well from home.
Na gut. So begannen wir in der Zwischenzeit, unseren kleinen kindergarten einzurichten und zu dekorieren; Moosgummipuzzle auf 'm Boden, tierische und von den Kindern selbstgemalte Bilder an den Waenden usw. Sah am Ende richtig huebsch aus. Als wir danach endlich wieder loslegen wollten, ereilte uns die naechste Hiobsbotschaft: irgendwelche Leute von einer anderen Organisation - wie sich spaeter herausstellte gehoerten sie zu einem privaten internationalen Kindergarten - waren an einem Wochenendein den Kindergarten "eingebrochen" (Schloss wurde aufgebrochen) und haben den Raum einfach umgeraeumt und neu eingerichtet. Allerhand Spiel- und Bastelsachen fanden sich dann neben den unseren. Sie liessen verlauten: wir starten einen kindergarten mit professioneller Kindergaertnerin. Waere wohl schon laenger geplant gewesen. Und jetzt, da es einen Raum gab...Da standen wir nun, total ueberrumpelt und ahnungslos. Haette man nicht warten und mit uns reden koennen, anstatt einfach so einzudringen? Ja, die Kommunikation...
Wie dem auch sei, der Kindergarten laeuft inzwischen, das ist schoen. Und wir helfen mit, unterstuetzen Thu, so der Name der netten, jungen Kindergaertnerin, die sogar ganz gut Englisch spricht, bei der nicht ganz so leichten Aufgabe, die kleine Rasselbande im Zaum zu halten. Jeweils 2 freiwillige vormittags und 2 nachmittags, an unterschiedlichen Tagen in der Woche. Surya, auch Weltwaertslerin jedoch mit anderer Entsendeorganisation und seit januar in unserem Team, ich sowie etliche lokale Freiwillige wechseln uns from. (Luise their voluntary service now finished, what a shame. What a pity!) Also want Son and I now continue our last English class, we do not yet have come namely, that time and just try neuzustrukturieren and content.
Yes, it is difficult to project the pagodas. On the one just makes the fact that the older children and young people are very much involved in the everyday pagodas and some way still to go to school a continuous, anabolic, following work. Second, it is so incredibly difficult to open up this place, to obtain information, for example to the children or to groups or Organisatioonen that are committed to there Or about who, what, when, where and how does there, just to see where anything is possible, at which point we can bring us. I think this is something very basic here in Vietnam. The people here seem to have a very different Informatiojnsbeduerfnis than us, it is simply communicating, much less. We must fight to provide any information so insane and in the end you are receiving more and only crumbs.
Maybe I'm so far but was still not sufficiently flexible and patient. Hm ..
is also increasingly clear to me that our idea of \u200b\u200brevision with a structured daily routine, with set times and tasks on the local ratio it can not be transferred. It spends as much on incredible energy, in order to create a more or less structured life, and then in the end determine that there simply is not working the way we're used to from home. Again and again, fall back, move from the spot can not really, that can sometimes paralyze very discouraging and sometimes quite beautiful. It is a tour de force, because of internal feuds over again. It takes so incredibly long, until one has for so accepted and prepared for that.
The communication problem arises for me but also in terms of language, the Vietnamese, which I still do not speak or only fragmentary able to get to me initially because of their importance and intricate intonation system so incredibly hard for. So feel I am in my very limited opportunities sometimes, somehow not free. I can not communicate with the children properly, can explain anything to them, comfort them properly, etc. Time to be dependent on someone for a translated and communicated, exerts in the long run. Somehow one steals the feeling, not really to be there to always be out there a little piece. That's already sad. And frustrated with the time. We would like to really like ...
I wish I was as far as the language of learning, have been diligent. I am ashamed even alittle bit that I do not make great progress, I can remember so little, after more than half a year ... Auweja! No idea how much it is actually appropriate at this time can, as far as one can be after six months, should would have to ... Not everyone has the time or just the peace and quiet to really immerse themselves in the language jungle. Sometimes trust is also just not that skilled in everyday use, so that one is missing at the end of the practical exercise. And the volunteer house is already spoken English only, and is also with the people from SJ and the local volunteers primarily communicated in English. They translated just then, if needed, for us, so this might work for a host family would not have been bad ...
Well, since I will also speak out not so much (but is really not so easy), hm ... Get on jeden Fall ganz fleissig an meinen Sprachkenntnissen arbeiten, versprochen...! Ist doch die Sprache ein ganz wichtiger Bestandteil einer Kultuer. So essentiell...

Und uebrigens: Puenktlich zum Bergfest ereilte mich Erkaeltung Nummer zwei. Ueberltaeter diesmal nicht dei tueckischen Klimaanlagen und Ventilatoren in Bussen, Geschaeften, Internetcafes etc., die die drueckende Sommerhitze ertraeglicher machen sollen, mir allerdings gleich zu Beginn meines Vietnamaufenthalts eine komplett ausgestattete Erkaeltung bescherten. Nein, diesmal schien es das Wetter selbst zu sein, so unbestaendig und wechselhaft und unberechenbar. Man sagt mit Tet kommt der Fruehling, zumindest in Nordvietnam. Waehrend man im Sueden lediglich Winter, Sommer und Regenzeit unterscheidet, show here the 4 seasons actually on anusgepraegtestens. From January to March is spring, it follows the summer from April to June, between July and September, shows the fall and October, November and December are considered the winter months. In winter it can snow in the mountains even occasionally. For most Vietnamese, however, snow primaer still something very unreal, a fascinating phenomenon from an entirely different world. Spring in Hanoi's was it. And then looked like this: Temperaturschawankungen 23-15 degrees. Especially at night it was really cool, because the temperature did not set Sun Even during the day it was sometimes quite undecided: summery warm days alternating with wet and cold, looking rather autumnal days, even a single day could go through all Vietnamese seasons. In between, every now and then fluttered a cool, fresh breeze. Also not unusual: rain and drizzle. Often it was overcast and dreary days, while the sun was covered. bounced between such wild weather constellations out-un, can easily be spirited because we have namely due to the constantly high humidity, the feeling of permanent and sweat "latent". So I have this feeling, which seems to be with each of my steps to my amp with every movement. And that makes you look very free, even when the temperatures may vary a bit cooler, which is then again quickly implemented and is picking up again. As only right? What to do? If I only knew ..., then I would probably not become ill. Hm cold number two number one was cold the way, in every way. A ringing cough and a dripping, dripping nose annoyed me, consume a long time on my strength. I was entertaining even my voice has been lost. But it went up, I hope, I believed it. I felt it. Not least because reglicher and touching and nurturing For my Vietnamese friends, who were soon to traditional Vietnamese home remedies on hand. Thuy, for example, cousin of fellow Son Pagoda, brought in one evening all sorts of herbs and leaves, which it initially in a large pot of boiling and then inhale the fumes I could be full body, had no. As I sat so lightly dressed on a tiny blue plastic stool in our bathroom, before me the still seething boiler and both of us, the kettle and I eingehuellt in a large black cloth. The hot vapors of mint, eucalyptus, lemon grass, bamboo and Grapefruchtblaettern, Houttuynia (Chamaeleonpflanze) and much more should now drive out all disease ghosts from my body. And so I was sweating for 20 minutes. What a relief! However, I then felt a tremendous urge to shower due to the full body sweating. But Thuy said to me in the showers, the most stringent. Instead, I should get the sweat Wash off with the still hot Kraeuterkochwasser, wrap me warm and schnurstarcks go to bed. I've also made it good. Resistance would be futile anyway been. And it was also very health in my own interest. The next day I was visited by Hoai order for me to cook that rice soup that her mother cares for her cause to break the Erkaeltungsfall forever. It consists of rice, egg, onions and most important red perilla. They remind a bit of (internal) Nesselblaetter and in fact is called colloquially probably Perilla Perilla, but this is not entirely accurate. Perilla is now found mainly in South, Southeast and East Asia, slightly minty taste and is used in preference to cold. And so was sich dann auch reichlich davon in meiner Suppe, die ich ebenfalls ganz brav und ganz heiss loeffelte. Der Gesundheit zuliebe. Geschmeckt hat's aber eigentlich auch gar nicht so schlecht... So sollte ich dann ganz schnell wieder gesund werden. Und wurde es, zum Glueck!

Es steht naemlich was groesseres an: Es geht auf Reisen, gemeinsem mit dem Bruderherz. Und da kann ich Husten, Schnupfen und Heiserkeit ja nun ganz und gar nicht gebrauchen!
Einmal Vietnam von Nord nach Sued plus vier Tage Kambodscha. Eine kleine Verschnaufpause, denn ich hab das Gefuehl, diese gerade dringend zu benoetigen, hatten sich doch meine Energien, was meine Projektarbeit , aber auch das rege, wechselhafte Zusammenleben im Freiwilligenhaus angeht, in den letzten Wochen doch ziemlich erschoepft. Jetzt wird kraeftig nachgetankt, fuer den Endspurt, sozusagen. Und ein bisschen familiaere Vertrautheit genossen. Ich freu mich sooo!

(Bilder zum Bergfest werden bald nachgeliefert...)

Male 21 Birthday Poems

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

ein frohes neues jahr! - schon wieder??!! ;) -
mit einem imposanten feuerwerk und abertausenden fliegenden wunschlaternen wurde in der nacht vom 25. auf den 26. januar ueberall in vietnam das neue mondjahr begruesst, welches 2009 ganz im zeichen des bueffels steht. auch in cao bang, wo luise und ich die feiertage verbrachten, explodierte der nachthimmel, war mit einem mal farbenfroh erleuchtet.
es ist das fest der feste in vietnam, wie weihnachten, ostern geburtstag - was gibt's noch? - zusammen: tet nguyen dan, kurz auch nur tet genant, das vietnamesische neujahrsfest. dem mondkalender folgend, beginnt es am vortag des ersten neumondes nach der wintersonnenwende und dauert offiziell drei tage, das sind die ersten drei tage des ersten mondmonats, und faellt in der regel auf den ausklingenden januar oder den fruehen februar. in diesem jahr waren es der 26., 27. und 28. januar.
doch bereits wochen vor den eigentlichen feiertagen bestimmt tet den alltag der menschen. jeder ist mit den vorbereitungen des so bedeutsamen festes beschaeftigt. die strassen, plaetze, maerkte und geschaefte quellen nur so ueber vor menschen. man spuert ihre aufregung und anspannung. ein buntes, hektisches treiben ist das. einkaeufe und besorgungen werden getaetigt, haeuser und wohnungen gruendlich gereinigt und mit blumen und kumquat- oder kleinen orangen- und pfirsichbaeumen im norden vietnams und gelb bluehenden aprikosenbaeumen im sueden des landes geschmueckt. da tet auch als das fest der versoehnung und des neubeginns gilt, werden zudem schulden beglichen und streitigkeiten nach moeglichkeit beendet.
am 23. tag des zwoelften und letzten mondmonats sollten dann saemtliche vorbereitungen moeglichst abgeschlossen sein und alles blitzeblank ausschauen, denn dann geht der kuechengott ong tao zur berichterstattung zum jadekaiser, und er soll natuerlich nur gutes zu vermelden haben. an den eigentlichen feiertagen kommt schliesslich die ganze familie zusammen, denn tet ist ein familienfest. in der neujahrsnacht wird mit einem Communal meals in which as a specialty among other things, banh chung, in gigantic green leaves in Vietnamese dong la hot (no banana leaves to read! internet as erroneously in many travel guides as well as in wound klebreiskuchen ...), is served, the old year adopted and welcomed the new year welcome. the next three days will be celebrated vigorously, with the whole (!) family.
and is on the vus, our tet homestay, really huge. find papa and mama hoi hue, and the children hoai and hung, there is a granny, dozens of parents uncles and great uncles, aunts and great aunts, cousins and great cousins, nieces and cousin as well as various An adjacent und schwiegerkinder und so weiter und so fort. puh! ich muss gestehen, ich war am ende doch ein klein wenig verwirrt. und da so ziemlich alle von ihnen immer noch in cao bang sesshaft sind, starteten wir am ersten neujahrstag in einen besuchs- und ein-frohes-neues-jahr-wunsch-marathon, der am ersten neujahrstag bei den angehoerigen vaeterlicherseits begann, sich am zweiten neujahrstag bei den verwandten muetterlicherseits fortsetzte und schliesslich am dritten neujahrstag mit einem grossen familienessen im heimischen wohnzimmer seinen abschluss fand. im gegenzug kamen natuerlich zwischendrin auch immer wieder allerhand verwandte und freunde bei den vus vorbeigeschaut. ein einziges menchengewimmel war das. und jedes mal wurde feierlich und hochprozentig angestossen. ich glaube, on the first New Year's Day I was even a little drunk, felt my head is not in any event so well. I'm then in subsequent visit only once sipped brief or done as ob around it to get there anyway. and Louise and I were really very special guests visiting from abroad is not even all day because it was thought it especially good to us, what to eat and drink well asks concerned. no chance to say no! that one does at such incredible hospitality and generosity (and if you consider this modest and under what conditions even poorer people who live here anyway ...!) easy and not the heart. and so we felt at the end of more than pappsatt and perfectly round. oh what we do not have everything gefuttert! Tet at the usual orange and kumquats, and also typical sunflower and kuerbiskerne, still and sweets to local vending and not to forget any quantitative klebreiskuchen banh chung,. mmh, lecker!
luise and I could even lend a hand and banh Chunhe magic, tan with strong support from our aunt. and the magic goes like this: the huge leaves are folded in a specific technology and then four people in or above each other together. thereafter into layered: a layered rice (special glutinous rice), beans, a green layer, a layer bean pork, rice and green again. and there luise and I are vegetarians, we have our cake omitted the meat easily. the blaetterhaelften still folded, so as to enclose the filling and well done. Well almost. the small square - very important! - Packs are finally with zugeschnuert bambusbaendchen, they are later cut ribbon for the cake and used, and is cut diagonally. Subsequently, the chickens, for family-vu's were about 40 pieces, outside in a huge pot over an open fire cooked in the yard, and although 90-10 hours long. then drain and let cool down yet - that's it. But really!
hoai mama's had with the preparation of the banh Chung extra waiting for us, because it's just something very special Tet on. oh, we were happy! as we All along, happy, believe it could not afford to experience all that were touched and overwhelmed by the openness, friendliness and warmth that you have placed in us, because we could withstand the cold will not!
were (namely freeze all the time on. Added, 10 are not grad sooo cold, so we know from home, with the difference that one at home always has the possibility to warm up, heating furnaces to warm or cuddly. Is it in Vietnam but not, as then in winter when it gets cold, but comparatively, particularly in the north, layered clothing to each other about what is going some. vu family had at least a small fireplace in the living room, an old, charred topf mit gluehenden kohlen drin, an dem man sich hin und wieder die haende und fuesse ufwaermen konnte. aber im grunde war's an den feiertagen ueberall kalt, drinnen wie draussen...)
wirklich unglaublich, wie man uns teilhaben liess, an allem, so selbstverstaendlich! sogar den zeromonien zum gedenken der ahnen, etwas doch sehr persoenlichem, durften wir beiwohnen. so beeindruckend und noch beeindruckender! dazu auch noch kurz (nicht wirklich! ;) ) ein paar zeilen.
wenn also an tet die gesamte familie zusammenkommt, dann sind mit der ganzen familie auch tatsaechlich alle familienmitglieder gemeint, die lebenden, aber auch die bereits verstorbenen. auch um deren wohlbefinden und wohlwollen bemueht man sich immerzu, an so bedeutsamen feiertagen wie tet nicht nur besonders, sondern ganz besonders. denn die verstorbenen familienmitglieder sind auch nach ihrem tod weiterhin praesent. als teil der familie interessieren sie sich fuer den lauf der dinge; sie haben die faehigkeit, das glueck der lebenden zu beeinflussen, bieten ihnen schutz und hilfe, koennen sie aber auch bestrafen. dem vietnamesischen ahnenkult nach besitzt der mensch insgesamt bis zu 12 seelen: neun (die frau) bzw. sieben (der mann) koerperbezogene seelen, phach und via genannt sowie drei geistbezogene seelen, hon genannt. die phach und via bleiben nach dem tod beim leichnam, waehrend die hon nach 49 tagen ins totenreich wandern. und um die seelen des oder der verstorbenen in der familie zu halten und ihr bestaendiges wohlbefinden zu garantieren, which as the highest and lowest of his respect for family obligations is understood the family members they build on a very special, prominent place in the house an altar with artificial suspect portrait photo (s) and lush floral decoration. regularly to be lighted incense and offerings to anniversaries and family events offered. in important decisions, the suspect pulled to rate and on special occasions, happy to be invited. The family altar is traditionally located in the home of the eldest son, who is also usually the head of the ceremonies. falls in the family of our friend hoai this role to her dad hoi. His task was thus also the altar, in the vu in a specified guess room, is to be thoroughly cleaned tet and preening, with all kinds of fruit, food and beverage equip. everything was done as for the actual consumption, bowls, plates and glasses on in small and so loving, caring, so important. every moment as if the dead to eat again awake to live. somehow I found it - how can I say? - Cute ...: the deceased grandparents have exactly the same "eat" as we are: oranges, bananas, biscuits and lots of klebreiskuchen. this there was still delights: Cigarettes and vodka for the grandfather and all kinds of candy for the gfrossmutter. and flowers in bright, bold colors. Tet is allowed to be sometimes true be. for on the third New Year's Day after the Tet festivities-so slowly coming to an end, all were completed An adjacent ceremonies and every family member had thought the suspect was, finally, all meals and drinks released to eat. the klebreiskuchen the way, then there was a fried variant of the breakfast ...
hoai's papa, a so-proud man, always says everyone is hospitable home in BC treated like a family member, he is part of the family. yes, just the same we have, Luise and I, we gfuehlt. ... unforgettable!