Sharon Feinstein

I’ve always wanted to go to French Indo China, and now, this week I’ll be there. Loved reading Somerset Maugham’s descriptions of the Mekong River with the mists swathing the surrounding hills so that they looked like little green islets in a grey sea. The exotic markets, sampans and that inscrutable Eastern way. Now I’m going. Tomorrow. On Tuesday I will be in Bangkok and then on to Laos which is the most cluster bombed country in the world. Caught between the Americans and the Viet Cong, Laos was undefended and a victim, as US forces dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on the land over 9 years. Only just free of the French, Laos was destroyed by the Americans, and now hopefully peace reigns as its simple Buddhist people struggle to climb above the poverty level. I’m looking forward to going down the Mekong, visiting villages and exploring what looks like a small charming town of Luang Prebang.You can think of me in the swirling mists on a sampan, floating down the Mekong River in a white suit and Panama hat, though defintiely not smoking a green cheroot.
And then on to Thailand for a few weeks of snorkelling, boat trips, swimming and reading. A week in Bangkok savouring the hot, sweaty, spicy pulse of that steamy city, its temples, massage parlours, tailors, copy watches and handbags and oh such flavoursome food. For those of you who have a rising jealousy, I’ll keep in touch so you can have the experience vicariously and look forward to your comments and thoughts about South East Asia.