July is rainy season and the perfect time for growing rice, but not the easiest time for travel in rural areas in Laos. The end of July I traveled with a delegation to visit the small scale irrigation systems constructed in Tha Thom District through a Canadian Food Grains Bank Project. Heavy rains during the past month caused numerous landslides making travel on some parts of the road challenging. Unfinished bridges also resulted in numerous boat trips across major rivers.
A stunning view of recently planted rice fields.
To get to the first irrigation site required a 20-40 minute boat ride, (depending if you were traveling with or against the current) followed by walking several kilometers through the forest and recently planted rice paddies.
Walking along the narrow paddy walls proved challenging, but thankfully I did not slip and fall into the paddy. I was also very grateful that the leeches did not make an appearance during our walk.
The rice grows best with a constant supply of water in the paddy.
The second day we traveled by means of the local bus. Three rows of benches in the bed of this former army truck provided a means for our group and local travelers to reach their destination.
More rice paddies.
This dam was finished in April 2011 and now provides water for the rice paddy fields located along the 900 m canal. This coming year the project will help farmers further develop more paddy land.
On the third day we visited the proposed irrigation site for the coming year. Not one who typically enjoys wading through unknown waters, the coolness of this river proved refreshing.
Throughout our tour we traveled by hand tractor. Farmers use the hand tractor to work their rice paddies, but also use it as means of transportation.
The return trip to the Capital involved a ride in the back of four trucks, two boats and one bus. And when the little Hyundai truck just could not make it up the hill through the mud, we got out and walked and waited for it to be pulled up the hill by an excavator working in the area to clear the road from a recent landslide. Thankfully we all returned to the Capital safely with stories to tell.
July is rainy season and the perfect time for growing rice, but not the easiest time for travel in rural areas in Laos. The end of July I traveled with a delegation to visit the small scale irrigation systems constructed in Tha Thom District through a Canadian Food Grains Bank Project. Heavy rains during the past month caused numerous landslides making travel on some parts of the road challenging. Unfinished bridges also resulted in numerous boat trips across major rivers.
A stunning view of recently planted rice fields.
To get to the first irrigation site required a 20-40 minute boat ride, (depending if you were traveling with or against the current) followed by walking several kilometers through the forest and recently planted rice paddies.
Walking along the narrow paddy walls proved challenging, but thankfully I did not slip and fall into the paddy. I was also very grateful that the leeches did not make an appearance during our walk.
The rice grows best with a constant supply of water in the paddy.
The second day we traveled by means of the local bus. Three rows of benches in the bed of this former army truck provided a means for our group and local travelers to reach their destination.
More rice paddies.
This dam was finished in April 2011 and now provides water for the rice paddy fields located along the 900 m canal. This coming year the project will help farmers further develop more paddy land.
On the third day we visited the proposed irrigation site for the coming year. Not one who typically enjoys wading through unknown waters, the coolness of this river proved refreshing.
Throughout our tour we traveled by hand tractor. Farmers use the hand tractor to work their rice paddies, but also use it as means of transportation.
The return trip to the Capital involved a ride in the back of four trucks, two boats and one bus. And when the little Hyundai truck just could not make it up the hill through the mud, we got out and walked and waited for it to be pulled up the hill by an excavator working in the area to clear the road from a recent landslide. Thankfully we all returned to the Capital safely with stories to tell.
2 comments:
Hi Wendy,
I just found your blog address in the back of a 2009 day book that I was about to throw out. I can't find any email for you and that was not recorded so will say hello here. We are living in Winnipeg now and Vic is working at Mennonite church Canada. I am currently a 1/2 time volunteer with CPT in Northern Iraq. I spent 3 months there in the spring and will return for late fall after Janelle's wedding in the Netherlands. She is marrying a Dutch man and then moving to Germany. Katrina was married to a man from Ontario last September. I have a blog too of my time in Kurdish Northern Iraq: www.goinpeacenottopieces.blogspot.com
Love Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Good to hear from you!! Thanks for the updates in your family. All the best in your return trip to Iraq. Thanks for your blog info. I'll have to check it out.
Love,
Wendy
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