The days have been so incredibly full that I'm conscious of not having devoted enough time to www.soulfoodjourney.blogpost.com, but I also didn't want to turn this into a chore and take away from this wonderful adventure. I'm sure that also wouldn't have provided you the best read if it was forced, so forgive me for the delay, but I hope it's worth the wait.
On our first day in Luang Prabang, we stumbled upon the UXO landmine Museum, thanks to a passing traveller who suggested it was an interesting and sobering insight into this beautiful country.
Now I knew a little of it's past but was completely shocked at the extent of suffering that had taken place in this country and which still continues to this day and beyond.
These stats are taken from the Museums website.
The reason for the relentless bombing suffered by this country: it was part of the supply route for the VietCong (Ho Chi Minh Trail). As the war raged in Vietnam and news spread across the globe, this went mostly unreported and was ruthlessly conducted.
* Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history.
* Approximately 25% of villages in Laos are contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
* More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over Laos
* Over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973
* Cluster sub‐munitions or ‘Bombies’ (as they are known locally) are the most common form of UXO remaining
* More than 270 million bombies were dropped onto Laos
* Up to 30% failed to detonate
* Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained in Laos after the war
* All 17 provinces of Laos suffer from UXO contamination
* 41 out of the 46 poorest districts in Laos have UXO contamination
* Over 50,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents in the period 1964 ‐2008
* Over 20,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents post‐war period, 1974‐2008
http://www.uxolao.gov.la/
What really amazes here is how despite all of this, how peaceful and non resentful these people are.
I've decided I will wait until tomorrow to write more about Laos as this really deserves it's own post, however here are a few photos of this magical place.
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