The sun shines on the Indochinese Peninsula

Author: Daya
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Reading favorite books in a small wooden cabin by the sea on Phi Phi Island; Watching devout followers kneel before monks in the morning mist of Chiang Mai; Drinking authentic Vietnamese coffee in French colonial buildings on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City; Being moved to tears in front of statues at Angkor Wat as the sun sets; Slowly growing a new kind of love under palm trees by the Mekong River.
Travel is a joy, a happiness, a carefree release of one's life. A single woman, with a heavy backpack, takes a rickety minibus from the southern border of China and embarks on a six-month journey.
The Indochinese Peninsula, a region near the equator, is filled with countless moods and stories, with blindingly bright, pure passion, and sunshine. Its history and culture are so rich that they resemble an alluring, mysterious garden, like a series of indescribable, magical images that unfold before the reader's eyes as the author walks.
Crossing the border into Laos, the beauty of the ancient capital of Luang Prabang, the Mekong River, and the joyful Laotians—the author has extraordinary encounters here. The book presents a fresh image of Thailand: the red-light district of Bangkok, delicious cuisine, a British woman selling grilled meat on the streets, a French man secretly in love with her, and a mysterious Iranian traveler. Phi Phi Island's enchanting scenery, passionate islanders, and free-spirited travelers; Chiang Mai's handicrafts, temples, and the mysterious long-necked tribe; Sukhothai's ancient Buddha statues and heartwarming hotel owners—every story moves the reader.
Post-war Cambodia is the author's third stop. The numerous beggars and tragically living children are wounds that every visitor to Cambodia must face. Beyond the awe-inspiring deities and art of Angkor Wat, the book also reflects the little details of Cambodian life: the unfriendly police, the story of a rickshaw driver, a lost passport, expensive food, and the passionate Cambodian men—all presented vividly. The French colonial influence, the Chinese presence, and the national customs blend to form the charm of Vietnam. The romance of Saigon, the temples of Cholon, the ancient town of Hoi An, and the cruise in Hue—all are intoxicating and mesmerizing. At the same time, the warm-hearted Vietnamese, the hostile Vietnamese, the multi-storied dormitories in Hanoi, the Canadian roommate who smokes marijuana, and the restless book-selling teenager—all reveal the Vietnam behind the sunshine.
A 180-day journey, the Indochinese Peninsula bathed in sunlight—a journey of scenery and heart. A rare and wonderful book.