Thanks for your patience. This is Part 1 of my recent Sapa story. Sapa is in the far high northwestern area of the country.

Foreign tourists and local day trippers go there on 2-3 day package tours organized in Ha Noi. This economic reality supports the Vietnamese businesses. Transport, tours, hotels, trekking costs. Everything. 

Cheap Chinese made junk is popular with tourists.

Travelers take time to get to know and understand the people, their culture and way of life.

The local people are the H'mong, Red Dzao and Tay. They do not own businesses in Sapa. They sell their handicrafts in the market and on the street. They lead treks. They speak excellent English.

A young H'mong guide told me in a good month she makes $120.

That's $4 a day.

Metta.

MK 80....hear more. 

Yes. This little segment includes words about "Ray" a biopic film about Ray Charles. Also a mention for "The God of Small Things," a novel by Arundhati Roy. Excellent read.

I'm out of here to hike, explore and hang out with minority hill tribes near Sa Pa in the northwest. 

Until we meet again.

Metta.

MK 79...hear it live.

A bat sent me an SMS. Clear and then they talked about Ha Noi ranking #11 on the list of most difficult international cities for expatriates according to Business Week. Something about disease and sanitation.

You are the main character in your story. Be light about it.

Metta.

MK 78...learn more.

Wow, said the kid novice monk not nervous, novice, to the tall strange wandering guy in Hue one day. What's that black box?

It's a podcast kid, an audio story about you and people shopping for fresh produce in their pajamas.

Really?

Yes. Really.

MK 77....learn more

A blind man gets on a boat with a little help from his friend.

Another extension of the audio ear, MK 76 includes some material on Hue and Hoi An. I met the Karate Kid in Hue. She completed her training for a black belt. She is super smart, funny, kind, quick and extremely dangerous when provoked by ninjas. 

She is an international lawyer living in Ha Noi.

The way of the empty hand.

Listen and enjoy the world.

Metta.

MK 76

The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An. 

Click-clack.

Thanks for listening.

MK 75...

Metta.

Yes, after a month of silence, meditation and movement here's MK 74 for your listening enjoyment.

It's always amazing to record these little audio adventures and now that I am "settled" in a room, house, neighborhood, city, and country I hope to chronicle the adventure with regular podcasts.

It feels simply marvelous to return to a real Asian zone of influence after the tyranny of a private Catholic school in Jakarta for a year. Believe you me.

Thanks for your patience and giving your ears a listen.

Metta.

MK 74

In this final episode from the island of Amnesia somewhere near the Equator, I share some valuable insights into life and mentality here.

People don't listen. "Huh?"

I fly away next week, heading into Asia. Enough of this nonsense after a year in a private school. The kids have been amazing. They graduate to grade 5. I graduate to the University of the Street.

My gardening work is finished here. Plant. Weed. Cultivate. Harvest.

Thanks for listening.

Metta.

MK 73...

There was a teacher wearing a green shirt made from trees and heavy plastic pants. He got off a white horse near his school and tried to spit into a canal.

Saliva dribbled down his mouth and onto his amazing pants. His fingers were coated with saliva.

It changed his life. Completely. Forever.

Hear his tale in MK 71...

Metta.