The stories we tell

In this trip I realised I'm a constant observer and enthusiastic student of the stories, tales and legends we pass forward, much more than clothing, ceramics or even architecture. Perhaps that interest is always present because it strongly determine our perception of reality (maybe even more than unquestionable facts), as 2 situations happened today illustrate.

First, in the morning, I went to the National Museum (ex Revolutionary Museum), which tells Laos' history since pre-history until the present days. Unsurprisingly, it elevates figures like Marx, Engels, Mao, Ho Chi Minh and other chiefs of state of socialist countries.

On the other hand, one can easily perceive some resentment against the French and - what called my attention the most - a super friendly approach towards the Dutch of the East Indias Company, but an extremely hard naming of the US forces (puppet soldiers of the imperialism), even if their interests in Laos weren't too far apart.

In the afternoon, I joined a meditation session in the Wat Sok Pa Luang. Concentration demanded extra effort, as the monks were building a foot path 10 meters away, therefore doing a lot of noise. That moment represented daily life for me: heaps of things urging our attention (including advertisements with its intangible and unreal promises associated with products, which use persuasive stories and visual effects that make them sound essential), while the real and important things are slipping between our fingers, lacking our accurate perception, integrity and discipline.