All ears: Some members of the audience attending a talk by Peter and Jan Boyce, during the Brunei Nature Society's meeting at UBD. Picture: Syafie Nadi
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
MEMBERS of the Brunei Nature Society (BNS) were last night taken for a journey to experience the culture and lives of people in three South East Asian countries.
Two members of the society, Peter and Jan Boyce, presented a slideshow on their recent journey to Cambodia, Northern Vietnam and Lao PDR during their monthly meeting last night.
Showcasing various aspects of the rural areas of the three countries, the couple wished to share their experiences with the other members of the society.
The photographs reflected the culture and the everyday lives of the people they had visited during their travels.
Temples and ancient landmarks such as the 'Plain of Jars' in Lao PDR, were places of great interest for the couple, despite the unsuspecting lurking danger of unexploded land mines left in the area after the wars that the country had endured over the years.
The landscape around these areas were also alluring, if not breath-taking since they were preserved and undisturbed by the effects of modern civilisation.
Food found in the countries, were also something which tourists must sample during their journeys to the nations.
As exotic and perhaps not as inviting to everyone's taste, such foods included roasted, what Jan can only guess were some type of squirrel.
On the lighter side, the couple also visited several restaurants and had the opportunity to attend a cooking lesson on traditional local dishes.
There was also an endless variety of local fruits to choose from, many of which were cultivated by the locals to sell at market.
Some fruits even could not be found grown locally here in the sultanate.
The simple life that the village people led was also one visiting the countries had to appreciate. One innovation which was truly amazing was the use of hydro-electric generators, composing of nothing more than a few pieces of wood, a small motor-generator and a rotor was used to power the television sets of some dwellings which were located near the riverside.
Peter Boyce said that his aim of presenting his photographs to the society was not to try persuade the members to travel there, but rather just to share his and his wife's experiences. However, he said that he would be more than willing to assist anyone who would like to visit the countries, if they happened to do so.
Boyce also told The Brunei Times that the BNS planned to hold a walk on Sunday on the Mentiri Hill trail. This was in line with the society's policy to hold outings every month. (ODM1)
The Brunei Times
Two members of the society, Peter and Jan Boyce, presented a slideshow on their recent journey to Cambodia, Northern Vietnam and Lao PDR during their monthly meeting last night.
Showcasing various aspects of the rural areas of the three countries, the couple wished to share their experiences with the other members of the society.
The photographs reflected the culture and the everyday lives of the people they had visited during their travels.
Temples and ancient landmarks such as the 'Plain of Jars' in Lao PDR, were places of great interest for the couple, despite the unsuspecting lurking danger of unexploded land mines left in the area after the wars that the country had endured over the years.
The landscape around these areas were also alluring, if not breath-taking since they were preserved and undisturbed by the effects of modern civilisation.
Food found in the countries, were also something which tourists must sample during their journeys to the nations.
As exotic and perhaps not as inviting to everyone's taste, such foods included roasted, what Jan can only guess were some type of squirrel.
On the lighter side, the couple also visited several restaurants and had the opportunity to attend a cooking lesson on traditional local dishes.
There was also an endless variety of local fruits to choose from, many of which were cultivated by the locals to sell at market.
Some fruits even could not be found grown locally here in the sultanate.
The simple life that the village people led was also one visiting the countries had to appreciate. One innovation which was truly amazing was the use of hydro-electric generators, composing of nothing more than a few pieces of wood, a small motor-generator and a rotor was used to power the television sets of some dwellings which were located near the riverside.
Peter Boyce said that his aim of presenting his photographs to the society was not to try persuade the members to travel there, but rather just to share his and his wife's experiences. However, he said that he would be more than willing to assist anyone who would like to visit the countries, if they happened to do so.
Boyce also told The Brunei Times that the BNS planned to hold a walk on Sunday on the Mentiri Hill trail. This was in line with the society's policy to hold outings every month. (ODM1)
The Brunei Times