Karin Buhrmann speaks to Pincher Creek Rotary about Laos

Karin Buhrmann spoke on her trip to Laos

Toni Lucas

Rotarian Karin Buhrmann was the guest speaker at the Pincher Creek Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, June 5.  She spoke about the 2 week trip she took to Laos last November with her husband Hans.  "I have always wanted to go to Laos," she said.  Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia.  During her trip Buhrmann visited cities, villages and countryside, and enjoyed getting to meet the people of the area.  Laos is a very poor country, with close to a third of the country living on less $1.25 US dollars a day.

She exhibited a stunning visual presentation of her trip.  She shared information about the history, architecture, art, religions, and economic realities of the region.  She also had photographs that depicted gorgeous landscapes and buildings and people at work and play.  "The monasteries and temples are very beautiful," she said, and discussed various religious beliefs followed in the country.

"It is called the land of a million elephants, although there are not that many anymore."

At one school Buhrmann got to see one difference in safety considerations, compared to something that we take for granted in Canada.  "The mother came with her five little kids, on a motor bike,"  she explained, showing a  the mom leaving holding her two youngest children on the bike, with no one wearing a helmet.

 She explained that waterfalls made for a more defensible area against raiding or invading forces.  "The Thai people and the Laos people are very happy about the waterfalls.  They call them 'The bad spirit traps'."

During her trip Buhrmann also visited Cambodia.  She said that visiting Southeast Asia was an incredible experience.