Roger Harmon, LLC Tel; (505) 254-4666 harmon_roger@yahoo.com

SHORT DESCRIPTIONS OF 2009-10 TRIPS
Itineraries are available on request.

Aug. 9-16. New Mexico at Harvest Season.

Join us for an intimate experience of our beautiful, multi-cultural state. We will focus on the contemporary cultures and values of our state’s Native Americans, both the largest group, the Navajo, and the state’s Pueblo peoples, of which there are 19 groups. We will also experience the lives of Hispanics, Caucasians, and even smaller minorities in the state. Key themes include adaptation to the land and to the multicultural environment; food, sustainability and health; ceremony and creativity in the arts and crafts.

Our timing is scheduled at harvest festival time for the Pueblos. There are dances and festivals at the various 19 Pueblos throughout the month of August, and we will attend one (Zuni Pueblo) and perhaps one other.
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We also enjoy:

--Albuquerque, with Old Town plaza and shops, vibrant farmer’s markets, and museums.

-- Sante Fe, one of the main art and craft centers in the U.S. and even more museums than Albuquerque (careful choices needed here!)

--The village of Jemez Springs, with its hot springs and meadows set below towering red rock mesas.

August 13-15 Portion:

--Western New Mexico, including the Navajo rug auction in Crownpoint, the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial and the Zuni Pueblo Festival.

-- Scenic El Morro National Monument, which includes the springs from which early Spanish conquistadors drank as they searched for the Cities of Gold.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY, subject to change based on exact dates of events:

Sat. Aug. 8. Arrive in Albuquerque by afternoon. Be met at airport by Roger or his designee and taken to lodging. For those arriving by 2 p.m., late afternoon orientation to Albuquerque and a stroll at the Rio Grande Nature Center and the adjacent Cottonwood Forest (the Bosque) along the Rio Grande River. Dinner for all in Old Town Albuquerque. Begin your scavenger hunt worksheet! Group dinner.

Sun. Aug. 9. Tour Albuquerque, with emphasis on Hispanic culture including both “Spanish” and Mexican sub-cultures and, if of interest, Asian and other sub-cultures in the city. We will visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center for several exhibits on New Mexican culture and art, and an unusual exhibit on the Spanish connections with the Philippines (and other parts of Asia) through Mexico! We will tour Albuquerque’s South Valley, home to many Hispanic people, including those newly-arrived from south of the U.S border. The South Valley at this time of year is full of the smell of roasting chili! Have a look and a smell and join as we talk with the chili roaster/small farmer—and, if overcome, buy a pint—or a bushel and use our kitchen to skin them for freezing and taking home! Visit and hve dinner with some of our friends. If we have participants interested in Buddhism, we will stop at the Thai-Lao Buddhist temple. Overnight in Albuquerque.

Mon. Aug. 10. A.M. Sante Fe. Drive to Sante Fe, artistic center of New Mexico. Visit the International Folk Art Museum and the Museum of Native American Art, both on “Museum Hill,” and both with some great exhibits during the time of our visit. (schedule attached or to follow). Lunch at a restaurant on Museum Hill. In the afternoon enjoy the and the art galleries on the plaza, and Canyon Road or relax at our hotel. Overnight in Santa Fe.

Tues. Aug 11. Sante Fe and p.m. on to Jemez Springs. A.M. Visit the Palace of the Governors and the brand new History Museum and/or the the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. After lunch head west over the mountains to the village of Jemez Springs nestled between tall red rock mesas. Enroute pass several of the states 19 Indian pueblos (“reservations”); pass Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was secretly developed; make a brief stop at the local atomic museum where an excellent shot film gives us the history. Continue to Jemez Springs passing the newly- designated Valles Caldera National Preserve, which includes the crater of a collapsed volcano. Dinner and conversation with local residents who know the Jemez area like the back of their hand. (Roger lived in Jemez Springs for a year.) Overnight in Jemez Springs.

Wed. Aug. 12. Jemez Springs. Relax in Jemez Springs; Visit Jemez Pueblo Free day with optional activities in the village or up or down the canyon. Relax with a hot springs bath and massage at the bath house, visit Jemez Monument, hike in the Jemez mountains, picnic or fly fish in the Jemez River, or check out the shops on the main street. Or relax with a book at your lodging or at the Laughing Lizard Restaurant. Mid-afternoon tour of Jemez Pueblo Visitor Center and, if possible, a talk with Pueblo health providers. Dinner of Jemez Pueblo foods Indian foods prepared and served in the home of our Jemez friend, Marie Bacca, possible. Overnight in Jemez Springs.

Thurs. Aug. 13. Gallup and the Western part of the State. Depart Jemez Springs, passing Albuquerque and heading west on Interstate 40 to Acoma Pueblo, where we will view their new museum and be escorted to the top of the mesa to tour the ancient pueblo, called Sky City, and enjoy the spectacular views. Take a brief look at Acoma Pueblo’s Sky City Casino to see this phenomenon. Continue to Gallup, where the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial will be in full swing. Some say the greatest Native American get together is the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial with its song and dance competitions, rodeo, children’s activities and much more in the heart of Navajo country. Overnight in Gallup.

Fri. Aug. 14. Gallup and Crownpoint. During the morning, enjoy the events of the Intertribal Ceremonial. In the afternoon we will head to visit a traditional trading post and after an early dinner attend the authentic Navajo Rug Auction held monthly in the gymnasium at Crownpoint. See marvelous rugs woven in hogans from across the Navajo reservation go on auction. Sit with the grandmothers and others who tended the sheep and wove the rugs as they watch the proceedings carefully This is a world class cultural happening! Overnight in Gallup. (My wife, Nancy who will join us for the weekend.)

Sat. Aug. 15. Zuni Pueblo and El Morro National Monument. Visit Zuni Pueblo for their yearly Art Festival with dances and art exhibits. Continue to El Morro National Monument for a hike atop rocky mesas to a spring that sustained Indians, Conquistadores and others for millennia. Return to Albuquerque in order to facilitate departures on Sun. Final dinner.

Sun. Aug. 16. Departures, or continue on for additional post-tour activities which we can help you set up.

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRIPS. (CHOOSE THE SEGMENT(S) THAT FITS FOR YOU.)

Itinerary for (Pre-Trip) Days in Bangkok and Environs. Dec. 17-Dec. 22, 2010.

Day 1. Dec. 17. (Thurs.) Arrive Bangkok, Met by Roger or his designee at airport. Escorted to hotel. If daytime arrival, orientation to area near hotel and its services and options and dinner with Roger. If mid-day arrival, combine with visit to Jim Thompson traditional teakwood house, the home on the canal of the American intelligence officer often given credit for helping revive Thai silk production.

Day. 2. Dec. 18. (Fri.) Orientation tour of Bangkok, based on participants' experience & interest, including familiarization with Sky Train, taxi system, river taxis, department stores and markets. We will take a walk through Chinatown. If participants are totally new to Bangkok, we can make the visit to the Grand Palace and Temples of the Emerald Buddha and the Recling Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho). If "old Thai hands," participants may want to visit the National (History) Museum or nearby National Art Museum, even though they are not sublime. Our touring time will be. based on participants' arrival time previous day, previous experience in the City of Angels, etc. Early dinner, perhaps on the Chao Phraya River.

Day 3. Dec. 19. (Sat.) Day Trip to Ayuddhaya, former capital from circa 1350-1767 A.D. Includes stop at Bang Pa In Summer Palace. Bus up to Ayuddhaya, boat back, including lunch.

Day 5. Dec. 20 (Sun.) Day Trip to Floating Market in Rachaburi Province (1 ½ hr. Drive). Highlights will include viewing vendors selling foodstuffs and fruits from their boats and, especially, visiting and having lunch at the home of our friend, Urai, whose mother still lives on the original orchard homestead among the coconut, orange and pamelo trees! This trip will give a good feeling for the significance of orchards and of fruit for Thais—one of the many things for which they are famous, and give a feeling for the signicance of the use of waterways in Thailand in the past and today. Also, many of the early orchardists Other stops of interest along the way. (May reverse schedule for Days 5 & 6.

Day 6. Dec. 21. (Mon.) Free Day. Prepare for 22nd early a.m. departure for Laos. Suggestions will be made for self-guided exploration of Bangkok for those who want to be out and about. 6:30 a.m. risers may want to join me at Lumpini Park to see the many types of exercising done—or join Chi Kung ("Tai Kek"), some sword dancing—or even Western ballroom dancing. It's all there! Then we could have some amazingly smooth tofu custard with ginger sauce, and some other delicacies. Optional dinner. (Roger meets Nancy and perhaps others arriving at the airport.) Optional dinner.

Dec. 22. (Tues.) Travel to Laos where our Laos trip officially begins (fanfare music, please!) Fly to Northeast Thailand (via discount airline) and continue by van to the Laos border and on to Vientiane, or fly directly Bangkok to Vientiane (cost difference is as much as $80.) You can have the choice and we could have you met in Vientiane, if you prefer most direct route. Let's see the arrival times and needs of the group as it forms. Stay tuned.

SEGMENT A. LAOS. Dec. 22-Jan. 2 Some Highlights of the Trip. (Full Itinerary Available on Request.)


1. Visiting the country in the cool season! No snow, of course, or freezing temperatures, but the early morning mists on the Mekong and other rivers and in the mountains is invigorating. Several nights last year it was darn nippy at night, especially in the smaller provincial centers. Then, as the day warms up and one starts peeling off the layers, the heat of the sun feels just right!

2. Luang Prabang, at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers, and lined with temples, has become a legendary city. There has been a lot of change in recent years, with many of the homes and buildings converted to boutique guest houses, restaurants and craft shops. Still the World Heritage Site status has helped keep much of the architecture in the Lao-French colonial style. I am looking forward to relaxing for 4 nights in Luang Prabang at the Lotus Villa or the guest house next door. (To keep things “personal,” the Lotus Villa only allows travel groups to book 4 rooms, so first come first served, friends.) The mix of French and Asian food is a delight, too!

3. Vientiane is busy, but can this really be the capital of a country in the 21st Century? Yes, indeed, and all roads (and the Mekong ) lead here. In our one day two nights here, we will meet our local friends to get an overview of Laos and enjoy with them some great Lao-French food! We will focus on the central national symbol, That Luang (Royal Stupa) and its affiliated Buddhist temple with its extraordinary wood carved windows and doors. And, we will enjoy life along the wide streets, in the market, and along the river.

4. Dr Siri Paiboun, fictitious National Coroner! I’d like to suggest some added fun by exploring through walks and conversation, places in the charming mystery books of Colin Cotterill, set in Vientiane and some of our upcountry destinations. These books, featuring coroner and detective Dr. Siri Paiboun, are entertaining historical fiction. They provide insights into Lao history and culture as well as a dose of magical realism.

5. Our van trip through the countryside in Luang Prabang Province and through Xiengkhouang Provinces (2 nights) and Hua Phan Province (2 nights) plus the two nights in Vietnam enroute to Hanoi take us to villages and markets with the best weaving in Laos, experts say, some of the most beautiful mountainous and river valley scenery, and welcoming people. It is hard to believe the bombing these areas/people suffered in the Vietnam (Southeast Asian War). In addition to visiting the caves in Hua Phan province, mentioned above, we will seek to learn more through stops to see the way bomb casings have been turned into fences, flower pots and temple bells, and to learn how relief agencies are cleaning up the bombs and mines that remain.

SEGMENT B. Jan. 2-15, 2010. VIETNAM.
Experience 13 days in beautiful Central and Northern Vietnam, including Hanoi’s French Quarter, the three World Heritage sites of Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An and tribal areas to the north and east of Hanoi.

Our itinerary includes two nights in energetic, artistic Hanoi, where we begin our trip. We also enjoy a day of wonderful seascapes and limestone cliffs in the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. On the Bay, we will be on a comfortable junk with excellent food; we will overnight in a sheltered bay in modest, but clean, more-than-adequate cabins. In addition to these “lowland” adventures among the majority ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh), a major focus will be exploring the life and environment of tribal minorities in mountain villages and markets. Participants on our trips in previous years have greatly enjoyed experiencing the tribal life of a number of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including the Hmong, Tai, Dzao. Our accommodations range from one carefully arranged home stay with a Tay families, to small guest houses, to a highlight last year, a night at Topas Ecolodge, built and managed by, yes, Danes! Several walks of 2-4 hours are planned during the trip, with alternative activities/transportation available for those who prefer not to walk.

Optional Add On to the Angkor Civilization (8th-13th Centuries A.D.) in KAMPUCHEA, formerly Cambodia, Jan. 15-20, 2010.

Fly from Luang Prabang to Seam Reap, Cambodia, We will view 4 or 5 major temples and several less famous ones, and see the magnificant sculpture, dance and other arts inspired by this Hindu-Buddhist civilization. Throughout, we will marvel how these masterpieces could have been produced. Contemporary Khmer life is fascinating and worth understanding, and for this reason, and to provide variety, so we will alternate viewing the monuments with other activities. The latter will include visiting the French-supported handicraft design center which produces magnificent stone carvings, lacquer ware, and paintings; also, if there is interest, we will also see the project’s silk making/weaving site outside of town. We will not want to miss the Landmine Education Center (moved last year to the road to Baan Te Sarai monument), the local fresh food and craft markets, and a magnificent photography gallery. We will also visit Tonle Sap (Lake), so unique and so vital to the country, will have a dinner/ performance of Khmer dancing and another evening of food and fun with the families of our guides, drivers, and dear friends, Virak and Sothi. On Jan. 19 drive to Phnom Penh for a day in the capital, seeing either the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and Prison and/or the Royal Palace and National Museum.
On Jan. 20, depart for home.


F.N. of Ohio wrote: “In all my travels I've never felt so close to the real people in areas that were so unknown to me. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.” (2007)

We welcome your call at (505) 254-4666 or e-mail: harmon_roger@yahoo.com For more specific information see: www.worldviews2000.com Or, write Roger Harmon, 412 Lafayette Place NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA 87106.