To Tibetans, the Upper Mekong is a powerful spiritual entity. To the Chinese, the river is a means of economic development. By focusing on the interdependence of people and the natural world, The Mekong Semester examines how the demand for electricity and anthropocentric needs are causing irreparable damage to delicate ecosystems and traditional ways of life.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience rural village life in a Tibetan, Lao, Thai and Cambodia homestays participating in the daily rhythms of each place.
• Trek in arid Himalayas and humid wet tropics exploring hot springs, glaciers and waterfalls.
• Meet with community members to learn about the reality of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, The Secret War and Pol Pot’s Regime.
• Witness the negative impacts of large-scale hydro-power dam developments ecological systems.
• Explore the diverse range of spiritual beliefs and religions within the Mekong catchment including: Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Animism, Catholicism and Islam.

Our journey begins in China’s Yunnan Province where we trek through sacred Tibetan Buddhist landscapes and examine the impacts of China’s controversial mega-dam projects. In border villages, we explore transnational trade and China’s impact on the cultural integrity and economic security of the Greater Mekong sub-region.

Crossing into Laos, we explore the province of Luang Namtha on treks beneath the jungle canopy and travel through some of the most remote regions in Southeast Asia, where cross-border trade and a booming ecotourism industry are contributing to rapid modernization and environmental degradation. In Vientiane, we turn our focus towards public health initiatives, visiting an international NGO working to clear unexploded mines leftover from the US’ Secret War. We enter rural homestays on the idyllic river island of Don Dohn, relaxing into “Laos time” as we prepare for the final leg of our journey.

In Cambodia, we meet with NGOs in Phnom Penh and stay with communities living on the banks of the sacred river. A highlight of our time is the homestay situated on an island in the Bassac River where we settle into village life and work side-by-side with families, cooking together, sharing our stories and feeling what it’s like to live in rural Cambodia. Near the mouth of the Mekong Delta we conclude with reflections on the long-term health of the river ecosystem and bring our great journey to a close.