When reading a comment this morning from blogger friend, Valerie ... on the subject of water availability, it triggered an image I'd seen, amongst my Husband's photos, of how much it is treasured by women who live in a remote part of Vietnam.
Here's the first photo.
A view taken when he was on the road between Dong Van and Meo Vac in far North Vietnam just a little bit South of the Chinese border:
... now for a closer look:
... and close up:
Mostly women, with the help of their children and some men, make their vegetable gardens up these mountain sides and physically carry all the soil and water needed to maintain them.
At the time of these photos, water was available from a specially created canal - so the carting of it was not as far as previous times, which enables them to harvest 2 crops a year instead of only 1.
When the rain eventually comes, it washes the soil down into the valley and so has to be replaced every year.
I don't know, perhaps I'm getting cynical as I age but having an admiration for the daily lives of these women seems more appropriate to me than having to digest the trivial news that pedestrian traffic lights were changed to show female figures rather than male in our City of Melbourne to celebrate International Women's Day!
Ah well, I feel better now I've gotten that bee out of my bonnet ;D) Thanks for listening!
Ah well, I feel better now I've gotten that bee out of my bonnet ;D) Thanks for listening!
Sue, I appreciate this gentle reminder that water is very precious as is good top soil for growing our food.
ReplyDeleteI do forget at times how good my life is.
These are amazing photos 💕
Hi Jan, thanks for commenting... I kind of got caught up in two matters in the one post, but, yes I too appreciate how good I've got it :D)
DeleteCheers now xx
wow this is a fantastic tribute to women Sue! Is that the best they could do, re the traffic lights, sheesh.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine, my dear man always took his photos with great respect to the people in them and with compassion.
DeleteYes, the traffic lights, there were other things of course, dinners, talks etc and a celebration of the Royal Women's Hospital but it was the traffic light changes that mostly made the news.
I would have loved to have seen money grants towards physical safety initiatives for women and children, help for the homeless... instead of telling them to "get out of the city precinct"! oh dear... here I go again!
I really appreciate your comment :D)
This is wonderful, and shows so well how women bear the brunt of work in so many societies, and how hard they labour to keep their families fed. Hats off to these people, and thanks for sharing.And those of us who have our daily water on tap should be so thankful. As for those traffic lights - well! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHello Valerie, thank you - yes, and in my travels those women are some of the warmest and friendliest people you could ever encounter. Their daily burdens are incredible and yet they take time to welcome a traveller... not for the purposes of thinking they might make some money out of us either (as some hard-hearted tourists firmly believe), that was proven time and again, especially in the more remote districts.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts Valerie xx
I have nothing but great admiration and appreciation of what I've seen and read from your blog post today:) You talk wisdom Sue...I'm sure it only comes with age - the privilege ones - ;P ....and I admit I have so much to learn from you.
ReplyDeleteaw, thank you Annie - these photos, and the story behind them, really went to both my dear husbands' and my hearts, I'm really glad you too have appreciated them as well.
DeleteYour words are very kind to me Annie - thank you xx Can I say that it's my thoughts that in all areas of life that we all (no matter what age) have something to learn from each other?
For instance, it was so beautiful to read in your blog your thoughts on bringing up your girls in this day and age. It reminded me of how I used to watch on, with pleasure, as our dear daughter raised and is now guiding her girls. When I was a young mum, we were taught, by stern Health Centre Sisters, to be rigid, keep to a strict routine... baby must do what it's told (huh! 'train a baby' so ridiculous when I look back now). Mind you, sometimes, I used to not put them into the cot for their afternoon sleep and would cuddle them in my arms instead... and felt a bit guilty that I wasn't doing the right thing. It felt right to me though ;D)
Thanks for visiting Annie, always lovely to see you :D)
* whoa ha ha... perhaps that should be "husband's" the wrong use of that apostrophe could get a girl in trouble eh!!! ;D)
DeleteSuch a lovely tribute to women, Sue! And we should never take water for granted. Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you are having a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Linda - and you enjoy your weekend... see you soon :D)
DeleteHuh! It is not an easy place to place the vegetable garden! Greetings
ReplyDeleteNo way could I do that! Much admiration for them indeed, thanks Anne for your message :D)
DeleteSue, it's never too late to celebrate women! How interesting your post is about the jobs these women take on to keep the produce alive on that hill. It is amazing what we will do to maintain the important things in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteI remember when we had clotheslines in our back yard, and we would hang all of the wash out on them, before my mother was able to afford a dryer. And, women would cook out of doors over open fires when they didn't have stoves and ovens. In other countries, some of these tasks continue like this even today.
Your post is a great reminder of how far we have come, and, also, what we endured to get this far.
Love your little painting! Have a wonderful weekend!xxoo
Hi there Suzanne, lovely to see you and thanks for leaving your thoughts on this post too.
DeleteYes, the differences in one life to another's can be vast can't it ... all by the mere chance of where one was born. The immensity of those differences is huge and so unfair but that's how it is.
The thing that I always come back to though is that a relativity exists too. By that I mean that, in terms of their lives, they still have joy, happiness, love and the comfort of a family circle... in relative terms.
Cheers now and enjoy your weekend too :D) xx
Ah Sue - this was a great post. Seeing how difficult those ladies have it in other parts of the world makes me realize what is truly vital in this life. I am so glad you shared this. I hope you are having a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debbie - yes, it's a wonderful day here... the sun is shining but it's not going to be hot!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the post, beaut to see you too :D)
I am so pleased you shared these wonderful photo's.
ReplyDeleteWe take so much for granted ... in fact I have just filled the kettle from the tap to make a cup of tea.
Then I looked at your post and saw these images of the women and how hard they work to keep their families well and fed.
A special post you have shared here Sue,thank you
All the best Jan
Hello Jan, thanks for popping in and I appreciate you leaving your thoughts.
DeleteCheers now :D)
Sue these are amazing photos. I have lots to say but I think I will keep my mouth shut today. Have a wonderful Friday.
ReplyDeleteHello Nicole, thanks for popping in - enjoy your day :D)
Deletewhat an amazing story - they have so little and work so hard. we have so much and take so much for granted. i love stories about strong souls that inspire me to be a better, more appreciative person!!!
ReplyDelete... yes, I know how you feel. Thanks for your thoughts Debbie :D) xx
DeleteOur lives are very easy in comparison. We all take so much for granted, fresh water being one of them.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynda, so right. it's a precious resource for sure... I was thinking on this before and for the ladies to have that canal constructed - how they'd have welcomed it compared to previous times! Puts a lot of things into perspective ... yep. Thanks for adding your thoughts :D)
DeleteInteresting post Sue and such a good reminder of how some women labor so hard throughout the world for their families.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sandy - appreciate your thoughts :D)
DeleteOh dear, life is so tough for these women! Thank you for reminding to be grateful of my western welfare!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is Riitta... I count my blessings too :D)
DeleteHow remarkable. And a most appropriate post for International Women's Day. Thanks for sharing, Sue! xx
ReplyDelete... kind of blew me away when MD showed me those photos - still do! Thanks for your lovely thoughts, as always, Vicki :D) xx
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