The River's Tale: A Year on the Mekong

A Really interesting and observant 3,000 mile trip down the Mekong, primarily by boat. From the river's mouth to its end in the Mekong Delta: Tibet, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Ed Gargan could have played a medical trump card to avoid the draft during Vietnam war, but instead he stood up for his beliefs and refused to register, thus serving time in federal prison. This was an influential experience, and he did refer to it at times, and American war situation in Indo-china, understandably.Noting the past history and recent events of these places, and then talking with people to get their perception and viewpoints on where things are headed. Very balanced peppering of relevant historical occurrences, recent political situations, and down-to-earth local conversations about life in these places. Indigenous life and the cultural aspects of it in the areas he visited were noted.The Chinese ethnic Hans are continuing their colonization of Tibet, imprisoning people, destroying temples, and other aspects of Tibetan culture. The secretive government of Laos is still in the moribund foggy myst of Marxist-Leninism, those "foreign white guys." He briefly tapped into the bohemian traveler opium-den culture of Laos on his way through, though as an observer and not a participant. He also interviewed one of the few survivors of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge torture and killing prison, finally ending his journey with a young Vietnamese woman's observant description of contemporary Vietnam and where its people and nation are headed in the future.Very descriptive and observant piece of work.There are some interesting facts that are noted by Gargan.Francis Garnier, the French colonist who traveled the Mekong for two years in 1866. He apparantly didn't learn much, and he got what he deserved in the end. Another tid-bit, is that the character Colonel Kurtz in the movie "Apocalypse Now," is based on an actual person. Also there are more pickup trucks per capita in Thailand than on any other nation on Earth.This is a great book for people who like travel books, and for those who have an interest in, or who are going to South East Asia.Another great book I'd recommend that is also about boat travel: "Three years in a 12-foot boat," by Steven Ladd.

This river journey was extremely informative, very interesting and eloquently written with fine detail to the surroundings in the author's focus, thus making this river trek a top preference of mine. It would be of great interest to anyone who wants a book embarking upon the grounds of sociology, expats, social anthropology, personal travel, our own personal American history in these areas, or learning more about the Mekong and the ways of which it flows. Most of the countries which inhibit the Mekong are State ruled...Communist run countries, so interviews with people were not always conveniently easy. As well, many changes to ruins of war were either fixed and furthered by the State, unless it had personal or religious precedence to the past; thus the ruins lay there at rest.This book does not throw you directly into each of the country's wars, but the author does give us their histories and their aftermaths from interviewers those who lived through such beastly times and were willing to share their personal stories with him.His interest of people, their living conditions, their survival techniques, and their devoted strength in Buddhism is explored. Though Buddhism and it's teachings run rampant throughout the Mekong, you have to remember again, that these are State run countries and religion is not acceptable, and so much is explained to him from interviewing an informative monk.It is inevitable what the hands of time has done to people in the Mekong's regions, to date, via the outcome of previous wars (some historical, other's secretive), and the outcomes do show heavily on the people who lived them. We here in the U.S.A. can't even begin to imagine having experienced the perils or the aftermath having foreigners invading our country for on-going (numerous) years, had it happened to us on our own home soil.As the author traveled from area to area, his creative writing makes very clear settings. It's a great book.

Having been to Vietnam, I was anxious to read Edward Gargan's book about the Mekong. I was expecting a book about his travels on the Mekong, but it is ever so much more than that.I enjoyed Gargan's intimate look at the people, politics, history, and culture of the countries that the Mekong flows through is educational as well as entertaining. His travels through Tibet, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam brings you straight to the heart of these countries. The section on Cambodia is heart wrenching as Gargan reveals the gruesome past of the 'killing fields' and Cambodia's struggle to move forward from its horrendous past.Well written and worth the read if you have any interest in understanding Southeast Asia.

This book tells the eventful story of long time Asia hand Edward Gargan's epic journey following the Mekong River from it's source in Tibet to it's end in the South China Sea. His excellent style gives the reader insightful views into the cultural, political & geographical terrain that he traversed in his year long adventure. This book ranks up there with others such as "Facing the Congo" by Jeffrey Tayler & "The Shadow of the Sun" by Ryszard Kapuscinski. It's a must read for the arm chair traveler, anyone interested in SE Asia, or those of us who are fascinated by the great rivers of the Earth.

I will never think about Southeast Asia the same after reading this book. What those peoples have endured and how they continue to struggle - amazing. Reading this book then watching "The Killing Fields" and Ken Burns' "Vietnam" gives you a personal take on events seemingly distant in time and space.

This is a very well written and thoughtful account of a journey down a river that has more barriers than the maps would suggest. Hence it ends up describing the societies that live along it which have been separate for centuries and remain separated today. The underlying theme Is how theses different ethnic groupings are coping with progress, usually imposed on them from outsiders. Here the judgments expressed inevitably reflect what was observed during the time of writing. But time has moved on and things are likely to be different now.The only caveat is that, as a fluent Chinese speaker, he was able to engage more with those who spoke the language and as he moved further south this became less relevant. Personally I would quibble with his interpretation on Laos (surprisingly resilient to foreign influences) and Cambodia (a deeply disturbing place).

A rather dense account of the various parts of the Mekong. Will be reading it while travelling the Vietnamese portion of the river. Will report on its usefulness.

A neat book. Thanks.

Very interesting book if you are interested in Southeast asia