Xishuangbanna 西双版纳 (2) — Ancient Tea Mountains 古茶園

Dusk at Jing Mai Shan 景邁山暮色

Inside Jing-Mai Shan (Shan means Mountain) is one of the oldest natural tea plantations in Yunan Province with over 1800 years of history according to Bu Lang Tribe records. The Bu Lang plant tea trees at the fringe of the forest with minimal disturbance to the flora and fauna, just as their forebears had done for nearly two millennia. To ancient farmers, protecting the natural environment upon which they depend for food and survival is just common sense and self-preservation, not delusional “magnanimity” towards pitiful Mother Earth. There are no fences or spray painted logos around the tea trees. The farmers recognise which tree belongs to who. The ability to tell trees apart might seem incredible to some, but it’s actually quite easy, provided one has nominal vision and intelligence.

景邁山是雲南最古老的茶園之一。根據布朗族的記錄，大概有一千八百年的歷史。今天的布朗族茶農，仍然依照古老傳統，栽培茶樹時盡量不騷擾大自然的一草一木。古老民族都比較清楚生我養我者最終是天然環境，不是超級市場。對大地母親敬畏愛護乃生存之道。「環保」並非時尚，更不應該被顛倒為人類對唯一生存環境的「恩賜」。誰家種的茶樹，族人都互相認得，無需加圍欄或記號。

Lakeside at Jing Mai Shan 景迈山的湖畔风光

Xishuangbanna and Laos (1) - Meng Zhe Market 西双版纳与老挝（1）－ 勐遮市场

These days, when travelling, I often feel a precocious sense of nostalgia. The photos that I take could become mini time-capsules much sooner than expected. Come back in a year, and the scene may have changed beyond recognition due to hyper development, mindless conflicts, a colour revolution, and/or an invasion followed by wanton looting plus cultural devastation by a disproportional military power. The jolly marketeer in my viewfinder could become a refugee within months, for reasons beyond reasoning. Friends who have been to Syria like to reminisce how suddenly and thoroughly a beautiful and friendly country can be ruined.

近年來，當我旅遊拍照的時候，往往有幾分過早出現的「懷舊感」。在這無常萬變，災難頻頻的世界，不少眼前景象隨時短期內面目全非。有些改變是由於高速發展所致。但不少遽變都源於無理性的衝突，顏色革命，甚至從天而降的侵略者以不對稱的科技暴力毀滅，屠殺，改朝換代，搶掠資源和文化清洗。照相機前滿臉笑容的小販，說不定幾個月後家破人亡，淪為難民。到過敘利亞旅遊的朋友，都有類似的慨嘆。

Back in January this year (2016), I visited Xishuangbanna and Laos with a few travel-mates. Fortunately, these regions seem more likely to prosper rather than be ruined in the foreseeable future, though one should never underestimate the destructive power of Dark Forces.

我一月份途經西雙版納到老撾兜了一圈。看來這地區面對高速發展的機遇和挑戰，大大高於戰禍。但破壞和平的惡勢力無孔不入，不能掉以輕心。