Hidden Treasures: Music in Unexpected Places in Southeast Asia
Below are five places in the Southeast Asia where, during my travels, I've heard music played and was particularly glad I did.
Hat Yai, Thailand:
Ko Phangan, Thailand:
One of the many islands popular with visitors to Thailand, Ko Phangan has a lot of bungalows and huts with porches and hammocks, and on many of these you'll find a traveler or two playing an instrument. These travelers are from Israel and South Africa.
Nha Trang, Vietnam:
On a day long boat trip off the coast of Nha Trang, music is one of the things served up (the other things include, fresh fruit, cheap wine, lunch, and snorkeling gear). Here travelers listen to a Vietnamese men sing John Lennon's "Imagine".
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
A Japanese naval band made a call to downtown Kuala Lumpur, where they did a performance at the KLCC Park.
Since 2009, 51-year-old Lek has played his violin on one of the world's more famous bridges: The Bridge on the River Kwai. Popularized by the 1957 film of the same name, the bridge was constructed during World War by the Japanese, who used Allied POWS and conscripted Asian laborers to do the actual building. The sounds from Lek's violin greets visitors as they walk across the bridge. Among his repertoire: Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, and The Bridge on the River Kwai theme.
Joel Carillet, chief editor of wanderingeducators.com, is a freelance writer and photographer based in Tennessee. He is the author of 30 Reasons to Travel: Photographs and Reflections from Southeast Asia. To learn more about him, follow his regular photoblog, or purchase images, visit www.joelcarillet.com or www.istockphoto.com/jcarillet.