VOA标准英语2009年-Tourism Threatens Historic City Known as 'Soul'

Tourism is bringing economic benefits to the Laotian city of Luang Prabang, the spiritual, religious and cultural capital of Laos for centuries. But with commercialism on the rise, some are worried the town is losing its identity.
　
Turists gather outside a temple in Luang Prabang, Laos to photograph Buddhist¹ monks² as they pray (2004 file photo)

Nestled deep in a Mekong River valley, Luang Prabang was cut-off from the outside world by decades of war and political isolation³. A fusion⁴ of traditional Lao dwellings⁵, French colonial architecture and more than 30 monasteries⁶, the whole town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. The United Nations agency described it as "the best preserved city of Southeast Asia."

That put Luang Prabang on the tourist map and since then the number of visitors to the town has soared from just a few thousand in 1995 to over 300,000 today.

With property prices rising on the back of the tourist influx⁷, many local people sold their properties to outside developers who turned them into internet cafes, restaurants and guesthouses.

But while tourism is generating income and jobs, some residents are worried that the town is in danger of losing its identity.

"Here, the conservation of the architecture has been, roughly speaking, successful but conservation of the soul of the city is now the big threat," said Francis Engelmann, a writer and a consultant⁸ for UNESCO who has lived in Luang Prabang for 12 years. "Most of the people who love Luang Prabang love it because it's a very special way of living, a culture, a religious place, and this is under threat because what is surviving is only the most commercial parts of it."

Longtime Luang Prabang resident Tara Gudjadar is a consultant with the Laos Ministry⁹ of Tourism. She says that mass tourism is changing Luang Prabang in both good and bad ways.

"Tourism is a force for economic change in Luang Prabang - it's really transforming the lives of many, many people here," she said. "They see opportunities, you know, through tourism that they might not have seen before. However, there are changes happening in the social fabric¹⁰ of Luang Prabang with people moving outside of town, or becoming more commercially orientated¹¹, rather than simply sort of, family-orientated."

With local people selling up and moving out, some monasteries have been forced to close because many newcomers do not support the monks, who rely on the community for food.

Another source of discontent is tourist's lack of respect for the town's religious traditions - most notably¹² the daily alms-giving ceremony where monks collect food offerings from the faithful.
　
A Western tourist shoots a video at Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang, Laos, 19 Feb. 2008

When the monks leave their monasteries every morning they have to negotiate their way through a fusillade of flash photography and videocams.

But giving alms is a solemn Buddhist ceremony, says Nithakhong Tiao Somsanith, head of the Puang Champ Cultural House which is trying to preserve the town's cultural heritage.

"The meaning of the giving [of] alms early in the morning is the practice of meditation¹³ in Buddhism¹⁴, and humility¹⁵, and detachment. It's not a show - it's every day life for the monks," he said. "And so we need to have respect. It's not a safari¹⁶, the monks are not the buffalo¹⁷, the monks are not a monkey troupe¹⁸."

Tourists should stay away from the alms giving ceremony, says Francis Engelmann.

"If you are not a Buddhist, if you don't believe the truth of Buddhism or if you are not part of this religion, don't do it! Look at it from far, quietly; respect it, as you would respect a Christian¹⁹ ceremony in a church - or in a temple - in a western country," she said.

More outsiders mean more outside influences, and some residents are worried that Luang Prabang's young people are losing their identity, says Tara Gudgadar.

"People get worried about the social mores²⁰ changing, you know, with tourists and foreigners coming in," she said. "I would sort of argue that it's not necessarily the foreigners that are changing that, but just generally the globalization of the town. Tourism is bringing in money and people are obviously much more connected to the rest of the world now than they were 10 years ago."

Throughout Laos, tourism was up an astounding²¹ 36.5 percent in 2007, compared to 2006, with more than 1.3 million visitors in the first 10 months of the year, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

And while the global economic crisis could reduce those numbers in the short term, experts say that the numbers of visitors to Luang Prabang will continue to grow over time.

Whether that is ultimately a good or a bad thing for Luang Prabang remains²² open for debate. However most people here agree that urgent measures are needed if the town is to protect the unique culture that draws in so many tourists in the first place.

1 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

2 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

4 fusion   

n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc. 黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• This alloy is formed by the fusion of two types of metal.这种合金是用两种金属熔合而成的。

5 dwellings   

n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The development will consist of 66 dwellings and a number of offices. 新建楼区将由66栋住房和一些办公用房组成。
• The hovels which passed for dwellings are being pulled down. 过去用作住室的陋屋正在被拆除。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 monasteries   

修道院( monastery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In ancient China, there were lots of monasteries. 在古时候，中国有许多寺院。
• The Negev became a religious center with many monasteries and churches. 内格夫成为许多庙宇和教堂的宗教中心。

7 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

8 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

11 orientated   

v.朝向( orientate的过去式和过去分词 )；面向；确定方向；使适应

参考例句：

• He orientated himself by finding a familiar landscape. 他寻见一处熟悉的景色，从而确定自己所处的方位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They orientated the tennis court north and south. 他们把网球场定为南北向。 来自辞典例句

12 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

13 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

14 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

15 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

16 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。

17 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

18 troupe   

n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团

参考例句：

• The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
• The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。

19 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

20 mores   

n.风俗，习惯，民德，道德观念

参考例句：

• The mores of that village are hard to believe.那村子的习俗让人难以置信。
• We advocate a harmonious society where corruption is swept away,and social mores are cleared.我们提倡弊绝风清，建设一个和谐社会。

21 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。