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In Northern Laos, on the Xiangkhoang Plateau, one can behold the Plain of Jars, which appears to be a prehistoric cemetery. In 1930, archaeologist Madeleine Colani published her conclusion that the jars were coffins, based on her discovery of human remains in some of them, plus personal artifacts that might be buried with a body.

Interestingly, some of the jars are massive, suggesting that the occupant was either important or was wealthy. Many clusters of jars are found, implying that those jars are associated with a specific tribe or perhaps a large family. A few jars have stone lids on them. Probably all of the jars once had lids to protect the body and his or her things from weather, thieves, and to slow decay.

Laos was used by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) as a bypass route (outside of the Ho Chi Minh Trail) into South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The NVA also supported the Pathet Lao communist insurgency in the area of the Plain of Jars. There, they were subjected to repeated bombing by the U.S. Air Force, and many unexploded anti-personnel bombs remain in the area today, always a threat to the local population and to tourists.

Think for a moment how and why burials are conducted in the Western world. It is an admixture of survivors honouring someone, the ritual of saying goodbye to him or her, with the functional need of removing the body. Likely, those things also applied to the persons placed in the jars. In both the prehistoric and in the modern burials, some of those who were honoured created a sham. Those jars hold the remains of someone who had the means (wealth, power, influence) to honour themselves. The other jars may have held the remains of someone who had character.

The heart is symbolic of our character, our soul. Each person’s life, what was done selflessly during that human life, reflects who that person was as a member of humankind. The people who were buried in jars were people of character and true value. Character must be built. It does not come naturally to us.

(1) Downtime is important. We all need it, and many of us are on a mission to find more of it and figure out just how to spend it. This top 3 list of hobbies from around the world is quite surprising. It’s no wonder why people love hobbies regardless of location or interests. Hobbies have many benefits; they can bring enjoyment, structure, or spontaneity to our lives. They allow us to connect with others and learn new skills. Plus, our hobbies give us interesting topics to discuss with friends, family, and coworkers. They relieve stress and make our lives more fulfilling.
(2) With global trends moving towards health and fitness it is surprising that the top ten hobbies involve little or no action. Topping the list is reading. If your idea of a fun Friday night is cozying up with a book, you’re certainly not alone. Reading is enjoyed worldwide; it’s accessible due to the fact that it’s inexpensive (or free), and it allows people to explore new and exciting worlds and expand their knowledge. The second is travelling, whether it’s a trip across the ocean or exploring the next town over, travelling is an exciting hobby virtually anyone can participate in. From the planning stage to the trip itself, travelling gives people something to look forward to, along with a brief escape. Plus, the memories last a lifetime. Believe it or not, fishing ranked as the third most popular hobby. If you need a break from the daily grind, unwind with a fishing trip. Whether you’re fishing for food or just for fun, the hobby is a great way to relax and enjoy nature.
(3) Interestingly neither video games nor TV have made it to the top three although playing video games is on the rise, it has not yet had a considerable impact on the top things to do to relax. This may be because they are often seen as quite exciting past times. Watching TV or playing a video game can increase the heart rate and make it difficult to sleep after. Whereas reading for example is generally considered something that people do just before nodding off. It’s hard to imagine falling asleep while playing fortnight. There are also other considerations to take into account. Many young people don’t watch TV. They prefer YouTube or some other online media outlet so it could just be that the statistics just don’t show the full picture.
(4) Although capricious, guessing the next trend may not be impossible. By looking at social media it is clear that there are health fads that could be on the rise and if we take into consideration that soon there will be another Olympics then there is most likely going to be a shift from the static to the more active hobbies that are available. Although for very good reason reading will probably never leave the top three. It is easy to see that a slightly more energetic activity may well start to top the global list as will gaming and most probably other things too.