As a reporter based in Southeast Asia, Thomas Fuller—an International Herald Tribune reporter—retraced the steps of Antoine Fayard, his great-grandfather, who as an engineer helped build colonial Indochina’s infrastructure.

In an article from the New York Times, Fuller stated that, “[he] viewed my great-grandfather through a historical and political lens: He was an engineer who, in a small way, helped consolidate French control over Indochina. One of the roads he traced through the jungle connected modern-day Laos to what is now Vietnam. This was part of a broad effort by the French to pry Laos from the influence of the Siamese kings in Bangkok.”

NARATHIWAT, Thailand — As the violence-plagued provinces of southern Thailand continue to struggle with a shadowy insurgency, the restive region is battling a new enemy: a drug cocktail made from a local leaf that is seducing the young. Read more from the New York Times.

Photos are taken from the NY Times.

VIET NAM’S MEKONG RIVER—Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reporter Hélène Franchineau has a passion for telling stories through videos and photos. During a brief trip to Vietnam last spring, Franchineau made her way to the Mekong Delta.

A four-hour bus ride to the countryside outside of Can Tho brought her closer to the Mekong River and its floating markets. She started her journey at dawn to catch the market at its busiest time and avoid tourists. Mangoes, pineapples, hot tea and coffee and Vietnamese-style hats were among the popular items at these markets.

Her journey also led her to try Vietnamese delicacies at local markets.

“The people were so nice, [they] did not really mind having their picture taken,” the photographer told Asia Blog.

Photos are taken from the Asia Society.

In 1991, Burmese Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest and unable to collect the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

On 16 June, 2012, she finally delivered her Nobel Lecture in Oslo, Norway.

Read Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Lecture
Video interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
Video clip from the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony
Speech delivered in 1991 by Aung San Suu Kyi’s son

Photo & Video Credit: Various photographers and news agencies for the Official Site of the Nobel Prize.

June 14, 2012 – Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar’s religious violence were intercepted Wednesday as they tried to enter Bangladesh across the river Naf. The U.S. on Wednesday urged the Dhaka government not to send them back.

Photo Credit: Various photographers and news agencies for the Wall Street Journal.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi greeted migrant workers from Myanmar as she visited Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, Wednesday. It was her first overseas trip in 24 years.

Ms. Suu Kyi spoke to thousands of migrant workers from a balcony in the Mahachai district of Samut Sakhon province, which is home to the Thailand’s largest population of Burmese migrants.

‘Don’t feel down, or weak. History is always changing,’ Ms. Suu Kyi told the exuberant crowd.

Enjoy these electrifying photographs from various photographers for The Wall Street Journal

April 2, 2012 — After two decades as a political dissident under house arrest in Myanmar, [Daw] Aung Sun Suu Kyi [sic] appears to have now made the transition to political representative.

Enjoy these stunning photographs by Adam Ferguson for The New York Times