Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Stoked in Nam...
Stoked to have found a spot, drummed up a board, caught a swell, and had the chance to go surfing in Nam...
Monday, February 7, 2011
Vietnam
I was warned by more than a few travelers before coming that Vietnam was a "full on" crazy place filled with locals that constantly hassle you and aim to rip you off. It's no wonder I was hesitant to make my way from the laid back mountains of Laos (with a population of only 4 million) to the rustle & bustle of the 80+ million that occupy this land. Maybe it was because I was primed for the worse, Or maybe because I have a fair amount of traveling under my belt, Or maybe its because I come from a culture heavily influenced by Asia... Whatever the reason, my immediate impression of Vietnam was that it was a unique, colorful, special place and one I could sink my teeth into! I've been here for only a couple weeks but, dare I say, this just might be one of my favorite places I've experienced on my travels so far. Here are a dozen things that have made my time in Vietnam memorable:
#1 The authenticity of the culture - Vietnam isn't Western. It's not trying to be Thailand or China or anywhere else. It is simply Vietnam. Where as many places in the world are allowing the culture to be diluted into the ever increasing size of our global melting pot, Vietnam seems to be holding on to the traditions and way of life that make it unique. Few activities are commercialized, there aren't any McDonalds, and the people take tremendous pride in their national identity. Being here you feel like you are in a very REAL place... Vietnam is welcoming to tourists but doesn't put on a front!
#2 The curiosity of the people - I was able to blend in pretty well in Europe and the Middle East but here in Asia it's obvious I'm not a local. Though always cautious about the motives of friendly locals, time-and-time again I've been blessed by the kindness and genuine interest of the Vietnamese. Whether in regard to practicing their English, questions of pop culture, or inquiries about my experiences so far in their country, each day is full of conversations with the some new character. With a welcoming greeting, smile, and desire to interact the curiosity of the people (and consequent interaction) has been an enriching part of being here.
#3 The constant honking of horns - Motorbikes, motorbikes, and more motorbikes..... You've never seen so many in your life! And the only way to keep some space from the mob around you is the toot of the horn. Add the buses into the mix and no matter where you go in this country your sure to hear an orchestra of honks around the clock!
#4 The awesome hats & helmets - You'd think only the laborers in the rice fields would be sporting the traditional hat but no... People everywhere, and even into the night, rock it! The novelty of the headdress for photo appeal has yet to cease. And, if not, then the military style 70s era helmets provide some eye candy and keep you entertained!
#5 The vast number of flags throughout the country - Seriously... Everywhere!
#6 The crazy rave music and disco tech videos on the busses - for some odd reason the sleeper buses you catch to get around the country on overnight routes all seem to be equipped with DVD players containing late 90s rave music with images of scantly clad western women dancing at disco techs that are projected on the in-bus large screen TVs. Every hour or so they give you a reprieve and mix in some cheesy love music and/or Vietnamese comedy that's sure to make certain your iPod is fully charged. Go figure!?!
#7 The peoples love of Karaoke - If the buses were over the top then the Karaoke takes it to a whole nother dimension! The people are simply enamored by it. With eyes closed, mic clenched, and voices blaring, you can find people singing their hearts out anytime around any corner!
#8 The noodle soup and French bakeries - Pho is the national dish (noodle soup) and is the breakfast, lunch, and dinner for many Vietnamese. Though simple (consisting of rice noodles, veggies, broth, and the meat of your choice) it never seems to disappoint. Coupled with the stellar French colonial influenced bakeries and you have yourself a recipe for satisfying cheap eats everyday :)
#9 The fishermans round boat baskets - You'd think round wouldn't work but they do! These traditional round boat baskets are just plain cool. The fisherman have an amazing way of using the fixed oar to propel and steer them too. I can tell you from experience that they are fun in the water too!
#10 The rice patties - They're everywhere!
#11 Crossing the street in the cities - With all those motorbikes on the road crossing the street makes for a precarious stroll where you lay your life on the line each time... Okay, so I'm exaggerating just a bit.... After a while you get the hang of it (the timing, the eye contact, and the speed of which to shuffle your feet) so that it only somewhat death defying!
#1 The authenticity of the culture - Vietnam isn't Western. It's not trying to be Thailand or China or anywhere else. It is simply Vietnam. Where as many places in the world are allowing the culture to be diluted into the ever increasing size of our global melting pot, Vietnam seems to be holding on to the traditions and way of life that make it unique. Few activities are commercialized, there aren't any McDonalds, and the people take tremendous pride in their national identity. Being here you feel like you are in a very REAL place... Vietnam is welcoming to tourists but doesn't put on a front!
#2 The curiosity of the people - I was able to blend in pretty well in Europe and the Middle East but here in Asia it's obvious I'm not a local. Though always cautious about the motives of friendly locals, time-and-time again I've been blessed by the kindness and genuine interest of the Vietnamese. Whether in regard to practicing their English, questions of pop culture, or inquiries about my experiences so far in their country, each day is full of conversations with the some new character. With a welcoming greeting, smile, and desire to interact the curiosity of the people (and consequent interaction) has been an enriching part of being here.
#3 The constant honking of horns - Motorbikes, motorbikes, and more motorbikes..... You've never seen so many in your life! And the only way to keep some space from the mob around you is the toot of the horn. Add the buses into the mix and no matter where you go in this country your sure to hear an orchestra of honks around the clock!
#4 The awesome hats & helmets - You'd think only the laborers in the rice fields would be sporting the traditional hat but no... People everywhere, and even into the night, rock it! The novelty of the headdress for photo appeal has yet to cease. And, if not, then the military style 70s era helmets provide some eye candy and keep you entertained!
#5 The vast number of flags throughout the country - Seriously... Everywhere!
#6 The crazy rave music and disco tech videos on the busses - for some odd reason the sleeper buses you catch to get around the country on overnight routes all seem to be equipped with DVD players containing late 90s rave music with images of scantly clad western women dancing at disco techs that are projected on the in-bus large screen TVs. Every hour or so they give you a reprieve and mix in some cheesy love music and/or Vietnamese comedy that's sure to make certain your iPod is fully charged. Go figure!?!
#7 The peoples love of Karaoke - If the buses were over the top then the Karaoke takes it to a whole nother dimension! The people are simply enamored by it. With eyes closed, mic clenched, and voices blaring, you can find people singing their hearts out anytime around any corner!
#8 The noodle soup and French bakeries - Pho is the national dish (noodle soup) and is the breakfast, lunch, and dinner for many Vietnamese. Though simple (consisting of rice noodles, veggies, broth, and the meat of your choice) it never seems to disappoint. Coupled with the stellar French colonial influenced bakeries and you have yourself a recipe for satisfying cheap eats everyday :)
#9 The fishermans round boat baskets - You'd think round wouldn't work but they do! These traditional round boat baskets are just plain cool. The fisherman have an amazing way of using the fixed oar to propel and steer them too. I can tell you from experience that they are fun in the water too!
#10 The rice patties - They're everywhere!
#11 Crossing the street in the cities - With all those motorbikes on the road crossing the street makes for a precarious stroll where you lay your life on the line each time... Okay, so I'm exaggerating just a bit.... After a while you get the hang of it (the timing, the eye contact, and the speed of which to shuffle your feet) so that it only somewhat death defying!
#12 The fact that the local currency is the "Dong" - Need I say more?
Laos Laos
Laos (pronounced "Lau") is a country to the north of Thailand, west of Vietnam, and south of China. It's sparse population, lack of economic strength, and proximity to the high profile nations around it keeps it overlooked by much of the world. Admittingly, before I began researching destinations for my travels, I didn't even know it existed! As the most heavily bombed country in history (many of the bombs during the Vietnam war where actually dropped across the border in Laos) the history of this nation is sad and troubling. However, the people hold no grudge and moving through the rural villages you are struck by the sense that the locals are content living their lives apart from the rest of the world...
Same Same but Different
Same Same but Different
Can you believe it? It's now been more than 6 months (over half a year) since I've set out on this journey and taken held of the opportunity to travel around the globe! In some ways it feels like the time has simply flown by in the blink of an eye, while at others, my departure from the life I call "home" feels like a lifetime ago.
It has been sometime now since I've posted a entry with more than just a snippet or new batch of photos of my most recent exploits. Though I've been anxious to convey more, my time has simply been occupied and focused on living the adventures out: Experiencing first, sharing later! Already past the halfway point of my journey I'm due to reveal a thought or two :)
Spanning four continents, 18 timezones, and 16 countries to-date, my time vagabonding around the world has continued to provide excitement & adventure, challenges & growth, new acquaintances made & friendships forged. I've traveled now through western nations, eastern nations, and a few in-between.... By plane, bus, train, taxi, ferry, donkey, camel, boat, tuk-tuk, elephant, motorbike, and by foot... Through Democratic governments, Peoples Republics, Kings Kingdoms, and Communist nations... I've been in nations known as Christian, predominately Muslim, overwhelmingly Buddhist, and devoutly Hindu... And, I have trekked over mountains, along rivers & canyons, across lakes & lochs, across streets & under them, up hills & downhills, above sea level & below, through desert dunes & beach sands, and around both tropical jungles & jungles of the concrete variety. All along the way I've rubbed elbows with people from varying walks of life, backgrounds, color, faith, language, sexual orientation, and culture. To think about all that has occurred in these last few months relative to "normal" life makes me simply lay back in my chair, stare up at the ceiling, close my eyes, wrinkle my brow, smile broadly and whisper to myself "Wow!"
While there are times I wished I had some deeper "earth-shattering" epiphany during these travels, or question wether I should be traveling with a more defined purpose, so far one of the greatest, albeit simple, realizations for me is to know I've arrived at a place where I'm content just living it out: Being in the 'here and now' without over-analyzing and putting a burden of expectation on me or my circumstances. It is pretty interesting to catch yourself in discomfort or fear or potential disappointment and turn it into a "well this is an experience you don't have everyday" or "that's a story that'll blow my friends minds" or you just laugh because of how bizarre the situation you find yourself in is!
As different as the world and the people who inhabit it are, the truth I've come to realize is that we are far more similar than we tend to think. Even when the differences seem unreconcilable and beyond understanding there is great benefit in gaining a respectful appreciation for the differing/opposing idea or way. While there are many ideas I could express here about what I have been thinking/realizing as of recent, there is one main idea that has continued to bubble to the surface - this concept of gained APPRECIATION!
When you are taken out of your routine, your environment, your comfort zone and place yourself amongst strangers in strange places halfway around the world you become "the outsider." Being the outsider requires you to face situations in a different way and calls one to keenly observe the norms of the people you find yourself surrounded by. Seeking to understand new body language, attitudes, religious sensitivities, cultural practices and the like are all part of the daily routine you take for granted you need not concern yourself with in your typical routine at home. And, in examining the practices of others the natural response is to evaluate it against your own ways, opinions, and biases. In a strange twist of irony in seeking to understand others you come to a greater realization of yourself!
We may eat different foods, speak different languages, hold dissimilar values, or adhere to varying spiritual philosophies but, the truth is, we ALL eat, speak, hold things important, and strive to come to terms with our existence. Aside from our governments (and a few nut cases), people universally want happiness, freedom, and bright futures for their people. The slower you move you observe that the changes that make us seemingly so different occur in baby steps: The physical features, languages & dialects, diets, and practices of people morph and evolve ever so slowly from place to place. Fortunately, borders are lines on a map that you fail to see as a traveler on the ground.
Be it cultural, political, religious, or otherwise... there is great value in learning the practice of appreciation (and it's cousin acceptance). Like our human DNA, we are all 99% alike... it is only the last 1% where we become "different." If, we as humankind were able to grasp this truth, I believe much of the problems the world faces could be vastly improved and disagreements rectified. It'd be great if everyone could spend the better part of a year abroad as it helps crush stereotypes & misconceptions and opens your perspective to a whole new level of appreciating our multi cultural global society. As they say here in Asia... "Same Same but Different." Or, think of it this way... We are all "Different Different but The Same!"
Though the road is long and I find myself more consistently yearning for the friends/family/familiarities of home, a return to Indonesia, followed by months in Australia, New Zealand, and Tahiti lie ahead. While the rugged traveling into unchartered territory may be over I look forward to the upcoming months of surf & sun. If, in addition to the discovery of new places/faces/experiences, traveling yields the opportunities to break free from the complacency of routine then the natural by-product (and hidden treasure) of travel is the opportunity to think, feel, reflect, ponder, dream, process, and prepare in new ways. I've mentioned it here before, and at the risk of being redundant, I know that much of what I am benefiting from during this time is not necessarily the growth I realize in the day-to-day or month-to-month but the many experiences, ideas, and questions that I will carry with me into my future. My hope is that the concepts of appreciation and acceptance will aid me to become a greater loving, larger thinking, more whole individual.
Beyond agreeing or understanding or disinterest in the very valid views/beliefs/faith of others there lies the act of appreciation; of seeing others for who they are and recognizing their proper value. As stated by one of histories most famous world travelers I leave you with these words of wisdom - "Traveling is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." (Mark Twain)
Can you believe it? It's now been more than 6 months (over half a year) since I've set out on this journey and taken held of the opportunity to travel around the globe! In some ways it feels like the time has simply flown by in the blink of an eye, while at others, my departure from the life I call "home" feels like a lifetime ago.
It has been sometime now since I've posted a entry with more than just a snippet or new batch of photos of my most recent exploits. Though I've been anxious to convey more, my time has simply been occupied and focused on living the adventures out: Experiencing first, sharing later! Already past the halfway point of my journey I'm due to reveal a thought or two :)
Spanning four continents, 18 timezones, and 16 countries to-date, my time vagabonding around the world has continued to provide excitement & adventure, challenges & growth, new acquaintances made & friendships forged. I've traveled now through western nations, eastern nations, and a few in-between.... By plane, bus, train, taxi, ferry, donkey, camel, boat, tuk-tuk, elephant, motorbike, and by foot... Through Democratic governments, Peoples Republics, Kings Kingdoms, and Communist nations... I've been in nations known as Christian, predominately Muslim, overwhelmingly Buddhist, and devoutly Hindu... And, I have trekked over mountains, along rivers & canyons, across lakes & lochs, across streets & under them, up hills & downhills, above sea level & below, through desert dunes & beach sands, and around both tropical jungles & jungles of the concrete variety. All along the way I've rubbed elbows with people from varying walks of life, backgrounds, color, faith, language, sexual orientation, and culture. To think about all that has occurred in these last few months relative to "normal" life makes me simply lay back in my chair, stare up at the ceiling, close my eyes, wrinkle my brow, smile broadly and whisper to myself "Wow!"
While there are times I wished I had some deeper "earth-shattering" epiphany during these travels, or question wether I should be traveling with a more defined purpose, so far one of the greatest, albeit simple, realizations for me is to know I've arrived at a place where I'm content just living it out: Being in the 'here and now' without over-analyzing and putting a burden of expectation on me or my circumstances. It is pretty interesting to catch yourself in discomfort or fear or potential disappointment and turn it into a "well this is an experience you don't have everyday" or "that's a story that'll blow my friends minds" or you just laugh because of how bizarre the situation you find yourself in is!
As different as the world and the people who inhabit it are, the truth I've come to realize is that we are far more similar than we tend to think. Even when the differences seem unreconcilable and beyond understanding there is great benefit in gaining a respectful appreciation for the differing/opposing idea or way. While there are many ideas I could express here about what I have been thinking/realizing as of recent, there is one main idea that has continued to bubble to the surface - this concept of gained APPRECIATION!
When you are taken out of your routine, your environment, your comfort zone and place yourself amongst strangers in strange places halfway around the world you become "the outsider." Being the outsider requires you to face situations in a different way and calls one to keenly observe the norms of the people you find yourself surrounded by. Seeking to understand new body language, attitudes, religious sensitivities, cultural practices and the like are all part of the daily routine you take for granted you need not concern yourself with in your typical routine at home. And, in examining the practices of others the natural response is to evaluate it against your own ways, opinions, and biases. In a strange twist of irony in seeking to understand others you come to a greater realization of yourself!
We may eat different foods, speak different languages, hold dissimilar values, or adhere to varying spiritual philosophies but, the truth is, we ALL eat, speak, hold things important, and strive to come to terms with our existence. Aside from our governments (and a few nut cases), people universally want happiness, freedom, and bright futures for their people. The slower you move you observe that the changes that make us seemingly so different occur in baby steps: The physical features, languages & dialects, diets, and practices of people morph and evolve ever so slowly from place to place. Fortunately, borders are lines on a map that you fail to see as a traveler on the ground.
Be it cultural, political, religious, or otherwise... there is great value in learning the practice of appreciation (and it's cousin acceptance). Like our human DNA, we are all 99% alike... it is only the last 1% where we become "different." If, we as humankind were able to grasp this truth, I believe much of the problems the world faces could be vastly improved and disagreements rectified. It'd be great if everyone could spend the better part of a year abroad as it helps crush stereotypes & misconceptions and opens your perspective to a whole new level of appreciating our multi cultural global society. As they say here in Asia... "Same Same but Different." Or, think of it this way... We are all "Different Different but The Same!"
Though the road is long and I find myself more consistently yearning for the friends/family/familiarities of home, a return to Indonesia, followed by months in Australia, New Zealand, and Tahiti lie ahead. While the rugged traveling into unchartered territory may be over I look forward to the upcoming months of surf & sun. If, in addition to the discovery of new places/faces/experiences, traveling yields the opportunities to break free from the complacency of routine then the natural by-product (and hidden treasure) of travel is the opportunity to think, feel, reflect, ponder, dream, process, and prepare in new ways. I've mentioned it here before, and at the risk of being redundant, I know that much of what I am benefiting from during this time is not necessarily the growth I realize in the day-to-day or month-to-month but the many experiences, ideas, and questions that I will carry with me into my future. My hope is that the concepts of appreciation and acceptance will aid me to become a greater loving, larger thinking, more whole individual.
Beyond agreeing or understanding or disinterest in the very valid views/beliefs/faith of others there lies the act of appreciation; of seeing others for who they are and recognizing their proper value. As stated by one of histories most famous world travelers I leave you with these words of wisdom - "Traveling is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." (Mark Twain)
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