Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Last days aboard
Despite seeing, doing and eating the most amazing things during my travels in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, the highlight of my trip occurred at the end when my family from Darwin, good friend from NYC and new friend from Vietnam flew over to Saigon and graced my final days away from NYC with bliss, joy and happiness. We could have been anywhere really. I didn't mind the least that I had been to Saigon already and that we spent alot of time just relaxing. Life was great living by the minute and not feeling obligated to squeeze everything thing.
Different people and culture had always been my motivation for travelling. And I realize now that I want even more from my future travel experiences. No longer do I want to buzz through UNESCO sites and cities snapping away at the people and the buildings as if I was on the Six Flags Great Adventure safari. These are people with life stories. I want to hear them and live with them.
My 4 year Australian experience for the first time made me forget I was an American on holiday. I even assumed quitting the hospital would not affect my ability to stay! (I realized 3 days later!) It was wonderful to be so fully immersed in another culture and to be accepted by their people. I can't wait for it to happen again!
Pics: to come
Different people and culture had always been my motivation for travelling. And I realize now that I want even more from my future travel experiences. No longer do I want to buzz through UNESCO sites and cities snapping away at the people and the buildings as if I was on the Six Flags Great Adventure safari. These are people with life stories. I want to hear them and live with them.
My 4 year Australian experience for the first time made me forget I was an American on holiday. I even assumed quitting the hospital would not affect my ability to stay! (I realized 3 days later!) It was wonderful to be so fully immersed in another culture and to be accepted by their people. I can't wait for it to happen again!
Pics: to come
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Impressions of Vietnam from Sapa
The Bac Ha Sunday market in northern Vietnam is one of the most varied and interesting ones I have ever been to. Water buffalos, ducks, dogs, cats and horses were sold. It was the first time I had seen a chicken's neck slit and its life drained out into a bowl. The Bac Ha Sunday market represented life in the country of Vietnam where everything had a purpose -- to survive.
For the last couple of weeks in Vietnam, I have been on a madhunt for a meal of dog -- more as a life experience rather than for the pleasure of consumption. But seeing 6 dogs crammed into a pig cage devoid of their usual exuberance for life was quite confronting. Maybe I won't try dog after all...
We also decided to buy 4 ducklings in the hope of freeing them at a nearby lake. Sadly we were adamantly discouraged by the locals who say the ducklings are too young to be on their own and are destined for the butchers block regardless of what we do. So they have been arranged to spend one week at a household to brighten up a sick child. Afterwards, they will become farm animals of a poor minority family. Hopefully their lives will still be fulfilling and they will experience the names which we gave them: equanimity, compassion, sympathy and charity.
In the world of a socialist third world country, I guess the lives of all its inhabitants cannot be changed. They are confined to living the routine of their hard lives with little chance of a 'big break'. They accept their predetermined lives as something to endure but not as something they can do something about. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to dream with the reality that I can fulfill it.
Pics: to come
For the last couple of weeks in Vietnam, I have been on a madhunt for a meal of dog -- more as a life experience rather than for the pleasure of consumption. But seeing 6 dogs crammed into a pig cage devoid of their usual exuberance for life was quite confronting. Maybe I won't try dog after all...
We also decided to buy 4 ducklings in the hope of freeing them at a nearby lake. Sadly we were adamantly discouraged by the locals who say the ducklings are too young to be on their own and are destined for the butchers block regardless of what we do. So they have been arranged to spend one week at a household to brighten up a sick child. Afterwards, they will become farm animals of a poor minority family. Hopefully their lives will still be fulfilling and they will experience the names which we gave them: equanimity, compassion, sympathy and charity.
In the world of a socialist third world country, I guess the lives of all its inhabitants cannot be changed. They are confined to living the routine of their hard lives with little chance of a 'big break'. They accept their predetermined lives as something to endure but not as something they can do something about. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to dream with the reality that I can fulfill it.
Pics: to come
