I was having this conversation the other day, about how, in America in particular, we are becoming more and more sterilized from the dirty, rough, messy, amazing thing that is called life.
...And dont' get me started on the sterilization of the body. Shaving/waxing/boob jobs/vaginal rejuvenation. Don't touch each other, don't spread germs, don't.. don't... don't. Soon we are going to start looking like the Ken and Barbie dolls all wrapped up in plastic bubbles.
(Sometimes I really miss Darwin's theory of Natural Selection.)
I have this theory that we (in America) have (or are quickly becoming) sterilized: from our food crops, the internet, and television programming. We sterilize the education we give our children (have you read "Lies my Teacher Told Me" by Sociologist James Loewen? It is amazing and everyone should read it.), with the tragic result of becoming distant and isolated from each other.
Well, sorry to disappoint you with the truth, but Life is Messy.
Our bodies are hairy, we bleed and poop and barf. We need to be touched and snuggled and pet and loved. It's natural. It's called LIFE.
I say:
Enjoy the Messy and Celebrate the disasters!
In India, they celebrate the festival of colors Holi once a year, and throw paint at each other.
Watch it here. It is AMAZING!
(Note: The reporter talks about inclusion, about how he wishes there was something like this in the West. This is something that families can do together, bringing them together in a very hands-on, interactive way.)
Now I want to show up at Christmas dinner with Paintballs.....
p.s. This year Holi is the 8th and 9th of March. Who wants to go with me?!
I was thinking today about how there are some blog posts I've written that have gotten buried. They have been funny, informative, inspirational or whatever. Perhaps it was my own desire to read the brilliance that has poured forth from my brain, or perhaps I was just reminiscing. Either way, I wanted to put together an all time 'best of' blog post page.
These are some of my very favorites, Enjoy.
I've heard many of the critiques of the movement, saying everything from:
"They need a unified message"
to
"They need a list of demands"
But, I see those critiques and requests as nothing more than a way to figure out how to pacify the people and make this movement just 'go away'.
#OccupyWallStreet will never "Go Away", I guarantee you that.
Well, then, what is this about?
Everything.
That's the thing about the movement, it includes everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, political orientation, sexual orientation or what-have-you. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has a grievance, and everyone has a reason for their voice to be heard.
EVERYONE has one demand.
Who is everyone? Everyone is the 99% of people who have received the short end of the stick. The people who pay too much in taxes, people whose homes have been foreclosed, people who have lost their retirement in Ponzi schemes and Enron scandals, people who have no food to put on the table for their kids, people who work 60 hours a week for minimum wage with no health insurance and people who are just plain sick and tired of not being heard. We are the 99% who have to split a very small amount of monetary pie. It includes everyone from
Grannies for peace
to Pilot Unions, Teachers Unions, and Mass Transit Unions.
To even our most recent Middle-East war Vet's
(on a side-note, my sister is being deployed to Afghanistan in the next two weeks. God-speed sis, I love you. Come back safe.)
and...
Where are you?
Facts are:
There isn't just one demand - that is what makes this beautiful.
There isn't just one person - that is what makes this powerful.
There isn't just one place - it is spreading.
This is why the movement is growing. This is why the movement will not go away.
The power is the people.
United We Stand!
It is not longer about race, gender, position, age or sexual orientation. It is about all of us. It is about humanity.
It is about existence.
It is about democracy.
An un-defined, un-leadered, un-organized, beautiful, organically growing movement that is history in the making.
A great article in Huffington Post
"Occupy Wall Street may expose the Achilles' heel of many other civil protests. Occupy Wall Street has no repeated cheer to stop coal mining, or to grant civil rights, or even to end a war. This protest cannot be boiled down to a simple soundbite because this protest is ambitiously seeking a complex, fundamental, philosophical change in the social, political, and economic infrastructure of our country. (Try feeding that line to Katie Couric before she goes on the air and see what kind of terrified, vacuous stare you get in return.)"
“Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.” ~ Kofi Annan
A good one on: MSNBC (sorry I couldn't embed the video)
One news organization defying the rest:
Michael Moore being interview by Keith Olberman:
... and with many family and friends who have been shipped overseas, I post this one for you. You are not alone.
We are all in this together!
His note says:
"I was deployed to Iraq 4x
1 of my friends is missing his arm
1 of my friends killed himself
I've been blown up 2x by roadside bombs
Hearing fireworks makes me nervous
I cant sleep at night
All so bankers and war profiteers could get richer
I am the 99%
www.occupywallst.org"
UPDATE: A declaration made in the wallstreet protest:
This is the Declaration of the Occupation of New York City and the call to action, adopted last night by an enthusiastic consensus.
As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.
As one people, formerly divided by the color of our skin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or lack thereof, political party and cultural background, we acknowledge the reality: that there is only one race, the human race, and our survival requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their brethren; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.
They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.
They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give CEO’s exorbitant bonuses.
They have perpetuated gender inequality and discrimination in the workplace.
They have poisoned the food supply, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
They have continuously sought to end the rights of workers to negotiate their pay and make complaints about the safety of their workplace.
They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.
They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.
They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.
They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty book keeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.
They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.
They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.
They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.
They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.
They have participated in a directly racist action by accepting the contract from the State of Georgia to murder Troy Davis.
To the people of the world,
We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.
Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.
To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.
Join us and make your voices heard!
We are the 99%
UPDATE: October 1, 2011
We are watching History happen.
Today, Occupiers marched over the Brooklyn Bridge. Hundreds were peacefully arrested including Natasha Lennard a NY Times reporter, and a 13 year old girl with a camera. See more here:
I was excited to come home (back to Seattle) and just crawl into a nice clean bed. Alas, I found that by the time I got back I had been volunteered to help set up a pyrotechnics gig for the Microsoft corporate meeting at Safeco Field.
Really?
ok.
So, after just a few hours of sleep and four very long sweaty days of set-up, we went.... BOOM!
Then, after a full-day of tear-down, a couple hours of sleep, ten hours of driving and two more shows I am finally home.
I am deliriously tired, and stupidly sick with a cold or flu or something close to what I think is the Plague.
But, 'The Boy' said... 'it's just a cold'. He put me in bed with some zicam, Emergen-C and King Kitty and told me 'you will feel better soon.'
A few minutes later when chatting with my best good friend Endi, she just informed me: "Well, it's not going to help anyone to tell the truth.... YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED!"
Best. Response. EVER. Endi for the win.
So this blog probably doesn't make any sense. But the funny picture and the video of things going boom makes up for the insanity of these words I'm trying to write.
I will be gone for a while. It's an emergency/rescue/anythingbutvacation.
However, here are some good 'out of office emails I considered posting.
1. I'm out of office for the ritual slaughter of turkey and will have only occasional access to email. You have been warned.
2. I will be out of the office
If you have an emergency, dial 911.
If you wish to speak to an operator, press or say 'zero'.
If you want to save a lot of money on your car insurance, contact GEICO.
If you have information which may lead to an arrest in the murder case of Jon Benet Ramsey, contact the Colorado Springs Sheriff's Department.
If you know the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden or other known terrorists, contact the United States Department of Defense.
If you know who shot J.R., contact the Dallas Police Department.
If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, call .... The A-Team.
For all other questions, wait 'till I return.
----------------------
3. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.
4. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from holiday on 4 Dec. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.
5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first ten words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
7. I've run away to join a different circus.
8. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as Margaret instead of Steve.
9. I'm sorry, I can't reply right now. I'm not away but I'm just hiding from someone, pretending I'm away. If it's not you I'm running away from, I'll reply your email."
But seriously, while I would love to say that I won't get your email while I am gone, we all know that is a lie, because everyone on the planet has an Iphone/Blackberry or Android where they get their emails sent directly to them like some invisible leash. I won't email back though, unless you are bleeding to death or dying, because I am on another rescue mission. As soon as I return (and wash the cape) I will let you know how the adventure was.
In the meantime, peace, be safe, and keep on keepin' on.
P.S. Don't forget all the cool stuff in my store you can get while I am gone (just so you don't get lonely).
First of all, I'm not sure why they call it mexican train. It seems a little racist to me. I mean, why not call it Jihadist train, African train, or even Canadian Train.... *shaking head*
Whatever.
Anyway, it is a type of game played with Dominos (nothing to do with 'running a train' - so get your sick mind out of the gutter).
It is a game of numbers, patterns, sequences and is a hell of a lot of fun.
More fun when you add said math game plus semi-strangers, plus dirty, sandy beach on edge of river, plus alcohol and stir.
Passion is a wonderous and weird and magical energy. It will prompt you to do something your otherwise rational brain would convince you not to. It will drive you to the ends of the earth to find something you didn't know was lost.
About a year ago, passion stuck me in the ass and I started to sell everything. I wanted to travel the world, for a year. I sold everything I owned, all of my possessions, got rid of my car, 2 bedroom house and everything in it.
My friend Caelan made a video
In the process of shedding everything, I cut my hair and packed my bags. On December 28th, I left. Spending a month camping on a mexican beach with 6 of my closest friends.
Left my friends on the beach in mid-January and left with my traveling partner for SE Asia.
It was amazing, an adventure, every single day. And although I never knew what was around the next bend, it was nothing I had imagined. I loved it. Every moment. The rainy heartbreaking days as much as the beautiful sun-filled beach days.
There were many things that were born from this trip. Passion spurning the process, I bought a Mac in Thailand and started writing. I didn't know my voice was lost. But, since I have been home, I've published two books (available at my bookstore Here)
With two more on the way.
It is a great start. But just like I only made it halfway around the world, I feel as though I am less than that with my dreams.
And my passion is burning furiously.
and there is something more 'out there' that needs to be found.
I would love to:
Travel
Write
But most importantly, EMPOWER others with my example, my books and my influence that there is more to life than the grey fence-walking reality they have been living.
I was a normal all-american-small-town-girl, who chose to be different. I decided to begin this adventure of life.
Every moment of every day you have a choice, it is the passion which drives you to take action.
What is your choice today, and what passion is driving you?
What is your adventure?
"Death is not the greatest loss. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live." ~Norman Cousins
After being in many new and interesting places around the world over the last six months, I have seemed to find myself rating them based on a variety of factors.
These factors are not exactly scientific or even based on anything other than how it effects the Universe known as 'me'.
Everything taken into account in my perfect little world, I have decided to rank Seattle - based upon just a couple months of being here visiting.
Seattle is... well... a bit pretentious.
Meaning, the folks in this fair city aren't exactly friendly or social. Reminds me of the 'clique's in high school which were untouchable (and mean to the nerds/stoners). You can't just go down to the neighborhood watering hole and belly up to the bar and meet new people. It doesn't work like that here. It is a strange town with all these strange sub-groups, sub-cultures that are so 'sophisticated' but, mainly I think they are just snobbish.
Don't get me wrong, I have really enjoyed the last few months here, but have yet to meet anyone who, upon hearing about my recent transplant, has said anything to the like of 'let's go get a beer', or 'You should come with me to ______'.
The simple truth is.... It just isn't very friendly.
So in the words of my perceived Seattle snobbery - with the whiney voice.
"Yes, come, visit, spend money, but don't even think about trying to build friendships or relationships here... we are too cool for that."
Personally... I liked Seattle better when it was younger, indifferent and before Starbucks and Microsoft ruled the world. I liked Seattle when grunge was king. Back then, the lack of social graces was due to indifference (like), not pretentiousness (dislike).
You are on thin ice Seattle, I might have to break up with you soon.
So, I went to Vipassana. Which, in case you haven't heard of what this is, it is a 10-day meditative retreat in silence. Sounds pretty good huh?
But, technically, it's not silence exactly. Because twice a day as a group, you go to a great big room to, in the morning, listen to an audio tape and in the evening, watch a video. But other than that, you don't talk to anyone. You don't look at anyone, you don't leave notes, or communicate or even touch anyone.
I was fine with it. Well, the no touching, talking or looking bit I was fine with. It was a good two days of getting all snuggly with my own thoughts.
But, what I wasn't fine with was the listening to the tapes and watching the video bit. By the second day I was looking around for where they were hiding the kool-aid and white tennis shoes.
I wanted to leave. So, I told the instructor, "I'm leaving, this isn't working out for me."
She said, "You can't leave"
WHA?!
Yes, apparently a 10 day meditative retreat that I went to on my own free will was actually a ten day incarceration in which I couldn't leave.
Yeah, right, I couldn't leave? Watch this.
So, I patiently waited through the rest of the day's activities, and once everyone had gone to sleep (including my snoring roommate), I secretly packed my bag.
At the 4am wake-up bell (yes, you have a 4am wake-up bell), after just a couple hours of sleep, when everyone headed to the showers, I, instead, snuck out into the pitch-blackness with my 40lb pack.
Where I hiked - yes, hiked, through the woods (over the locked fence of the center) onto the road, down the road until I found a crossroad with two signs. From there, with my very last bar of battery on my cell-phone I called a cab to take me to town and the safety of the front step of the Amtrak station.
There is so much more to this story, but basically.... all I can say is, ....
Thank God for my ninja training.
**Disclaimer: I know many people who have received a great deal from doing Vipassana. But, it just didn't work out for me, personally. This post is my opinion only and does not mean to sway anyone from choosing to do or not to do Vipassana.
I'm back in the states.
Slowly recovering from culture shock upon landing, and I have to say, I landed rather gently.
Leaving Bali and spending close to 72 hours on planes, buses, taxi's and walking with a 40+ pound pack, I finally touched down at LAX. Which brought a huge sigh of relief, and gasp of anxiety.
As the rubber tires of the plane skidded to a slow crawl on the runway, the sigh of relief for being back in the country that my passport claims as home, the continent that is home to my family, roads that are wide enough for two cars, flushing toilets and showers which stay consistently hot (or cold).
And yet, a bit of a gasp of anxiety, knowing I really didn't have a 'home' to go home to. A car to get to wherever I wanted (or needed to go), no job to 'welcome' me back to 1st world existence and only a backpack worth of possessions.
Facing immigration and customs to come back into the US, I was excited to get a 'Welcome HOME!" you know, with signs and banners and confetti and maybe a cake... but alas, Homeland security apparently doesn't have the budget for a welcome home party. (Although wouldn't it be awesome if they did?!)
Landing was gentle.
Although renting a car in Los Angeles was mired with drama and sorta problematic, the drive up the 101 into the Redwoods was. totally. Awesome. Ended up camping out there (and away from the chaos of the cities) for five days before heading into Portland for a night then continuing into Seattle to return the car, do laundry, and have my first home-cooked meal (on US soil) in over five months.
Then there is the culture shock. Everything is soooo big, and just the sheer space of everything is almost frightening. Grocery stores are now a labyrinth of choices, and just the energy of America is aggressive and completely assaulting. For the past four months, I have been spoiled with open air markets, entire towns which take up no more than 3 city blocks and the complete love of hosting countries which have so much honor, respect and reverence for the people around them, America seems like a first-degree asshole in comparison. They might be third-world countries, but they have first class citizens, which is way more than what I can say from the observations after being back.
Anyway, that almost brings us all up to date on the Adventures.
Over the next couple weeks I will be attending and participating in a Vipasssana meditation course (you can read more about it here: http://www.dhamma.org/en/vipassana.shtml) and am honestly looking forward to the silence, and alone time.
Next week, for the first time in over 6 months, I will be in complete silence and alone with my thoughts. No music, no writing, no phone calls, text messages or facebook.
It. will. be. Awesome.
In the last few months, I have learned that driving has an 'alternate' set of rules when in Asia. As a past avid motorcyclist, I had a Harley for a couple years and gracefully put on more than 20,000 miles, I was always a very safe driver/rider. I always ALWAYS wore a wore a helmet when I rode in the States - even in the states with no helmet law. I always rode with jeans/pants, boots, gloves and other 'safety' features. Rode on the right, always used a blinker, only passed when safe. blah blah blah
Here's the good part. I uhh, 'renegotiated' those rules with myself over the last four months.
Here is a small excerpt of "You Have Never Ridden a Motorcycle If:"
Which is basically all the things I have done in the last 45 days (and I really hope my mother doesn't read this....)
1. On the left hand side of the road
2. In flip flops & shorts
3. As a passanger, holding a beer in each hand
4. Riding side-saddle
5. In pouring down rain where you aren’t sure if you are getting more wet from the water falling from the sky, or from the six inches of water you are driving through.
6. Down the wrong way on a one-way street
7. No helmet
8. No shirt
9. Bribing cops
10. Ditching cops
11. Splitting lanes
12. Passing on the sidewalk....
13. Passing on the left... and the right
14. Playing chicken with Taxi’s
Basically, driving a motorcycle in SE Asia, you follow a few rules, and everything else is legal.
Rule 1 -> Might is Right - big ass trucks, tour buses, oversized SUV's and even taxi's rule the road. The bigger you are, the more you make the rules. If a Taxi wants to race towards you in a game of chicken, you DO drive into the ditch. Honking (refer to Rule #2)
Rule #2 - >Honk. No one uses a mirror, and to keep from being sideswiped, honk. Keep honking until sideswipe danger ceases. Which usually means you are honking all the way from Point A to Point B.
Rule #3 -> If honking doesn't work, and the taxi/car/bus/other motorbike is too close, feel free to reach out and tap/slap/hit the said offender. It's okay. More than acceptable, but respectable.
Rule #4 -> If you break a 'driving law' and a cop doesn't see you, it doesn't count. If the cop does see you, but can't pull you over, it doesn't count. If the cop does see you, and pulls you over (by means of stopping traffic in both directions and standing in the middle of the road, grabbing your handlebars as you try to pass), you hand them $10 and you are free to go. So it really doesn't count either.
Rule #5 ->Stop signs (if there is even a stop sign at an intersection) are optional - refer to Rule #2 and just keep going. Street lights are a little less optional... which means, people actually stop, even if briefly before engaging in Rule #2 and continuing on their way.
Rule #6 -> Have fun. If you aren't having fun in the chaotic madness that is driving, then you should really go back to the States and drive your Subaru Outback on a 55 mile per hour freeway while safely drinking your decaf soy latte from a travel tippy cup.
Over the last four months I have traveled to a number of third(ish) world countries.
Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia
It has been awesome.
The Temples - amazing
.
The people - simply happy.
The infrastructure, especially the roads (I'll write about the roads later) .... a bit lacking. But, what do you expect when the dollar is king, and a 'traffic ticket' is easily bribed away with $1-$5 to the cop who pulled you over. (We heard stories of tourists riding a motorbike without a helmet while completely intoxicated, down the wrong way on a one-way street trying to outrun the police. When they finally pull over, are they arrested? Nope. The police are happy with a $10 bribe, and let them go on their way.)
It is simple.
1) Always buy your water (never drink out of the tap)
2) Always carry a bit of toilet paper with you, you never know when you will be facing a squat toilet with a bucket of water next to it.
3) Eat at the busiest restaurants (try not to look in the kitchen) and when in doubt - order chicken. (Chicken's are everywhere...)
4) Always keep a $1, $5 and $10 in your pocket (and not in the same pocket as the rest of your money) just in case you need to go somewhere or bribe someone.
But, glaringly obvious is the influence of America, first rate - first world consumption and waste. Granted, many of these countries I have visited do not have the luxury of having a waste removal service, but they have developed a taste for plastic bags - and everything America.
Plastic bags are everywhere.
They use them for everything.
Do you want your dinner take-away? You will get it wrapped up nice in a plastic bag.
Juice? Awesome. In a plastic bag with a straw.
Most of the garbage found on the beaches, in the gutters, piled on the corners... all packaging.
But when a local asks where you are from - and you say "USA", the response is usually one of two things.
1) Cheers and shouts of "OBAMA!" followed closely by some variation of "capital is Washington DC, wife is Michelle, born in Hawaii. Do you know Obama?" (they just loooove Obama).
or
2) A look of awe and a remark of 'ooooh'. Like they just saw a unicorn. And in that one instant, you go from being a normal-everyday-run-of-the-mill tourist to being very rich.
So far, it has been wonderful, beautiful, heartbreaking, awe-inspiring and totally and completely worth it.
What can I say of it's beauty.
This is truly the island of the Gods.
The land, the people and the Gods they worship are all beautiful. This island is the only Hindu island in Indonesia, and it is stunning. The people religiously put out offerings and do prayers twice a day. No matter if they are in a coffee shop, hotel, or one of the (many many) clothing boutiques. The ceremonies are unending, Every Tuesday and Friday there is a parade of bodies in white, voices lifted in song, feet moving in dance, prayers, offerings, and absolute reverence in each mini-village's temple. Shoes are removed and piles and piles of fresh fruit, fragrant flowers and the fog of incense constantly being burnt all on and around the many altars.
One becomes acutely aware of the presence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
At the same time becoming acutely aware of the irreverence, rudeness and utter lack of respect the many many tourists have to the local culture. More than once I have seen these 'non-balinese' walk haphazardly over freshly washed bamboo floors with their shoes on. Accidentally kick an offering that has recently been placed in front of a business, or worse, take the flowers from said offering to put in their hair.
The influx of tourists to this beautiful land comes at a price.
And the price is high.
The beaches are littered with garbage. I have yet to even get in the water.
Dreamland (a famous surf-break) was more like Nightmare-land with piles of burning garbage on the beach.
This third world country is starting to pay the price of first world luxury....
and it breaks my heart.
If we (tourists/non-natives/first-world country dwellers) would just be a little more observant, a little more respectful, a little less .... disposable (?).
Perhaps places like Bali could remain the Island of the Gods.... rather than where it is headed
... the Island of Garbage.
So, it has been a while since I have updated my blog.
Sorry about that.
Here I am, a couple of countries and months later, sitting in front of a brand new Macbook. Yes, I went over to the light side. I traded in my car (thanks Dave for selling it for me while I was out of the country) and used the money to buy a Mac in Thailand. Committed to a new set of lifestyle ideas, goals and where am I again?
I am lost in a land where the veils are thin, where money is running low, standing in the void watching the chaos of nature churn around me. Pondering the 7th day of creation. Coming to the conclusion that God actually didn't rest on the 7th day, he just ran out of ideas of what to create.
That is where I am.
An infinity of choices before me, energy swirling around at the ready for an order.
Maybe this is what it is like to be in the eye of a storm....
I have been in Cambodia now for about 5 days, rested well, eaten well (more on the food later), walked more than my poor feet can handle, and seen the most amazing things.
Cambodia is a charming Naga (snake). Totally enchanting, beautifully elegant, yet with a wrong turn here or there, can be dirty, dangerous and sometimes downright vicious city. It is much less chaotic than Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), The people are exponentially more cheerful and happy but there is a deep unrest which can be felt simmering just below the surface. (more on that later).
Here are just a few highlights from the last few days....
**Terrorist Moped's and the Tuk Tuk's**
In Cambodia it is possible to balance: 2 adults, 4 children, 2 dogs and groceries on a moped and dart in and out of traffic at 40mph. Dad's driving, baby is asleep on the tank, mom's sitting side saddle with the dogs on her lap, 2 kids squished between them and one on the cargo carrier on the back holding onto the groceries. None wearing a helmet, and no one holding on... Except of course the driver with one hand, while he points which direction he is turning with the other.... and he is being safe.
Most of the women/girls with skirts sit side saddle, and are doing something other than holding on while the driver is darting in and out of traffic, around cars, and sometimes into the 'wrong' lane (wrong in quotes because there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to which side of the street is 'right')
It is scary.
I have pretty much resigned to walk everywhere because just looking at the driving skills gives me anxiety...
*Food*
While walking along the streets one night, I saw what looked to be a pig on a spit.... upon further investigation, it had a tail.... I almost lost my dinner upon my realization that it was in fact a dog. Yes, good ol' Fido.... *gag*. I have seen a lot of interesting food being hawked by the street vendors, including deep fried spiders, fried frog skins, roast beetles, you name it. These charming Cambodians will eat anything. Yes... if it moves, it is fair game.
*shaking head*
Royal Palace
Took a tour the other day of the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and saw the Jade Buddha (encrusted with over 2000 diamonds). It was cool... touristy, but cool to see. And I would love to share my opinion on all the local touristy things, but if you buy any Cambodian Tour Guide book they will tell you the same thing.... and yes, it is all the same.
The peace of the Temples
I have found the most interesting and awesome things are where the locals hang out, the temples which they pray in, make offerings to the Buddha (or other deities) and really get a feel for the energy, holiness and reverence of their deep faith and charming culture. After a few wrong turns and getting 'lost' a few times in the last few days, I have found these hidden Temples to be gems and my favorite thing so far about Cambodia.
Yesterday on the way to Udon to see a Temple (built by the king about 50 years ago), I got lost on the back side of the hill the temple sits on, only to find myself at a Monastery. After my shoes and hat were removed I joined the locals in kneeling and praying with the local monk, receiving a blessing of prosperity and good luck for the coming year (including getting showered by jasmine water, and having a monk tie a bracelet around my wrist). The locals were giggling as they were showing me how to kneel, how to pray, where to sit, and how to hold out my arm for the blessing from the monk. The temple was so beautiful, each wall and ceiling were covered in beautiful murals, the pillars looked as though they were made of gold, there were flags, fabrics, decorations, plants and flowers throughout the building. This, by far was the best of Cambodia. By far.
One wrong turn..... into the Killing Fields
As you walk along the streets of Phnom Penh, you are asked every half block "Madame, you need Tuk Tuk?" which is fine, but then the next question is usually... "you want to see killing fields?" That question alone makes my heart hurt.
No - I do not want to see the fields where thousands of innocent Cambodians were brutally murdered for no reason. No, I do not want to hear their screams on the wind, and walk on the earth where the innocent blood was spilled. No, I have no desire to 'tour' a site (or many sites, as I have learned) where the total annihilation of an entire people took place.
But, as I learned, even if I don't want to see it, one wrong turn out of a Temple will lead to a glass enclosed memorial with over 20 skulls 'recovered' from one of these fields.
As my senses captured what I stood in front of, I was overwhelmed with the deep deep sadness of it all. My heart hurt, my brain couldn't even fathom the atrocities these people have suffered through.
The paradox of it all, is these people are happy. Truly deeply and completely happy. There isn't one person who hasn't waved, smiled or cheerfully said hello when I passed.
The paradox gives me hope.
For if these people, living in what could best be described as total poverty, could be so completely and totally fulfilled and happy, then why can't everyone else in the world be so happy... with so much more.
I love this country, and really don't want to leave. I have shared my email address with a few of the local children who are taking classes at the English school, and am really hoping to hear from them. They are all so proud to know English and practice every day with foreigners. They are definitely the best local 'tour guides' trying to earn money to pay for their education. (Which after inquiring, learned that it costs them $10 a month to go to a private English primary/secondary school, and about $400 a year to attend University). I am hoping they keep in touch, and keep to their studies, because if they do, I would happily pay for them to go to University.
I'm planning to leave Phnom Penh tomorrow and head north to Siem Reap and see the (touristy) temples of Angkor Wat. Also hoping to find some local blessings I found here in the city.
I hope you are enjoying these posts from SE Asia, if there is something specific you want me to write about or share, please shoot me a note, or leave a comment.
Cambodia Day 1
arrived in the evening, ate some pho, got lost, found a tuk tuk, checked in, slept, in the morning got coffee, found the Dragon Guesthouse (yay!)
and now.
A day of rest.
After 5 countries in 6 days, I need rest.
Even God rested on the 7th day.
"You need tuk tuk madame?"
I love that they call me madame - must be the french influence, and I even thought it was cute that these drivers ask if I need a ride. Cute for the first hundred times.....
Then... about the hundred and first time... it gets old.
Very old.
Very fast.
You can't walk half a block without the question.
Then they follow you.... continuing to ask, telling you that you are going the wrong way - even if you don't have a 'way' you are going.
You have to keep saying no. politely. but firmly.
But jeeeez
it's like they don't want you to walk anywhere, either that or they think you are just a walking wallet - which is also annoying.
Leaving today on a bus to Phnom Penh, but woke early (5am)and searched out coffee and breakfast (eggs and a croissant mmmmm love the french influence).
The coffee does taste better here. More flavor packed into a very very small cup.
I have seen a few arguements happen in the streets between the Vietnamese people. It seems as though there is no problem having these disputes openly in the public. And although people stop and watch the 'fight' no one intervenes, not even the police, not even when it gets physical.
I need to change some American Dollars, but changing money here is an adventure, especially since everything is closed for the week around Chinese New Years. But have found that large hotels, and jewelry stores are more than happy to change out your money.
Coffee over here is served in really small cups.
But is strong, rich and so delicious.
After walking about 12 miles yesterday, my body is totally exhausted and is starting to stage a protest. Rebelling against walking one more step.
Fortunately, there is a massage parlor around the corner which all of the masseuses are blind. It is recommended, so I will partake in a bit of R & R today.
The heat and humidity (especially the humidity) is new to my body and is taking a toll. Dehydration and low blood sugar comes on quickly - it is a good thing there are plenty of food/drink vendors on the street.
Learning very quickly that I need to rest a bit.
I've only spent $120 since I left the states - including 3 nights in a hotel and 3 days of food....
I like how cheap everything is.
