Category: Travel

It is finished. The trip has come to a close and it is probably good that I write now from San Francisco while my memories are fresh. Sure some memories will remain forever, but let’s do a recap shall we?

Three and a half months, trekking, living, meeting, adventuring, loving, watching, playing, writing, reflecting, laughing, swimming, jumping and smiling.

Yes yes, it has come to a close. But you know, to me, going to Asia for this time is just like any other place I would go to and come back. Traveling is so normal to me now that I don’t ever feel that “reverse culture shock” that many people who do travel for a while and come back experience. I experienced that feeling back in 2002 coming back from Tibet. And I ended up engaging in various forms of escapism to amend those feelings. The feelings and realities of differences in societies. The difference between the simple nomadic herder lifestyle and the middle class american lifestyle, the thoughts of what really is important in life, what makes humans happy and content.

Sure it rocked my world for a while, and as I continued to travel trip after trip, my understanding of the global village increased and I became more of a global citizen as opposed to solely an American. There are observations of mine that have been strengthened again on this trip.

One thing about all the Asian countries I went to on this trip is the importance of Family. Family is the core. When growing up you respect your elder family members and support your family. When you come of age, you make a living and give some if not all your salary to your family. When your parents get older, you support them. After all, they supported you for many years.

That can be a big difference between the states and Asia. In America, sometimes people are anxious to “get out of the house.” To be free as a bird, do what you want, when you want and however you want. Individualism. It is a strong aspect of our American identity. Is it really a virtue though?

We are all very different. We all have different physical forms sure, but also different mental capabilities, thoughts, experiences and upbringings. Combined, we can make beautiful things. Like an orchastra or a beef vegetable stew, like a painting with many colors or a garden, things individually have their own beauty, but things combined become even more beautiful.

Maybe this is the true natural way we were supposed to live. When we work together great things can be accomplished. And sure, many work together everyday, but do we really LIVE with each other? Do Americans really trust their neighbors, have them over for dinner often, take care of others in the community, even providing financial support if necessary?

I really have come to appreciate the communal form of living. The idea that one is a part of a group and the group is the identity. The idea that we are always there for one another, if one suffers, we suffer, if one rejoices, we rejoice. Life never really gets boring in a scenario like this, because each member of that community brings something unique to the table and each member is growing like a tree, blossoming, or dying and everyone is there for everyone.

There are ways of living around the world that all vary. It is good to experience it and see what type of life you may want to live.

I decided a long time ago that getting a steady job, buying a home and working out in my local gym, wasn’t the lifestyle I desired. I’m sorry, but it’s just too boring. Sure, if I want it, I can have it at any time. And someday I will build my home, or buy one, but it’s sure as hell not going to be a tract home that looks like everyone else on the street. Natural building has caught my attention and living off the grid appeals to me much more than living on it. When the economy crashes and panic ensues, I’ll be self sustainable. Already I am on a sailboat. 🙂

Okay, enough digression, back to the Asia trip. Family was core, yes. Respecting elders, valuing food, sharing meals with friends, yes. I love Asia. You know this is fourth time I have been back? It is my favorite continent (sorry Europe). Asia has so much to offer and so much to see, do, eat, learn and experience.

The trip has been amazing, though for me, it’s just living. Wherever I go, I try to love on people, try new things, experience the rapid change our world is experiencing these days in different environments and make friends. Friendship is beautiful. Friendship will always be there for you in your old age. It will still bring smiles to your face. If you are old and decrepid, in a wheelchair, all you have to do is taste that cup of tea, eat that certain dish or listen to that song that was part of the original memory you made so long ago. Then you are transported back to that time, to that place, to that person and you sit back, smile and thank God for everything.

Another update, here we are, or rather here am I, sitting at a computer room of my small hotel, feeling a bit sweaty and warm, tanktop and boardshorts on, I think there’s a small mosquito trying to get acquainted with my feet…Ah Cambodia.

Well, after four nights in Battambang I have hopped a four dollar four hour bus to Siem Reap. For those of you that do not know, Siem Reap is home to the famous temples of ANGKOR WAT.

Wat is Angkor you ask?

Well, it is a magnificent spreadout of Cambodian temple across a few miles. It was built for a King some 800 years ago, and for as long as I can remember, I have had a desire to visit these temples.

I still recall as a young boy looking at geographical books and seeing pictures of the temples and the huge faces that were built in them. It looked quite exotic and still intact over the hundreds of years. While growing up and strengthening my travel curio, I always thought someday I will visit Angkor Wat and when my friends who had visited the temples said, “have you been there?” and “You need to see it,” I politely and calmly said, “yes someday I will get there.”

Well, my friends, the time has come!

My next post will likely be about the temples and experiences with my Tuk Tuk driver, Lee, who I got acquainted with today and who I hired in a couple days to be my driver, since these temples are spread around. Unless, you’re an avid guru hiker from say, the Northwest, I would suggest hiring a Tuktuk. Plus, I was recommended to do so by a trusted traveler friend of mine. Word of mouth travel advice from your travel friends is the best, let me tell ya.

I just wanted to let you know about some of the conversations I’ve been having while in Cambodia. Most of my purpose here is to see how people here live, how they make a living, what their dreams are, what stories of their life has already been written. People from all backgrounds.

One story I would like to share is of a girl named Tien Tien. My German roommate Hannis had returned from a day of touring and “shooting.” Yes, in Cambodia, for 40 bucks you can shoot a round of ammo in an AK-47. Wanna go bigger? Why not check out some of the machine guns, for about 100, still not big enough to satisfy your ego? Bazooka, $350.

Anyways, yeah things like that can happen here. Personally, I don’t care to participate as I’m somewhat against the transportation of arms into these areas. But nonetheless, after you’ve had a nice day of shooting, you get a free pitcher of local beer at their pub which is located in the city. Since Hannis had no one to share in this ritual with him, he invited me and I hesitantly accepted.

When we walked in, we immediately noticed a few local girls outside and inside the pub and we wondered just what kind of pub was this, but we decided to drink our free pitcher and then split after that.

As I was sitting there, a girl came to sit next to me and so I started up conversation. I found out her name was Tien Tien and she was from Vietnam. Immediately my mind went to, “how did she get here?” “Was she trafficked?” “What’s the story?” She was nice enough, and I didn’t feel like she was a prostitute but more like a hired “hostess.” These are girls that are hired to chat to customers like me, and encourage them to buy more drinks.

I find out Tien Tien comes from a fairly rural area in Vietnam and works here in Cambodia to provide for her Mama and Papa back home. She is the eldest of three girls and so the responsibility to provide for the family falls on her. And when jobs are limiting to women in an area like South East Asia, you take what you can get.

As I ask questions about her family, her education, and her life, she realizes I’m not just some ignorant guy that comes to get drunk and shoot guns. She tells me she speaks from her heart, pointing to her chest and tells me her dreams to open a cafe in her area. She tells me she stopped going to school at 10 and that she used to transport large amounts of food in baskets on her head in Cambodia and Vietnam. The other Cambodian girls laugh a bit at this story and she shows me a small bald spot on her head because of the work.

I ask her what would it take to fund her cafe business and she says it would cost $4,000. I say, you’d like a nice cafe yes? She replies yes. I ask the Cambodian girl behind the bar, what is your dream? She says, to go to university, I say why not now? She tells me she need $400 to go for a year and she doesn’t have it. This is her second job, as with all the other girls.

As I continued conversation, I learned that it wasn’t that these girls wanted to be here, but it was a second job that paid all right. ($2.50 for the 8 hour shift) They work hard to move up. I couldn’t help but think, man couldn’t I get these girls a loan, could I even fund it myself for them with accountability?

It’s tougher when you don’t have male siblings to take the responsibility to provide for your parents when they get old. There’s no social security or pensions going on here. I got Tien Tiens contact info so I could forward her micro lending banks in the Vietnam area. Maybe they can help her with a loan.

Another quick story I have is of a man I met in Battambang named Tsauh. I asked him what he did on his free day on Sunday and he told me he cut down coconuts to make necklaces and earrings. I asked why? And he said that he is making the jewelry so he can make enough money to pay for his wedding, which is a requirement in order to take a woman as your bride. In a way it is a “brideprice,” but it is required that in order to take the woman as your wife, you need to provide for the wedding. You pay this to the brides family, they make the wedding arrangements.

So he needs to raise $2,500. Which isn’t exactly chump change here in Cambodia. He’s selling the jewelry for 2-3 dollars a piece. I said “look man, I can get that sold in the states for 20-30 dollars a piece, let me take pictures of your stuff with the story and you can marry your girl.” I’m all about LOVE! He was interested by my proposition, so I took photos today of his work and am looking to post it up on Etsy, Zazzle or some other art site. I may talk to my African homie who runs a shop in Seattle to sell his stuff too. Check the photos below, maybe you’re interested!

As I travel, I think there are all kinds of stories of people who have dreams but lack resources. I have seen a lot, met a lot of people and can make things happen. So, I do what I can as I travel. And I carry this mantra with me wherever I am at life. It feels good to help another, and in these parts, help is needed a lot more than at home.

It’s nice to have my own room with some privacy. Travel tip #2322, remember to get solo rest every so often. Considering I’ll be doing some heavy sightseeing in the next couple of days, it’s due.

Longer post, thanks for reading. Here are some photos~~~

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