My Top Ten

Okay so this is not really a Top Ten because it's more like a Top Five, but below I've tried to summarize 5 things we love about SE Asia, and also 5 things we cannot wait to have in the States/Canada.

Let's start with SE Asia and Indonesia (Nepal due to its extreme poverty rests in another category here...but I will make some references to it):
1. Food! Hands down the food in SE Asia is the best for it's value, availability, and taste. In Thailand and Laos, you can walk down practically any street at any time during the day and night and find street vendors selling all sorts of fresh foods for very affordable prices. Not a day rolls by when we do not eat fresh fruit, or drink freshly squeezed OJ, and savor the cool sweet taste of a freshly opened coconut. At times we have to pinch ourselves to make sure the moment is real :)
Generally, if you are going to eat in a restaurant or on the street, it's almost a guarantee that the food was bought and prepared that morning. That is one aspect of food preparation that is unfortunately lacking in most (affordable) American restaurants . When we return we will have to transition to cooking most of our food and storing it in the refrigerator (oh that does not sound appetizing as I write refrigerator). I'll step out on a limb and say that locals infrequently use refrigerators in Thailand or Laos, since they prepare food for every meal.

Food is central to the Thai and Lao culture, and it's extremely uncommon to see anyone eating by themselves. Families and friends are always gathered around the table, and it appears community is strong here. We did end up eating many meals by ourselves, however, on some nights we where joined by foreigners, or even locals, which spiced up the food even more!

2. Transportation. The low cost, easy accessibility, and dinner time stories that come out of public transport is priceless! Some of our most memorable moments came from riding the public buses!

3. Sunny days. Since we left in the middle of November, most days have been sunny and clear with temps ranging from low 70's at night to high 90's in the daytime. The humidly is very high in SE Asia, so sweating though 2 shirts in one day is not uncommon. To all my family and friends living the Pacific Wet Coast, I have to be honest and tell you that it has rained 2 times (for a total of an hour) during our travels here in Thailand and Laos. I am SO thankful for the sun, yet I am looking forward to cool and clean air! Gosh I'm going to miss the sun when we return to Vancouver! I heard it's been a rough winter there. Luckily Spring is right around the corner.

4. Perspective. Traveling in SE Asia (and Nepal/Indonesia) has provided the perspective I was searching for. I now value my life in the States and Canada more than ever, and I look forward to reflecting often on my teachings here. Being born and raised in the US is a luxury that most Americans take for granted, and I think traveling to foreign countries is essential to see the beauty of our lives and the abundance we are bathed in on a daily basis.
Generally I was proud to say I was an American, but in Indonesia in particular, where Americans are not warmly invited, I said I was Canadian. Overall, travel in these countries was very safe, and I never felt threatened in any way (only when my parents warmed me of a terrorist threat against Americans in Bali). In fact, I actually feel more safe traveling here than I do in American cities (probably because I was mugged in Lancaster, PA during College).

5. Laid back nature. Maybe it's the constant heat that slows things down, but the cultures here are more tranquil than in the States/Canada. For instance, Tuk Tuk drivers in Vientiane had hammocks set up in their vehicles for napping. Very chill!


What we cannot wait for when we return to Vancouver:
1. Family and Friends. Simply put. We miss all of you :)

2. Clean Air! Oh my gosh the air quality in SE Asia is terrible compared to the Pacific North West, but nothing compares to the pollutants in the air in Nepal. Nepal had the worst air pollution than all the other countries we traveled to combined, probably because they burn trash on every street corner, and the roads are not paved and dust particulate is everywhere. We both developed coughs the first week we arrived in Nepal, and are still trying to clear the upper respiratory track infections. We both sound like seals barking away!
So, yes, we are very excited to wake up in the morning and see the mountains or smell the flowers blooming, rather than constantly inhaling exhaust fumes and burning trash. We are so blessed to have clean air! Seriously...I never new how much pollution other cities/countries created until I traveled here. I promise I won't go on my soap box again about how much plastic is wasted :)

3. Simple comforts and luxuries of the home. I think we take for granted the little things like heating and air conditioning, or couches to keep our bums from getting sore, or when we turn on the stove it gets hot. For people here who do not have air conditioning they cannot escape the heat...it's year-round! Sleeping at night with a fan in 80 degree high humidity weather does not provide a good night's sleep.
Conversely, in Nepal, the people have access to electricity for 11 hours during the day so their houses are not heated...can you imagine a house without heat when its 15 degrees outside? This is the daily life of a Nepali.
I could probably go on and on about the little comforts we easily take for granted (i.e. coming home to a Western toilet...and not a squat toilet!!!!)

4. Temperate climate. The fact that it rarely gets below 32 degrees F in the winter, and above 85 degrees in the summer (with the exception of the 2009) makes the PWC a delightful place to live. When we were wearing 5 layers of clothing in Nepal to stay warm, or changing 2 times a day in Southern Thailand and Bali because of sweat drenched shirts, we couldn't wait to get into milder weather. Not to mention it's also a bonus to have access to heating and air conditioning! Watching Nepali men and women huddled over burning trash (which mainly contained plastic) to warm their hands every morning was disheartening.

5. Space. When I say space I mean the ability to walk down the street by yourself, or walk on a plane without 50 people pushing and shoving you from behind (which happened in Nepal), or hear the quiet call of a songbird. Space is quite limited in most of the cities in SE Asia and Nepal, and I look forward to having more space when I return.
There is something thrilling about walking through the bustling city streets of Bangkok, where we have surprisingly spent a total of 2 weeks, yet I have no hesitation leaving the smog, light and sound pollution, and dirty streets behind.
Oh how I look forward to typing by myself on my own computer without being surrounded by 3 Skype users speaking 3 different languages!
Or how I cannot wait to walk down a quite street in Vancouver, and sense the silence in the air listening to the squirrels play in the trees, and birds singing overhead.

Can you tell that we're ready to come home?

Ah...but a part of me will miss Bangkok and the craziness of SE Asia. When I first arrived Bangkok was was a disgusting scam infiltrated city that I wanted no part of. I never thought I'd admit that Bangkok has grown on me, and that I'll miss this crazy city.

I'll post one more blog after we arrive in Vancouver the day the Olympics begin (Feb. 12th.)

Lots of love,

Drew