Leaving Paradise

East vs. West Differences. Blue = West, Red = East.

Things that are new

Handling of problems

Punctuality

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Ah, such a sad, sad, day...my last day in SE Asia for awhile. The past few weeks here have been incredible to say the least. Have been cycling, surfing, exploring, meeting really cool people, and just all around having a blissful experience. The Bali Spirit Festival is going on right now, so many of the high profile gurus of yoga, massage, dance, etc. have migrated here from all over the world. Has also brought many other conscious people from across the globe, whom I have been meeting on a daily basis.

So what am I going to miss from here? Off the top of my head...

1. Climate - Of course who wouldn't like a steady 80 degrees, sunshine, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world? No doubt it took some getting used to walking in the blazing sun with a big backpack and a guitar, sleeping in rooms without A/C, and showering in cold water, but now I wouldn't trade any of it. Will be interesting to see how I feel back in the "cold" U.S.
   
2. Fruit stands - I don't understand why they don't have these around in Hawaii or California (at least not that I've seen). On just about every street you can find little stalls where they have everything from pineapple to papaya, cut up in little bags ready to devour. A lot of them also will make fruit shakes too...oh so good when out in the hot sun.
3. Durian - "The king of fruits" and rightly named so. Asians treasure this fruit, as it is unlike any other. Spiky hard outside shell, with an aroma that has caused it to be banned from many hotels and trains/buses/planes. But damn it is good...and there's so many varieties. It's one of the rare fruits that has a lot of fat and protein, which gives it such an incredible sweet creamy flavor. They make everything from durian chips to durian pancakes here...truly amazing!
4. 7-11 - These things are everywhere in Thailand and Malaysia! I remember days as a kid riding my bike over to 7-11 to get a slurpy back in Chicago, but I thought that they all closed down long ago. Not in Asia! Definitely an essential stop for travelers, for everything from water to toothpaste, and all super cheap!
5. Internet Cafes - These are just about as common as 7-11s. For as little as $0.50 per hour, they're not a bad deal. They have a bunch of gaming cafes too, where you can see the young hardworking Asians killing people or building an army 24 hours a day...God bless technology!
6. Monks - It still cracks me up seeing these guys just walking around doing normal things like shopping at 7-11. But they are the kindest people that just love practicing their English with you. I sat in many a Wat talking about life and learning Thai with them. Talk about discipline though...they are up before dawn, don't partake in any of the "sins" of life, and don't eat after 12pm!
7. The Backpacker Scene - So many incredible people from all over the world (mostly Europe) flock to SE Asia for the weather, cheap prices, and beautiful scenery. It's amazing how easy it is to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger who may not even speak English very well, yet become the best of friends for a short time.
8. Sunshine - How/why did we ever migrate to colder darker climates? When did we start to have to fortify our diets with Vitamin D? Ludicrous. Nothing can compare to the real thing.
   
9. Surfing - I have surfed California, Hawaii, and now Indonesia. Considering I'm just a beginner, this is quite a feat. I can still totally see why the pros and wanna be pros from all over the world come here. The water is pristine, warm, and there's ALWAYS surf!
   
10. People - Thailand had the nicest people, with Bali coming in a close second. Sure many are super friendly because they know we white men bring the powerful dollar. But I've been in many situations where I don't buy anything, and just strike up conversation with a local. They are truly fascinated with the Western world, and love to hear everything we have to say about it, as well as what we think about their country. America/Europe has a huge influence on the teen culture here, as they idolize most famous Hollywood actors or Billboard musicians. But even for the tourists here, it's so incredibly important to set a good example. Even little things like using a cloth grocery bag can go a long way in the eyes of the Balinese. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the locals just throwing paper/plastic in the street or on the beach like it will just magically disappear or turn into a plastic producing tree...definitely not a good thing on a small island!
    
11. Scenery - The beaches are the best I have ever seen. The mountains, waterfalls, and gardens are all up there with Hawaii and California. The difference is that here it tends to be a lot less touched by man. Call it laziness or just being better in tune with the land, whatever it is we could learn from it!
    
12. Reggae Bars - Guaranteed to be at least one of these in every city in Thailand. Also guaranteed that you will hear the same songs being played in every one. Cannot tell you how many times I have sung along to No Woman No Cry. Love it!
13. Squat toliets - You've got to be kidding me, right? That's what went through my mind when first encountering these things. But I tell you what, it's the most comfortable position ever, and great practice if you're heading out into the backwoods on a hiking or camping trip. With that said, no matter of convincing could get me to part from the luxury of TP!
    
14. "Transport? Taxi? Motorbike? Tuk-tuk?" - It took a long time for me to get over the constant harassment from these guys every few feet walking down a street. But now I've gotten to know some of them and can joke around. Really nice guys down at heart, just trying to make a decent living.

And here's a few pictorial descriptions of some differences between cultures:

Blue = West, Red = East.

Things that are new

Handling of problems

Punctuality

Check out MountainRunner for more

Well, that's just a fraction of my experiences here, as you can see it's been incredible. Off to say goodbye to a good friend tonight and have my last durian, then hop on a plane at 2 a.m. for the long journey back home!