Intermission

Asia. Hm. The word seems to change meanings so often for me that I'm never sure whats "asian today" and what's "asian tommorow". Meanings is the wrong word...definitions. Definitions for asia or asian have never seemed to be one thing or another. Originally asian was anyone oriental, now its anyone middle eastern. Is asia china and japan? Or India? or even vietnam...cambodia...Laos? Thailand? And where do all those Islands fit into this. The answer is theoretically just a wikipedia click away, but for me it will always be a little confused. Which sort of fits with this intermission: "what is/was asia to me?".
You see, Part 1 (see 'Prologue') is now over. I'm in an Indian internet cafe, trying to reflect on the first part of my trip. I guess if I think of asia now, I'll think of that trip. I'm going to remember...majestic temples, biking on bamboo bridges, boat trips down the mekong, tubing down a mountain stream, squeezing off a few rounds at the local gun course, dairylea cheese being the only cheese in existance (an it existed EVERYWHERE), rope swings into waterfalls, wrapping a snake around my neck and bus trip after bus trip after bus trip.
But and evaluation? gosh... The area I went too, the greater mekong, certainly had its ups and downs. But mostly ups. I loved the fact that it really is a place geared towards travellers, there are bars, and pizzas and treks and tours...it makes life a lot easier. But how much culture to get out of that? search me. Which is of course hwy its important to stretch out and find the things that make asia different, a tour does make this a lot easier (but more on the tour later) Certain parts certainly seemed to have a more dollar fixed attitude towards backpackers. Which was a pity, because 99 times out of a 100 they just weren't going to get a penny from us. And the more people that beg, the more people that harass, the more people that do up their kids and train them to be the cutest things they can (instead of going to school) the more the country is going to suffer. It doesn't help, of course in a country like thailand when the biggest extortion racket in town is run by the cops, and the government officials care more about the drug dealers pay off than the economy. I think the region has a while to go before some of its countries can start achieving and get out of the downward spiral. To tourists create this? or was it just the best way for a human being to make money? Laos and Vietnam seem to have it on more of the right track than Thailand and Cambodia, maybe it just depends where you look. It was in the cities of thof these countries where you could see the poverty in full hold.
But then was it really the bustling cities I got the most out of was it? It was the vast pastures, the quiet villages, the epic mountains, blue waters and white sandy beaches. These are the places you can get the most out of the mekong, touristy or not. I suppose that would be my advice. Search out the best places outside of a city and whether its touristy or not won't really matter. A tour is a mized bag, but can help (however I am REALLY enjoying being a free agent, it just takes a little building up too)
Being on a tour meant you were a little cut off from the reality of backpacking...but it was a good way to start travelling, a safe way and a fun way. However, this does bring me onto the sad fact that some members of the group you like, and some you don't. and some you want to throw into the nearest crocidile pool. Yeah, the group could certainly be frustration at times...but ce' la vie. Sam was always there, it is important that you take the right people/person travelling with you, adn me and sam have said on numerous occasions that our twin brother was the right choice. Bizzarely we've become more and more alike, or at least, our minds have become syncronized, which does remind of His Dark Materials.
And there's the link to the next paragraph: bits of the trip that aren't the trip. My books I'll come to later, HBO first. You'd be surprised how useful a TV and movie channel is to the backpacker, its not something I'd reccomend to often, but it certain is awelcome way to let an hour or two slip away without worry. Plus its free. Movies certainly seem to be the universal hobby, everyones got their favourites and least favourites, so its a great conversation starter too. And everyones got the same channels, so everyone watched XXX starring vin diesal at some point on their trip (just not everyone had to do it with 3rd degree sunburn, as if that movie wasn't painful enough).
Something elese everyone can connect on is Politics, and thats also been a running outside theme, since the american primaries have been going and going. You see a speech there, a result there, you form opinions, and of course a favourite. Almost surrealy you might be lucky enough to visit a remnant of one of the candidates, we were near the Hanoi Hilton, the place that almost destroyed John McCain through brutality and torture. I'm a staunch Obama supporter, though, I couldn't have hope for a much better next President, especially since he seems to go from strength to strength. He's had a tough fight, though, and its going to get dozens of times tougher if he has to run against McCain. Fingers crossed, if there was ever a point that I believed could turn American around for the first time in decades, it would be now.
The greatest joy I've had from outside things has not been the TV, nor my Ipod, but His Dark Materials. At the moment I'm almost at the end of book 2, the Subtle knife. Its really reawakened my passion for the fiction novel in my mind, something which although has never quite been subdued has really been severely lestened in recent years. The experience of a novel is such a personal one, I feel myself get connected to this world and it's people which I can escape into at any moment and become completly immersed. The books themselves I feel are suitable for a multitude of ages, its very well written, and their themes and issues are complex and deep, especially for anyone interested in religion. They're great fantasy novels as well, slowly getting more epic as they go along, hopefully building to a good climax. It would be a little annoying if it petered out at the end! Though for me, its more about the escapism, the connection I have with this world and characters that I get from a novel more than anything.
Also, for the well inclined, Yahtzee and his weekly dose of video game humour has keapt me entertained as well. He is a genius.
All in All...Laos and Vietnam are places I'm defiantley going to return too. The other too...perhaps not so much. It was in Laos and 'Nam I found the best experiences, the most unique sights. The Mekong is a place which definatley feels like the tourists are the best way of making money, the poverty and corruption is soemthing that is crippling these countries that are still recovering from centuries of bloodshed and instability. There certainly is a strenght, a unity that needs to be had, somewhere. Perhaps economically, perhaps socially...whatever the case as a Backpacker these places can be a great place to start, there is a reason so many of us go there. Its because its the epitamy of backpacking, a culture shock, cheap and magnificent full of dusty roads and dodgy booze, beaches and mountains and an experience above all.
Finally, Asia aside and backpacking come forward. It truly is the best experience of my life, for a deacde and a half in the begginings of my life its all mundanity and education, but backpacking is an escape and an adventure. The lifestyle of excitment and adventure, anticipation and culture shock. Just living it up with a bank balance and a road full of possibilities is something not to be missed. There really is something for everyone, so its worth finding out and saving up.
Jesus, I'm halfway and already I'm making grand sweeping statements as if I'm at the end! India awaits, and I have so much yet to come. So do take this post as a halfway there bit, by the end I hope to have a little more to add onto all this.
Asia to me now is my 40 days of fun and excitment, up and down the Mekong area, lets hope India can find a way to trump it!