travelling etiquette 101

travelling is a great way to gain a new perspective on life. it allows a person to see the bigger picture of this topsy-turvy world by providing us with opportunity to explore faraway places while testing ours mettle. i feel like everyone should have the chance to take in new customs and cultures at least at one point in their lives. Before you do though, i would to share some of my observations of the do's and don't's that i've seen from my fellow traveller's. the more....undesirable qualities. these quirky little idiosyncrasies seem to come out of the woodwork while people are travelling. my reason for doing this isn't to look down my nose at others because everyone has their little things, as i know i have mine, but rather to help my fellow expats to avoid some of the pitfalls along the way.

room to breathe

trying to keep it cheap is the focus of any backpacker's budget. this often means that you get what you pay for and no where is that discounted price more obvious then when it comes to space. whether on a plane, train, bus, etc it's important that at least a minimum level of personal space is allotted to each other. a great example pops to mind on an overnight bus in vietnam. in front of me was a big guy. not fat, but a muscle dude and tall and definitely much bigger than an average vietnamese bus seat. he pretty much took up 3/4 of the seats earmarked for 2 people. the person sitting beside him had to lean over into the aisle or be stuck rubbing sweaty arms with a stranger for 12 hours. eventually, the smaller guy beat a hasty retreat and found a seat some where else, leaving the mountain of a man to stretch out even more. the key to solving this problem is to stop it from happening in the first place. be conscientious of your seat companion and share that arm rest. if it's too crowded with your bag there, it should probably go in the overhead compartment or under the seat. doesn't anyone pay attention to flight attendants anymore?

shhh!

next on the list and a personal pet peeve of mine are those persons who appear to have no volume control. when you're in a public setting people shouldn't have to endure graphic retellings of a latest sexual conquest, nor should they be broadcasting their political, religious or personal view on any other subject other than the person that is closest to them and certainly not loud enough to interrupt private dinner conversation. this applies not only to restaurants but again to forms of transportation. an example of this would be a young, mid-20's guy who announced from as he boarded the bus to his gang at the back how he had just taken the best piss ever. while i'm sure it did feel great, are we still in the 9th grade that we need to share with all? indoor voices, if you please. no wonder my ipod is always in need of charging.

what's the holdup?

these people seem to be everywhere in life but trying to polite and wait in a line can be difficult to maintain when travelling. picture this if you can. 25-30 people standing and waiting to get off for some air and water but are unable to exit. is the door closed? are we waiting to come to a full stop? no. we're waiting for one woman to finish getting her wallet from the overhead compartment. that's not really my problem however. the problem was she wasn't paying attention to what she was doing because she was speaking to a still-seated friend while blindly fumbling about. after about a minute she's finally got it but doesn't move and continues to talk. a gentle yet firm push on the arm soon snapped her out of her reverie and got the line moving. yes, you're caught up in new people, places and pleasures but remember you're not the only one.

one more thing i wanted to ask...

this classification of people might be a sub-category of the line stopper but i believe it is worthy of it's own distinction. question-askers. now, there is nothing wrong with asking a few questions of hotels, tour operators and the like, but there are some who act as if they're conducting an interview for time magazine's person of the year. they seem to ask all the basic, inane and obvious questions before they start in on some real beaut's.

What brand is the free bottle of water on the bus?

Would it be cheaper to book 2 days, or 3 days?

Will I be able to shower on the bus?

Will the bus be able to take us to the island?

and so on. again, i have no problem with some quick, concise and critical questions because raising your comfort level with a foreign land is what it's all about. better still, why not do some research about the country you're visiting before you go? otherwise, read the brochure.

cleanliness is next to happy travellers

i don't think anyone really sets out to be the stinky kid on the bus, yet there is always at least one individual who smells a little ripe. before you set off to your next destination, check how long it might be before your next shower. maybe you should opt to wear a t-shirt instead of that tiger beer tank top that hasn't left your back in three days. if you've been walking around all day, do yourself and your fellow travellers a favour and keep those sneakers on. lastly, if you're not on the beach keep your shirt on guys. nothing looks greasier than a tourist walking through a hotel, sans chemise, when it's raining outside and 19 degrees.

part-time philanthropy

this is a subject which is touchy and many people feel either one way or the other. the face of poverty in some countries can be hard to look at. the problem is that people from developing countries see the way foreigners spend money and what we have (cameras, nice clothes, watches) plus the fact that we are visiting their country makes us seem rich millionaires. while we do enjoy a better quality of life in some ways, most of us have to work 50 weeks to afford a 2 week getaway each year. this doesn't seem to factor in which then of course leads to begging and panhandling. many travellers think they are doing a great service to someone is they give a beggar money or food, but it might actually do more damage. it can lead to a life of dependency on money as many get more than they make from working, which in turn affects a national economy and so on. it becomes a vicious circle often creating more social problems. personally, i don't give money out as a rule. it's tough sometimes, but in the end it does only feed someone for a few meals. as far as food is concerned, it's better because you know that they're eating it instead of drinking, smoking or injecting your cash but is defined by the same principles of giving cash. if you really want to help, donate to agencies/organizations in the area who will know how to delegate money. better still is to donate your time. teach a class about your culture and life, or your travels at a local school. play basketball with some children from an orphanage. help out in a more positive and constructive way. not only are you helping people build better lives, but you're also promoting goodwill as well as bridging cultural gaps by creating understanding. i'm not trying to sound high-handed, but an old proverb comes to mind.

if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.
if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for life.

sizing up the competition

the last thing i wish to touch on is again something that pretty much happens any where, but it seems to be more noticeable while travelling. it's probably because we have a lot of free time. while taking these holidays into the unknown, people often put a romantic spin on things but often forget to mention that there is a lot of time wasted waiting to get somewhere. airports, bus terminals, train stations...let's face it, it is sometimes about the destination and not the journey. so, how do we all pass the time? we people watch. i have to say, it's a great way to pass the time but sometimes it feels as though we're sizing up one another. clothing, hairstyles, body size all comes under close scrutiny. don't say you've never done it because you know very well that you have. at least once. it's human nature to compare and contrast our contemporaries. the only pearl of wisdom i wish to supplant is to be discreet. switching to another language doesn't disguise the fact you're talking about someone. ditto the whisper-while-looking approach. if your mother ever told you anything, i'm guessing she said that if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all... or at least come and sit next to me.

i think that about covers it all. i hope that if you are thinking of taking a first trip, or even if you're a seasoned wayfarer you can take something from this. really, all it takes to make every trip a successful one is to make sure you pack in your common sense alongside your camera, passport and plane tickets...you and everyone else will be happy that you did.

fun in the sun

the last part of our 7 week holiday we spent on a beach as we had long ago decided when we left on this trip. after 6 weeks of travel every few days, it would be great to chill out on a beach for about a week or so. we wanted to visit something none of us had been to before, so we chose to go to krabi province in southern thailand. unfortunately, the weather didn't really stay that nice the first 4 days we were there (Aonang Beach)so it was mostly movies, reading and shopping. by sunday night, we were itching to get going. oth anita and diana were arriving the next day so we went and checked out another more secluded beach called railay beach. it was pretty amazing as people needed to take a water longtail boat to get there. in low tide, this can be a daunting task. the boat rises and falls with the waves so you have to hang on. we soon arrived at railay beach and found some cool accommodations.

feeling festive and excited to see our friends, we decorated their room with happy birthday stuff for diana, whose birthday we missed the previous week. we gave her presents, she brought the good weather with her.

we had a lot of fun over the next 5 days. day time was spent at the beach for a few hours, in the almost hot sea water. We did manage to get some sea kayaking in which is such an incredible past time. It was great to paddle around the little inlets and coves, pulling up on a secluded beach for a quick swim. The evenings we spent playing cards, drinking and eating. we also took in a muay thai match which was something none of us had ever done. It was a little violent, but it is boxing after all. Very cool to see....some of the matches were very intense but excellent to see how it's done.

the next day, we said our see you later's to our friends and spent our final night in krabi watching a sensational sunset. it was almost like it was a little sendoff for elisha and i. it will stick in my mind on those cold days to come ahead.

on sunday, it was now our turn to set off for canada. we spent most of the next day in transit before arriving late the same day in vancouver where we would spend a couple of nights before heading back to ontario. everything went smoothly and it tuesday night when we were hugging our families hello once again.

the last two weeks have been full of up's and down's. it's hrad to fathom that just 2 short weeks ago we were in asia, on a beach in thailand but now we're sitting in heather&dan's basement playing guitar hero. it's great to be here, but i don't really think what we've seen has really sunk in. i know it will take time, but there are some things which i've settled back into. my favourite beer, canadian spellings, the openness of the sky(which is a ltitle scary at times) and many, many other things which i'm forgetting about.

now, i'm just in a holding pattern, circling the airport of life waiting to land. we're thinking that if elisha gets the job in toronto, that's where we'll try but if not? we are still considering moving to south america some where, but for how long? it takes time to set up in a new country, money, patience and cultural barriers to overcome. it's not that i don't want to, but i think it might be important to give it a go in canada. i guess what i am really trying to say is that i hope we can figure out what we are doing but i just need to be patient for the moment and everything will work out some how.

so, there it is. the last leg of the vacation. nothing too eventful, but a nice finish to a trip well worth the time and effort.

chilling in chiang mai

although i have been to thailand quite a few times before, most of these journeys had been some where in the south, mostly on a beach. however, this time we decided to try something a bit different and head to the northern part of the country, specifically the city of chiang mai. we took an overnight train and arrived early the next day to a surprisingly chilled out town. bangkok was everything chiang mai isn't: loud, dirty, noisy. chiang mai was almost sleepy, but oozed charm through every nook and cranny. the next day, we left on our tour and i was feeling a little apprehensive about the trip, but looking at our fellow trekkers i could see that most were of the same opinion.

as it turned out, the elephant trek turned out to be more trek than elephant. we only got about an hours' ride on the elephants, but it was more than enough. it was uncomfortable and the beasts were sutbborn, stopping about every 10 feet or so to reach back for a banana. after the elephant ride, we then had to take a 2 hour hike uphill to get to the village where we would be spending the evening. i was out of breath in no time and quickly realized that i need to get back into shape (or maybe i should say, get in shape as it's hard to get back into something you never were in the first place) finally, after huffing and puffing my way up the hill we got to the village. there wasn't any electricity, limited plumbing and completely remote. the sleeping was a communal hut on raised legs that slept about 20 bodies, but was dry and safe. the only real commodity we had was beer which was drank in abundance by all. we passed the night singing and talking and generally having a good time.

the next day, we had to set off early for the 2 hour walk back, this time downhill(thankfully!) we soon arrived at a river where we were meant to float down the remainder of the way. yours truly was voluntold to help navigate using a bamboo pole and for the first few minutes, things went 'swimmingly.' i did end up in the drink a few times, but no harm done. eventually, our trip was over and it was time to head back in to town for warm showers and beds.

the next day, we once again had to catch the train back to bangkok and it went off without a hitch. as i settled in, i spotted not one, not two, not three but 15 mormons. i sighed a heavy sigh. i thought, well they are just travelling with us so it should be ok. wrong. as soon as the train got underway, they started their usual tricks and tried to recruit people on the train! aghast, i summoned the attendant and had him make up my bed quickly so i could hide from these do-gooders.

now, i am a firm believer in freedom of expression and freedom of religion. that said, i believe that individuals should exercise these rights and not force them unto others. that's my problem with mormons...their values are great as are their intentions to do good, but please respect me when i say no the first time and don't feel sorry for me because i'm not hip to your good-time, christian vibe. i know you get spiritual points or whatever for the more souls you save, but some how i don't think the almighy really keeps score that way. seems like mormonism is sort of like the teachers'pet of religions, polishing apples to get recognition. well, whatever floats your boat but leave the rest of us out of it.

next up, our last leg of the journey and fun in the sun

F***ing blogger won't let me post the body of my text...what's the problem?

moving on

a few weeks have passed once more without an update but i am on holidays after all so i think i deserve a little break. things are still going great. when i last wrote, we were about halfway down vietnam. well, we spent a few days in mui ne, just chilling out on the beach and taking a much neeed break from riding the bus. managed to get some colour, slept a lot, read a lot and then just as it was seeming to get a little tired we set off for ho chi minh city. to be honest, i wasn't really in the mood for a major urban center after the tranquility of the beach, so we took in a few sights by taking a walking tour. only spent a couple of days in saigon, but i did manage to make it to the war remnants museum. i expected lots of photos and artifacts from the war, but they were much more graphic and showed the terrible cost of war. i won't describe the images but they were enough to make me want to leave after only seeing a fraction of what they had. that said, i feel it's an important part of vietnam's history and should never be forgotten what many paid with their lives for.

the next stop along the way was in cambodia, specifically the capital of phnom pehn. we had gotten quite used to the vibe of vietnam and crossing the border at moc bai was like entering a different world. crossing the border overland is always an interesting experience because you instantly get to see just how different the countries are. it was almost like night and day. if vietnam had suffered in the war, it had recovered some what while cambodia still seemed to be in the grips of it. there were maimed roads and people everywhere, a painful reminder of what war can do to a country. when we pulled into phnom penh and finally found a place to stay, these two young booksellers came up to us and chatted in english. i eventually bought a book off of one of the girl's who seemed to be full of life. i asked her how she learned english, from school or her tutor and she just said she listened and learned. she didn't go to school. she ate with us and then off she went, happy as could be ready to sell her next book.

our only real destination in cambodia was siem reap, the closest town to angkor temples. we spent a whole day checking them out, but realistically it wasn't enough time to fully appreciate it so we just took in the highlights. it was spectacular and completely worth the jarring and hot bus rides we had to endure along the way. i remember along the way, the bus got a flat and we broke down for an hour. then, there was no air cond and it was bumpy all the way. about halfway through our ride, we stopped for lunch and we were all bitching about the trip. just as we were getting back on the bus, a pair of girls found a young woman lying in a ditch, covered in bruises and cuts. she was barely conscious and was severly dehydrated. someone arranged for a person to go to the nearest town and get a doctor to come and collect her. the rest of us had to leave but the poor girl had to stay there in the ditch and wait for the doctor to arrive. it was a shocking image and certainly made the rest of us on the bus feel as though we had nothing to really complain about.

we soon left cambodia behind after a short stay of only 5 days because we realized how quickly time was slipping through our fingers. we took another bus (sensing a theme here?) to bangkok and have been here for the last three days. we leave tonight to head up north to chiang mai and do our elephant trek which should be a lot of fun. afterwards, we had planned to travel through myanmar but it looks as though we aren't going to be able to do that. it's funny, but we arrived in bangkok to do our visas and the day we went the office was closed for some reason or another. a sign perhaps? whatever it was, it made us reevaluate or time and money and so we've decided to spend the remainder on the beach which is fine by the both of us.

still feeling good about the trip we've had, but feeling a bit tired of the tours, the haggling, and so forth. also, both of us can feel reality started to close in around us which is scary. the prospect of having no job, no apartment and heading back to a country where everyone has to strive to have the best of all this is enough to keep me awake at night. literally. i have been not able to fall asleep for the last week or so properly. just keep thinking about how things are going to be, the people and the places, what am i going to do next? the other sort of life crisis that hits when moving back to a different country. i'm still happy with our decision to leave taiwan...i do feel it was time, but i think maybe a little more effort should have been put into as to what to do next. i'm sure things will work out as they always do, but i also think i should really start looking for something to do with myself. i can hear my parents already, most likely about a week after returning...the inevitable "what are you going to do now?" speech. it would be nice if i could have an answer like "I've been offered a great job writing for such and such magazine." or possibly "I'm giving my life to jesus. " hmm...that last one probably won't fly too well. anyway, i'm just going to keep enjoying the time left over the next few weeks and try to put it out of my mind for the time being.