THE-GIFT: The absurds of travels

Let's start with a motto:

This sign was painted on the wall in a unique bar-travel office-hostel in Hanoi that I found on couchsurfing. It was three years ago, during my first big trip and since then I keep it in my mind, because it is so accurate! Humans were living a nomadic lifestyle for so long, that a bit of craving to concuer new lands had to stay in our genes. The unexplained need of exploring the world is what drives me to go on the road again and again. When I am already there I am always amazed and never regret the decision of leaving home and one of the reasons are the strange, funny and sometimes impossible to understand ABSURDS of visited countries.

China, Yunan Province

Each country has their own quirks. Among many of them, in China I found it to be all families (including babies) packed on one motorbike with their traiding stall. Also the hostels that don't accept tourist. In Vietnam - people crossing the highway by themselves, farmers still using cows to maintain their fields. Cambodia shocked me with huge amount of chinese casinos and companies just next to extremely poor areas where people lived in bamboo houses. The prostitutes and turistic night life in Bangkok. In Egipt the most visible was the difference between 5 star hotel life conditions and polution and poverty of surrounding villiges. There was much more of it in each one of those countries that you could notice all around. Also, one huge absurd is a turism industry that on one hand supports the economy of developing countries and at the same time destroys their identity, culture and forces to develop in a way that we as turists want. All of that is stopping the locals to spread the wings their way.

Additionally in all of the asian countries I couldn't get over their food. Getting over eatting all the parts of the animals with no exceptions puched me strongly in direction of vegetarianism... The strangest thing that I ate in China was duck's head, pig's fried noses and intestines. I have to admit, it sound worse that it tastes. Although now, I wouldn't force myself to do it.

However, aren't these eccentricities exactly what we crave to see? Because beside them, at the end, each country is just a country of our modern world. Filled with cars, smartphones, internet, corporations, airports, taxis, money issues, clubs, drugs etc. And I love those absurds, because they always remind me that we can live our lives any way we want - there is so many ways to do it and people do! You just have to go out from your comfortable bubble of your country, city or all inclusive hotel to see them. Then, the next step is not to judge, not trying to understand, just accept and be amazed with the diversity of the world :)

China, Yuanyang

Sometimes, before departure to a country that I haven't visited yet, my friends and family are warning me recalling common stereotypes.

"Watch out, they will try to kidnap you in Thailand and sell your organs", "Be careful, I heard that in Israel they are walking around with guns on the streets", "Take care of yourself, everyone will want to hurt you in Kenya", "There is mafia in Italy", "Be aware of gypsies on Balkans".

If I let them continue speaking, this could go for ever. Just repeating the fears heard from others.Isn't it the biggest ABSURD: to spread unflattering opinion about something, before experiencing it in the first place? Of course, these stereotypes don't come from nowhere. However, most of the time there is so much more above them, so much good and pleasant things to receive from the people that are also feeling beings.

Vietnam, Ha Giang, New Year's period, tradition mixed with modernity, everyone watching an airplane in the sky

For a traveler it is really important to keep distanced from those warnings. Don't let yourself become scared of a place you're going to before even getting there - it will take all the pleasure from you.

Remember to be careful of unknown, but know the difference between PRECAUTION and PREJUDICE.

I will tell you a story.

The sun was getting closer to the horizon, covering the world with darkness. This day so many cars passed my way, not being touched with the itchhiking message of my thumb. Crossing the border with Cambodia was becoming a dream more than reality. Until this day, hitchhiking in Vietnam was working really well, even though not many people spoke english. They were just very helpful.

Hope was leaving my soul and I started to wonder where the hell can I put my tent around this busy road with no bush to hide behind. Suddenly a motorbike stopped and a man in his 40 kindly offered me a ride. His english was very basic but luckily we could understand each other . He was very concerned that I don't have money to pay for accommodation. All the way he was asking me if for sure I don't want to stay in a hostel. My answer was surely NO, because I decided to travel low budget.After a long motorbike ride he decided to offer me a place to sleep at his home. Not thinking much I agreed.

As it was getting darker and darker we were going further from the main road. My heart startet to beat faster and thoughts filled with doubts about making right decision started to appear in my head. There was less and less buildings around us, only small houses and no more concrete roads. The only audible sound was our engine and dogs barking. Finally, we arrived to a small house with two rooms and a garage made into a living room. The wife of my new friend was extremely surprised to see a white blond girl on a motorbike with her husband... In the beginning I saw she was a bit suspicious and didn't trust me. The man created a hostile atmosphere by showing me their simple home. It was a blessing for me. I really wanted to leave a good impression, so that the family wouldn't get discouraged with white people. Luckily they had two children which I started to play with and softened the mother's heart who understood my harmlesness. At this time the meal was being made with love and will to share the best the family had to offer.

After a while all the family including grandmother, brother of my host and his children, we gathered around a big food tray filled with different types of greens, rice, some chicken, spices and soup. This was another moment during trip in Asia that showed me the importance of sharing the food with our close ones.

Despite the late hour children didn't want to stop playing with me. The host expressed huge interest in the reality in Europe and my extraordinary way of travelling. This evening made us all feel connected, as if we experienced something very unusual together. The fact that the house was very poor, without inside toilet and kitchen did not disturb at all, because the people themselves were giving me much more than luxury. They showed me hospitality and nonjudgmental attitude. Of course, they didn't let me help them clean, because I was their guest and I could not say anything when the grandmother gave me her room with bed and went to sleep on the floor in the living room.

The next morning we woke up at 5 a.m. as my host was supposed to start his work. His kindness expressed with small gifts for the road - vietnamese coffe and a helmet that would provide me more possibilities of motorbike rides :) At 6 a.m. I found myself next to the highway again, with a feeling that after a night like this, things just have to go right.

Actually, I remind myself this story while writing this post when I was thinking about precaution. This was another time during my travels that I wasn't very careful and at the end it turned out to be an experience confirming that it is good to trust people. But I have to mention, that from the beginning I didn't feel any bad energy from this man and if I did, I wouldn't agree to go to his house.

SOME MORE TINY ABSURDS