hm, wrote a comment but it got erased, so this will be shorter-
I definitely agree with your points/views here.
One thing I thing will make a lot of positive change- advertisement regulation. Adverstisements trying to sell people something that ends up screwing them over basically run our society I think.
So, inputting real life testing//research (though research is often done by the companies themselves, so skewed) into ads would be a step in the right direction, limiting false claims, or outright lies, etc.
"Respect for the natural environment should inform and temper all of our actions."
Definitely a key point.
This will bring a reconnection to the food supply as well, central for everything we do. I wrote a quote yesterday from Rudolf Steiner on how bringing things into physical reality from thought/spirit is actually largely a matter of nutrition.
On wars, I find what you said agreeable- somehow I find the ancient greek/roman wars to be exciting, but the wars/violence of today..just unnecessary.
Pattya Photos So the boys and I gather round the computer to see where in the world is Nic. And there is the photo of Andy and a toy penis. You keep things interesting, even from another continent.
response Well, I'm pretty certain that this comment wasn't meant as a reply to MY blog. After all, none of the quotations come from me.
In any event, I don't agree with censorship in any form, so I'll let this guy say his piece. For the record, I really dig most of the things about India that he's mentioined--or at least try to understand them--and I really don't like most of the things he's criticized about America.
Enjoy his rant. Think he should get a blog of his own?
you 1. "India is such a poor country. I feel so fortunate."
Just want to make sure "Indians" dont feel that they are "unfortunate". "You" think they are unfortunate. Even the kids in orphanage are happy and optimistic about their life. That is India.
2. "I see so many beggars, cows,dogs, monkeys in the road"
I see so many doctors, engineers, programmers, civil servants. Now you will come running and say what about percentage. EXACTLY. You got the point. How much percentage are the beggars?
Unlike the so called "civilized" world(lasvegas,nyc,france) where they forcibly remove homeless(note they dont use the word beggars in developed countries), India on the other hand does not treat them like shit. They are part of India and they work hard for their money. India is a truly "free" country, everyone has the right to do what they want and they usually do. People go up in life. They dont just remain in the streets.
Also here is a data from UN. The definition for poverty is the same all over the world. According to that, India has 24% people in poverty and US has 14% in poverty. Now i know in absolute numbers that is huge in India. But again With such a population you will have this numbers.
3. "India is so dirty and smelly. They dont use trash"
The garbage in India is "organic". Very less plastic and more biodegradable foods. It is far better than "developed" countries where plastic fills the land fills and which takes 1000s of years to degrade. And also a couple of papers lying in the road doesn't make a "country" "dirty". And also your cheese smells bad to Indians. And we dont complain about your "smell". So shut it.
4. "Touts and Beggars"
Dont think "everyone" is out to get you. Some want to cheat you and some just want to help you. Dont be constantly paranoid like you are in your country.
In New york City thy dont try to con you. They just "shoot" you if you dont give money. Indians are just trying to con you. And they know, you know they are trying to con you. It is just a game.
And also it is not just "you" foreigners for whom the price is raised. It is also for the locals. Nobody thinks they are being cheated. Every single Indian goes through what you go through. It is just a way of life. People raise the price, and you haggle. The more skilled you are the better offer you get. And also remember there are equal number of honest people who dont try to cheat you. So dont be constantly paranoid.
5. Toilets. Indians wipe with their hand.
First Indians dont "wipe" with their left hand. They "wash" with their left hand. And they use "soap" to clean up after. So dont just wash and not use soap. Use soap if you dont get a TP. Otherwise you will get diarrhea.
6. Toilets in Trains
Dont expect a hilton level toilet when you pay 50 cents for a 500 km journey. If you want good bathrooms get tickets in first class or AC compartments. The bathrooms in first class/ac are good. In India you get what you pay for. So for better conditions pay more money.
And dont use a quotation for class like this, 'class'. After all, the flight that you took also have 'executive/business class'. The classes are for people who have money and want better conditions just like any other country.
7. Hotels/Hostels
Again dont be complaining about bathrooms or rooms when you pay 1$/night. If you want better conditions go to better hotels. I understand you backpackers are on a shoestring budget. If that is the case don't "complain" and tell everyone Indian hotels are disgusting.
In India, services are there for people with different amounts of money(just like any other country). So if you want better conditions like your country pay like you do in your country.
8. "I stayed in my friends house and it was small"
You don't need a palace to "feel" like a king. All you need is a loving family to feel like a king.
9. Women
This is for all you bra burners. Indian women are not "marginalized" any more than your counterparts in your country. Just because you dont see a woman walking in your street doesn't mean they are in the house cooking and washing.First talk to "Indian" women from different walks of life (rich/middle class/poor) and then make "judgements".
Just to put it into perspective we had a woman prime minister in the "1960s". SHAME ON YOU AMERICANS. And yes there are some marginilized women. I know that. They are also in plenty in your country. So open your eyes and think.
And showing your boobs on Girls Gone Wild or fighting in Jerry Springer Show doesn't make you "liberated". Indians consider "that" marginalized.
10. Arranged Marriages
There is another preconcieved notion that bride and groom "meet" on the day of their marriage. They "meet" and know each other at least a minimum of 3 months or a maximum of 1 year before marrying. And also only a few "women" are "forced". Like i said "above" talk to an "Indian" woman from all walks of life(rich/middle class/poor) and then make judgements.
11. "I am surprised to see a mall, with girls in mini skirts and boyfriends".
Welcome to the land of contradictions. Whatever you see the opposite is "equally" true.
12. "I see cows and elephants on the road"
Who told you the roads are only for humans. And who said cows dont "belong"in roads.
13. "India has bad roads with potholes"
Dont blame India if you dont want to take the Golden quadrilateral road for your trips.
14. "Men hold hands"
Well Indians dont have to prove that they are "men" by screwing 10 different girls and bragging about it to their friends. Indians dont see that as a big deal. Although some may also be gay couples. And we dont treat them with contempt like Americans do in their country.
15. "India is a conservative country and you should not kiss in public"
First visit some malls. Second even if that is true the law applies only to Indians. not you foreigners. And nobody is going to throw stones at you for kissing(this does not apply to temples).
16 "Holy cow"
PETA hates India because India is one of the biggest leather manufacturer. Take a guess on how leather is made. Cow skin hides. Yes Indians slaughter cows like there is no tomorrow. Yes, Indians are as hypocrites as any other race/culture.
17. I see slums and poor people
I see big buildings and malls. "You SEE what you LOOK/SEARCH for".
18. Houses are on top of each other
Yeah, that is called an apartment.
19. "The streets are dirty"
Again a couple of news paper flying doesnt make a country "dirty".
20. Varanasi
Ok, this going to be long. This is from an Indian perspective. Varanasi is filled with the following
Bums pretending to be sadhus- 60%
Priests-20%
Tourists-20% (Includes Indians)
I said bums because these group of people ran away from their family so they could escape difficulties in life and just lead a poor albeit easy going life just by begging in varanasi or touting. They do not represent "hinduism" or "hindus".
Also not "all" Hindus go to varanasi and throw their bodies in ganges. Only the poor illiterates do that. We have crematoriums all over the different cities.
2000 years ago varanasi was a center of culture. Right now it is anything but. Varanasi does not represent Hinduism right now. It is just old glory. Like the British Empire. It is good to look back. But right now it is just a city full of lazy bums who want to beg.
21. "This city is modern, and educated"/"Only a few people are educated. Many dont know English".
Just because they speak "english" doesn't mean they are educated. Many poeple are educated in their native toungues and "that" also means "modern" and "educated". People dont have to learn english to become modern, look at the japanese. We have our own languages to do that.
Lets talk about literacy data, Under 35 years of age the literacy rate in India is comparable to developed countries(90%). As a whole population the literacy level reduces because the old people were not allowed to go to school before independence.
Take a look at UN Human development index for "Facts". It will corroborate what i say.
And in one blog an idiot traveler wrote girls are not allowed to go to school in India. That is just plain ignorant. Again I repeat talk to women from different walks of life(rich/middle class/poor) before making judgements. That doesnt mean talking to one person and making a judgement about 1 billion people.
22. "This is a modern city, they have pizza and pasta and girls wear skirts and jeans"
Excuse me!!!. That is so condscending. Indians love their food and their culture. And remember you are in India. Sarees and salwars are modern too according to Indians.
23. "It is so crowded"
Indian population is 1.1 billion and thats how it will be. If you dont like crowds dont come to India.
24. "This is a British Hill Station, French colony, Portuguese colony, Dutch colony"
Yes we remember you screwed us really well, but it is "WAS" people. "WAS".
25. "The internet is slow. They dont have usb ports"
There are high fi internet centers in big buildings and malls. Again the price would be higher. So don't complain. Dont go to a shack with a coputer and complain about no USB. That computer was meant for poor people who cant afford to pay more. So if you want your usb,webcam,mike speaker, and any other idiotic gadgetry go to big buildings and malls.
26. Caste
Caste categories(not caste) are used in only "one" place. When applying for government colleges and jobs for reservation(affirmative action). No Indian discusses about his "caste" unless you shoot him with too many questions.There are "NO" untouchables. The word untouchables is illegal in India from 1947. So dont be poking about castes. And caste is not based on color of the skin. That is a misconception of westerners.
27. "Indians eat with their hands"
So do YOU. How do you think you eat your sandwich with mayo dripping,pizza,burgers,fries,subs,burritos,tacos,bbq, wings, bread,cake, cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. So suddenly eating rice with hands is sooooooooooooooooo "uncivilised" and dramatic for you???????
28. "In India i have to haggle for everything. Back home it is so easy".
Yes India is not like a episode of Stepford wives, where nobody questions. Everything in India is questioned, Indians dont like to be told what to do and what to pay. So they haggle.
Thank you, and come again.
Remember, You will see what you look/search for. So tourists, what are you looking/searching for?. It would bo good to come with an open mind, not with prejudices or preconcieved notions.
And also since westerners use every single instance to prove Indians are uncivilised. I take this opportunity to tell what things are uncivilised according to Indians
1. Male and Female circumcision. If male and female are equal then both are evil.
2. Invading another country for oil and in the process 500,000 iraqis dying. This is definitely uncivilised.
3. Showing your boobs in Girls Gone Wild
4. Appearing on Maury and Jerry Springer shows to find out who your father is.
5. Not knowing who the father of your baby is.
6. Using booster seats for safety of kids but living with different step mom and step dads.
7. Using Paper to clean your body instead of water.
8. Half cooked meat like steak. Only animals eat that way. Eating with fork doesn't make it civilised.
9. Trying to find what is different instead of finding what is common between us.
10. Not having a vegetarian dish other than broccoli, and carrot even after so many years of "civilisation".
11. Having sex with 10 different people but claiming it is about love. NO, it is about sex.
12. Paying $30 for a drink back home. But complaining about $1 increase in fare for autos because of white skin.
13.
... I'm down for some comic book collaboration. I've also heard the naked chick story a million times, I know I was there but for whatever reason I missed the actual excitement, maybe I was too drunk.
yup, always go with your own path- it doesn't need to be compared to anyone elses.
Another food related comment:
Weston Price took pictures of people eating their traditional diets, and those from the same groups who abandoned them for industrialized diets, and noted that those who abandoned the traditional seemed much less happy (and of course were more prone to dental decay/disease)- maybe that's a factor between Thailand and Cambodia.
As you can probably tell, there really is a lot of sociology behind food.
yum- cow brain. It's actually loaded with good stuff(as long as raised healthily/on grass). I haven't tried any yet but will at some point (I could actually buy some here from a farmer in Texas but I dont think my mom wants cow head in our house, basically).
I've gotta say Nik, I'm really liking following along with the off-the-beaten-path experiences.
HIV....yet another unfortunate occurence that likely could be prevented in large part by a return to a nourishing, nutrient dense, traditional diet (by action of becoming immune/less susceptible to the virus). As for the situation in Cambodia on food production, I know nothing, but sustainable(thus health bringing) agriculture I'm sure would be a key. Specifically, this means plant foods raised in healthy soil and clean raw dairy/meat(including organs)/stocks from grass-fed animals, and all types of fresh seafood. I'm not sure how much these practices are (still) used there though.
It seems this type of agriculture helps with economic stability as well, so it may help with the poverty situation.
A good group doing work in this area which I may have mentioned is the Weston A. price Foundation.
You're definitely doing good things there.
Read 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson This is the best book I've read in 5 years! You'll particularly love it-doing what you're doing.
All the best,
Your friend, Sean Fay
sihanoukville explained Sihanoukville is actually just a nickname for the town. it has a different Khmer name. "Sihanouk" is the name of the king, and "ville" comes from the french. That is all.
Interesting "...the burdens of government and the chains of authority."
Hmmmm. I agree with much of what you wrote about. I think your comment about violence and anarchy are a little harsh, but it's hard to know exactly what you mean simply from reading this.
I think it's interesting to point out that many libertarians, such as Jefferson and Hamilton and indeed Franklin, would say that it is our "duty" to oppose our government when our "inherent" rights our violated/oppressed, etc. The right to bear arms is rooted more in our own revolution against the rule of the new colonies than it is in protecting ourselves/individual property.
Understanding that leads me to believe that even rational intellects of their times (who happen to be former presidents and revolutionists) knew that ultimately it can come down to an actual fight for their beliefs, employing weapons to secure their lives/livlihood.
I do not believe in violence, but I think that violence is different from defence.
I do not believe any man can control any other man. The rights we are born with are not actually able to be separated from us, as we did not give them to ourselves. Therefore, they can't be usurped or manipulated or taken. When persons, agencies, governments, etc. commit acts overtly, write policies, etc. that interupt an individual's ability to fully exercise their rights, that person/agency/government is guilty of the highest crime. When it is known that this act/policy will occur and/or they have been occurring and persons take actions to defend themselves, I don't disagree with their having done so.
I too would like to see more people seek real self-actualization and not confuse it with what they've been brainwashed to believe it is. Only focusing on ourselves (what we absolutely can change) can bring us to changing the environment we live in. That plus time.
Eh??? Just a shot in the dark but perhaps "Ville" comes from the French word for town. Another shot in the dark that there is an outside chance that the French colonisation of Cambodia has something to do with this towns name.
You never know...
dude... long comments as usual... thanks for the thoughtful comments, aaron. we're gonna have to hang out and talk when I get back to the states. peace- nic
I wonder how this city got the name of “ville”- isn’t that german or something?
Colonization I suppose.
So, the unnamed English chick actually liked this John dude?
By the way, that plate of lobsters- supreme health food right there. Assuming it’s relatively fresh.
“Our journeys gave us intimate knowledge on the layout of this place that in no way resembled its maps.”
Cartography not up to speed there?
Nice biography chapters- it seems you are a fan of a broad range of experiences.
“Peaceful coexistence and mutual ideological agreement only really exists on a very small level with human beings. A group of 4 or 5 or 10 might be able to maintain cohesion with their worldview, but a group of 50 or 70 or a hundred might work even better.
Get any larger and you'll start to have clashes and interactions between cultural groups, and two major things will happen:
1. People will attempt to spread their way of life (and worldview) through whatever means available.
2. People will embrace, learn, and adopt others' ideas”
It seems history would be congruent with such a surmising, but I would say this can be redefined.
I think that if people were to let go of all limiting beliefs (like “I am the owner of this person” as we see so often in relationships) and let true freedom go on and start doing things like sustainable farming/Community supported agriculture widespread..things would start to settle down a bit- establish a strong connection through your food and you’re taking a nice step in the right direction.
Basically there just needs to be openness and understanding. No violent reaction to a conflicting viewpoint.
Hmm..only those who win get in the history books as they say..and then I might say that those who start the war would more often than not win the war, and those who make the wars weren’t the greatest..
On the French at least they held onto some good food traditions it seems- they trained Sally Fallon, great woman.
As for making a historical figure who’s been glorified look aweful: Ben Franklin.
A while back I heard this early morning radio show all talking about how great he was and all the little tedious facts of his life, what a genius he was, etc.
In November, at the WAPF 7th annual conference, Dr. Tom Cowan(in a speech on adrenals) somehow tied in that Ben Franklin instructed the colonists to commit genocide upon all native Americans- wipe them all out.
Cowan was talking about how he did this because the natives would take POW’s, and the colonists would go for a trade. The white POW’s would not want to come back to their old way of life after I guess discovering the superior peace or just way of life of the natives- so at that, Ben Franklin said the only way to prevent this is to kill them all.
How accurate is this, I’m not sure.
Hi There My name is Mary and I live in Sydney, I grew up in former Yugoslavia and went through the horrible war that happened there I do know what it feels like to loose someone so close to you. I cried so much reading your post it is beautifly written..
take care
M
My condolences I've read a few of your entries now and then, and I have to say that this one was very touching. I, too, have lost someone very dear to me and there are days where it seems like he passed just yesterday. Your brother will always be with you, and he can live through you and your memories. I have to say that donkey picture is one great snapshot!
Happy travels!
Nathan is in our minds this time of year. I spent a lot of time with your mom. Take care and I'm glad you found your tiger tamer. I think of you often as I pass the tiger cage at the bottom of the road. Keep blogging. Karen
My name is Nic Nakis and I come from Sedro-Woolley, WA. I started this travel blog as "The Mad Greek's Travel Blog" when I left North America for the first time in 2006. I documented that first 6-month, around-the-world trip extensively. Then, I returned for a few updates around 2010. I revived the blog in 2022 in order to record my ongoing travels and fill in some of the gaps.
I am a filmmaker and a fitness coach.
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Aaron Brown
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hm, wrote a comment but it got erased, so this will be shorter- I definitely agree with your points/views here. One thing I thing will make a lot of positive change- advertisement regulation. Adverstisements trying to sell people something that ends up screwing them over basically run our society I think. So, inputting real life testing//research (though research is often done by the companies themselves, so skewed) into ads would be a step in the right direction, limiting false claims, or outright lies, etc. "Respect for the natural environment should inform and temper all of our actions." Definitely a key point. This will bring a reconnection to the food supply as well, central for everything we do. I wrote a quote yesterday from Rudolf Steiner on how bringing things into physical reality from thought/spirit is actually largely a matter of nutrition. On wars, I find what you said agreeable- somehow I find the ancient greek/roman wars to be exciting, but the wars/violence of today..just unnecessary.