Wars. Communism. Drug trade. Colonialism. Trade routes. Sex tourism. Third world. Poverty. Exotic cuisine. Politically sensitive. Danger
....Yes, these all come to mind when you think about a certain part of the world.
Beaches. Mountains. Hospitality. Compassion. Philosophy. Agriculture. Entrepreneurship.
Freedom.
....Yes, these all come to mind when you think about a certain part of the world.
The world is full of locations that fit those descriptions. In fact, most places have met all or at least some of those descriptions at one time or another.
Passion for travel comes from being to differentiate the past from the present and likely future. It comes from appreciating local peoples for who they are and not who they aren't. We, as travelers are visitors in the homes of our guests. We are here to learn. We are here to be humble. We are here to discover our home beyond our home.
My interest in southeast Asia began as the grandchild of a Korean war veteran. My grandfather would share grand stories of his deployment overseas. What fascinated me more than the missions and experiences he had while he was there, and even more than why he was there to begin with, was the people he met while he was there. I wanted to meet those people... the chefs, the farmers, the doctors, etc. What about it was different? Why were they different than me? Could we ever possibly find some common ground? I knew my grandfather, but there were people that played an important part in his life that I could only ever know through his stories. It was then, I began to percieve a global nature to all of our experience.
Then came my Hollywood education about the Vietnam War. A post cold war conflict based on presumptuous nationalistic ideology, one which has shaped generations and foreign policy for years. ...Platoon
...Good Morning, Vietnam
...Apocalypse Now
...Rambo
By design, these films all bring to mind a sense of duty, passion and loss. Conversely, I have always found myself trying to see the experience through the perspective of the "enemy". This has surely proven a feeble effort to gain a greater understanding of who was on the other side of the American Colt M-16 or under one of the many bombs let loosed by a B-52 far beyond the reach of a VC's AK-47.
Let me take a moment to recognize the many men that have fought bravely for their country before me. I will never pretend to know or understand the atrocities of war. My hat will remain tipped throughout my trip, especially through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. This has recently been echoed during a recent visit with a former coworker of my father. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1962 and was paid $60 / month as a crewmember on a resupply helicopter based in Hue, Vietnam. The intense look of mortality and duty in his eyes was evident as he merely glossed over an experience over 50 years old. To this man, and many more like him, I extend my deepest gratitude for their service.
Back to why I am going. Food.
THE FIVE FLAVORS: spicy, sweet, salty, sour and bitter.
When I moved to Bellingham, Washington I thought I knew about Asian food. Then I found myself on the West coast with true Asian restaurants, offering true Asian dishes. At first, I found the flavors and lack of clearly translated menus intimidating and offensive. It took a few uncomfortable trips to begin to appreciate the dining experience for just exactly what it was... an experience. Just like any experience, we enter into with a general expectation of how it will end up.
My culinary ball and chain had been my general lack of exposure to anything other than European dishes. This is not to say that never had the pleasure of having been the patron of one of the first "Taco Bell" restaurants to grace north Pittsburgh or perhaps even an "Olive Garden" here and there. But, then I moved to Northwest Washington. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. is main port city for Asia, therefore, I had a cornucopia of restaurants that represented a variety of Asian cultures. The exterior of some of my favorite restaurants left a lot to be desired, but once inside, the customer was magically transported to the homeland of your host. Sizzling spices in large, open fired woks casted a fiery burst of light from the kitchen, much like a yellowish strobe light promising the same to your palate. Hand rolled noodles made in front of your eyes were being placed onto a steaming pot of water, all beyond a protective window covered in condensed cooking media. A sensual experience that hearkened to my own childhood of SEEING and SMELLING your food as it is being prepared. Within this, the customer builds a certain trust with the chef. He has nothing to hide, and proud to employ you in the process through your sense of smell, sight and hearing up until the moment the plate is presented at your table. As you pass incoming customers, it is easy to relay the sense of enjoyment one is about to experience. A nod to the chef is barely received as he is well immersed in the task at hand to meet the order of the customer at hand, always remaining in the moment.
And, such a passion is born.
I have since wanted to go to the source to appreciate this hospitality in situ. While working at Rocky Mountain National Park, I met many coworkers that had spent time in Thailand. They all spoke volumes about how wonderful their experiences had been. The people, the terrain, the culture, the backpacker lifestyle... Upon exploring the area from the comfort of my apartment in Colorado via the Google machine, it became readily apparent to me that a trip to Thailand would surely be wasted without spending a significant amount of time exploring the Indochina Peninsula. A seed had been sown. I had just begun to realize that many have gone before me and many will travel afterwards, but it is me who will begin this journey.
I found myself seriously considering a long term trip to SE Asia in the spring of 2014. I had a slight sense of feeling that life was happening around me and feeling less of a participant... I decided to participate. August was the decision month, stay or go. Go. GO. GO! My decision was bolstered upon meeting a like minded traveler, Stacey Hart. While searching for the best Manhattan in Pittsburgh, I stumbled into "Dive Bar" Lawerenceville. I immediately befriended Stacey after hassling her about not keeping Four Roses bourbon in stock. She and I later shared our desire to travel SE Asia as an opportunity to explore the culture. Although my decision to visit this part of the world was independent of meeting Stacey, I quickly realized the value of our travel partnership.
Our travel plans loosely include traveling from Pittsburgh to Bangkok, Thailand via Chicago, IL to Doha, Qatar. From there we will travel North to Chiang Mai for the Loy Krathong Festival ( http://www.chiangmai-alacarte.com/loy-krathong-festival-november-5-6-and-7-2014-0 )... then from there to Chiang Rai, Thailand... onto Luang Prabrang, Laos.... Vientienne, Laos... Hue, Vietnam.... Saigon, Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Cambodia... Phuket, Thailand... home ..... maybe
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