Big Gecko - apparently these big guys are used for experimentation for AIDS and are worth big bucks, but D and Mark protect them.
Was just reading an article about Robert DeNiro and he says “Now is now. Then is then. And the future will be what the future will be. So enjoy the moment while you’re in it. Now is the great time.” And I look around myself and the moment. I am reclined on a large wooden bed like piece of furniture with three comfortable cushions behind my back. I am located in the middle of a “pondok” which is a Malaysian hut structure without walls – you don’t need walls in this climate. I have two fans blowing on me and there is a gentle wind also blowing. It is shortly after a downpour which has left everything green lush and fresh. There is the haunting singing from the nearby mosque being broadcast by its speakers. The wind is causing a shell windchime to sing its song. It is still over cast but there is a brightness. That is fine because when the sun is fully out it is too hot. The birds are singing. I hear the flap of a bird’s wings as it flies above. It is quiet, stress-free and peaceful. I am waiting for the Royal Wedding to proceed so I can watch it on the live youtube streaming. Yup – I am going to watch it and Yup – I still have royalist blood in my body despite all the critisicm. I am still a romantic at heart and I still need to aspire to a fairytale from time to time. I keeps life colourful.
These are neat lamps that Mark had the parts for that I have bought.
My new friends Ines and Felix left today and I am a bit sad because I really liked their energy, but I may very likely see them again. How can you not love such a paradise as I am sitting in. Everyone that I have met here, Ines and Felix, a new Columbian couple in their 30s – Juan and Katalina, a young girl from Finland – Iris, a new couple from Nottingham – Adam and Lara (pronounced like I say my name – so there!), and a swave bloke from Ireland, now living in KL – Liv, are all on a journey of at least 6 months (except for Liv). They are all trying to find meaning and something different than the non-fulfilling rat-race of 9 – 5. This is a common theme. This is not just me. I keep meeting this over and over in my travels so this state of dis-ease with the Western ‘status-quo’ of work til you drop, is losing favour.
Ines enjoys the pool in Langkawi
I am reading this book I have come upon which has captured my interest. The first line in the prologue says, “Not a shred of evidence exists that wandering is irresponsible. One trip can change everything and every trip should try.” It goes on to say, “Attack boredom. Boredom is the fiery assasin. Sadly, modern humankind has become a prisoner of time and technology. We’ve been seduced into abandoning our innermost nomadic callings. the art of traveling is ancient, like cave art.”
Funky cat with two different eye colours
People I have met often feel guilty for taking this time away from the rat race and I ask them to question why. Who said settling and staying one place and doing the same thing for an indefinite period of time is the right way. People often fall to the excuse of needing stability for the children. But let’s look at history. Families often moved. Let’s go to the book series Clan of the Cave Bear. Do you think the clans said, “oh we can’t move to a more productive useful spot, it will disturb the children.” Children are way more resilient than we give them credit. It is the adults who aren’t and they impose their fear of change and use the children as excuses. I think the best thing you can offer children is diversity, change, multiple different ways of looking at the world and then as they develop into adults, they can choose for themselves what works for whatever values they have captured and held onto because they ring true in their hearts.
I know - it's just a chicken
Diversity is the spice of life. I always say that I specialize in diversity. I do. But it is a hard one for people to grasp onto. They want to put a label on me. They want to know how to categorize me and what I am. Being much of many things leaves people unsettled. But I am not going to change that and it may work against me in some societies so I shall seek the life where it is embraced and accepted for the breadth of experience it delivers. I think in my travels I am finding such like minded people. What a gift I have been given.
Be careful in the muslim countries right now due to the recent news. There may be some retaliation against non-muslims, depending on their thoughts of Bin Laden. Where do you go next?
Thanks for the thought Ewan. I have been watching the news and did think about that. I go to Melaka next. Malaysia is pretty safe so I am not concerned. Then I go to Kenya but I will be well taken care of there. As always I keep a keen eye out for myself. One main rule is that I never go out after dark in strange countries.