Eastern Values, Western Traditions

Coming to you live from... my hotel room in the heart of Hong Kong. I have so much to say, but my bed continuously stops me in my tracks. Since my group departed Sunday morning, I have managed to get quite a few (well-deserved) naps in. Not to mention, some sight seeing at Lantau Island, home of the "Big Buddha". Oh, and I hit the so-called "ladies market" tonight and couldn't resist a bargain or four, but only after chili mushrooms and a spicy tandoori prawn dish at Gaylords, an amusing Indian joint with great live music to really give the place atmosphere.

My group and I travelled in Bangkok, the Kingdom of Bhutan, and Hong Kong. These cities, countries, cultures, have much in common, which I will refer to as Eastern Values. I am not talking moral values education (no need to rehash my thesis here), but simple things from the use of water for transport, the importance of chilis in cooking (this is food), and Buddhism. Add Western tourists with Western Traditions: the tradition of shopping; the tradition of criticizing when feeling tired, or perhaps guilty; and the tradition of forgetting everything with in minutes of the experience.

I will try my best to elaborate soon, although some things are better left unsaid. I might have to let the photos speak for themselves.

The Kingdom of Bhutan gets 2 thumbs up from me. Not only is the countryside beautiful, unpolluted, and not built up (yet, unless we can count road building by hand), the people most definitely make you feel at home in their home. They are happy, and it shows.