Transport
The quality of transport differs from comfortable to nightmare standard. I wonder why they just don’t sell standard the cheap nightmare tickets. It could be that they forget to drop you off and that you have to backtrack again. Airconditioning is either very cold or not working. The latter is a problem, since windows cannot be opened. I can tell you I sweat almost all my body fluids out in several ocasions.
Despite the delays and other inconveniences the transport serves litteraly everywhere and it is is dirt cheap.
- Train (among the best in Russia, China, and Vietnam)
- Bus (everywhere, any time, quality differs from aircon delux buses to chickens and stinky durians surrounding you in the local buses)
- Songthaew/Bemo/Kaa/Saamlaw (local buses are the best to interact with people (and chickens)
- Bicycle (my oldtime favourite, environmentally friendly, and enjoy hazardous traffic)
- Taxi, tricycle, riksha (absolutely shitty transport and you’re sure to get ripped off)
Culture & Religion
Buhddism is the prevailing religion in Asia. Pieceful and respectful. I think that’s why Asia is very safe to travel. Islam is the dominant religion in Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Besides the screaming of “Allah…” during the day and night, you will notice that these muslim countries are much more conservative if it comes to social life compared to their Buddhist neighbours, but that religion is practised in a very liberal way. More than we prejudice. Asia is a continent which is rich in culture. Not only Buddhism enriches the culture but also strong native beliefs that are based on shamanism. Each country is covered with distinctive temples and temple complexes or attractive processions that roar villages for weeks.
Family is very important. One of the most spoken topics were related to family. These conversations always confronted me with my individualism. The family and “we” feeling has a far more prominent place in life than we have in the Netherlands.
And then there is what I call “fuckmindedness”. It means that the population is so into getting the money from the tourists that prices are exorbitant high and tremendous commissions exist. Normally every person who approaches you on the street wants to have a “business deal”. Talking to the locals is therefore impossible. I noticed this practice especially in Indonesia (in less extend in Vietnam), so they get the “fuckmindedness” award. Absolutely terrible people. By the way: Indonesia turned out to be the most expensive country in Asia; NOT Singapore. Wait, “they” get for that reason a double “fuckmindedness” award. Yes you read it well: I damned disgust Indonesian mentality. For that reason I don’t give a damn about their poverty. That disgusting sentence: “no money, no money” Then why do they spend hours and hours in their mosques? They should work their ass off first and then go to a mosque 5 times a day. Or shut the *beep* up. That’s all. And you know what? Ripping of tourists that dramatically will always work against you. That is the rule of “what you give is what you get”. Nothing in their case.
Unfortunately this part of the world hosts some of the nastiest habits on earth. I listed them from absolutely disgusting to quite nasty.
- Nose blowing: clearing your nose by blowing hard trough the nose, while holding one nose whole closed. The green, yellowish slimy content usually hits the pavement (if lucky).
- Hawking: The noise that is made when clearing the throat “ggggwwwweeeeeerrrrkkkkkkk” How does that sound? [I’m so tempted to insert a short audio fragment] –> Often followed by coughing up phlegm which is warmed up in the mouth before spitting it out. In some countries I thought the guts might come out too.
- Spitting: No explanation needed I think
- Sneezing: The best place is to do it without covering the mouth in a place where the exposed “victims” of the sneeze cannot escape (e.g bus, metro).
- Littering: I would almost call it a continental psych. As soon if your bottle, container or what so ever is empty they discard it. Environmental education is really needed here, but most countries have barely enough money for normal education. Very sad.