Hello Most Excellent Ones,
One of the most startling things about Asia is the disparity between the rich and poor. I have seen mansions worth millions, cars worth hundreds of thousands, clothes worth thousands, and then literally around the corner or across the street I have seen poverty. Shacks, run down bikes, and rags for clothes. In China I bought a pancake type snack for about five cents Canadian at a vendor whose establishment was nothing more than a pile of bricks and a pan over a fire. Across the street was a modern gleaming mall with a KFC offering breakfast for about 10 dollars Canadian. While the 5 cent deal was a little sketchy it was actually quite good and I splurged and bought myself another. I ignored KFC. Another time I left my well guarded and beautiful resort in the Philippines to go for a jog. I had not gone more than 10 feet when a little girl in rags and holding a little money purse starting running with me and singing, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The UN should mandate a rule that all children in the World get three meals a day, decent clothes, shelter, and an education. No kid should have to beg. Needless to say I gave my singer, could not be more than ten, a few cents, which is all I had. I could go on and on with heart breaking story after heart breaking story about the poverty here in Asia. I am thankful I have what I have, I am thankful for the food I can purchase, I am thankful for the funds I have at my disposal for travel, I am thankful that I am here getting daily perspective on what is really important in life and what true wealth is. I have learned that despite the great poverty here in Asia most people have deep and tender ties with their families. They work hard to take care of each other and despite the lack of material possessions they still find time to smile, laugh, and be with each other. In a way many in Asia, despite their lack of material wealth, are more wealthy than us North Americans in terms of family bonds and time to be with one another.
Something to think about. Amen.
A street scene in rural China.
Kaiping, China.
Kaiping, China.
Kaipng, China.
Bangkog, Thailand
Bangkog, Thailand. Crazy telephone wires.
Home in Bangkog, Thailand.
Cheng Chau Island, Hong Kong
Cheng Chau Island, Hong Kong
Kowloon, Hong Kong. On the roofs of many buildings in Hong Kong and Kowloon there are literally hundreds of shacks built helter skelter on top of them. Very illegal, but no one has the heart or moxie to remove them. Hong Kong's slums are on the top of buildings! This can be seen from my nice apartment complex. Rich, poor, middle class, it is all a big mumble/jumble in Asia.
Well dear friends have a great week!
Dirk
One of the most startling things about Asia is the disparity between the rich and poor. I have seen mansions worth millions, cars worth hundreds of thousands, clothes worth thousands, and then literally around the corner or across the street I have seen poverty. Shacks, run down bikes, and rags for clothes. In China I bought a pancake type snack for about five cents Canadian at a vendor whose establishment was nothing more than a pile of bricks and a pan over a fire. Across the street was a modern gleaming mall with a KFC offering breakfast for about 10 dollars Canadian. While the 5 cent deal was a little sketchy it was actually quite good and I splurged and bought myself another. I ignored KFC. Another time I left my well guarded and beautiful resort in the Philippines to go for a jog. I had not gone more than 10 feet when a little girl in rags and holding a little money purse starting running with me and singing, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The UN should mandate a rule that all children in the World get three meals a day, decent clothes, shelter, and an education. No kid should have to beg. Needless to say I gave my singer, could not be more than ten, a few cents, which is all I had. I could go on and on with heart breaking story after heart breaking story about the poverty here in Asia. I am thankful I have what I have, I am thankful for the food I can purchase, I am thankful for the funds I have at my disposal for travel, I am thankful that I am here getting daily perspective on what is really important in life and what true wealth is. I have learned that despite the great poverty here in Asia most people have deep and tender ties with their families. They work hard to take care of each other and despite the lack of material possessions they still find time to smile, laugh, and be with each other. In a way many in Asia, despite their lack of material wealth, are more wealthy than us North Americans in terms of family bonds and time to be with one another.
Something to think about. Amen.
Bangkog, Thailand. Crazy telephone wires.
Well dear friends have a great week!
Dirk
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