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Read the travel blog for zipper Go


The Island Vibe..

Been chilling out in Koh Pangnan for the last month, and it is really nice how it feels so easy to forget about all of the madness back home and cling to the simple things.  Most of the luxuries back home I haven't found myself missing, and the thought of going home makes me wonder how many of the things here I will soon be missing.  I can say that I have not found myself wishing I had my car, as catching motor bike taxi's and long tail boats from island to island has been so cool.  I haven't found myself missing the feeling of always having to wear the right clothes, as my two pair of swim trunks seems to be all i really need.  It is hard not to think about how the country I come from is a "rich" country, but yet is seems that people are generally unhappy and stressed out from all of the pressures.  I think I like being in a poor country, where most of that pressure simply doesn't exist.

I know many will say "sure, you like being in a poor country with your foreign currency" and I guess that may partially be true.  But, when I look over how much I am spending here, its not really that far off of what a local would make..  I am not blowing through tons of money, not nearly as much as I prepaired for.  I guess not really being a drinker helps.  Walking around, relaxing on the beach, and swimming in the ocean seem to be pretty light on the bank account, and pretty easy on the stress level.  It makes me, not really miss my rich country..

Posted over 2 years ago by zipper

Comments

ali

Comment ali posted a comment over 2 years ago:

Hi Zipper,

i like your point about money, and i myself have thought along those lines in the past during my travels.
I'm from the US, a country that is considered rich across the globe (decreasingly so these days but none the less...). And yeah, people here are stressed out, worried about finances and many of them are going bankrupt as I write this, some are even going homeless--because we wanted too much that depended on money, or rather, the illusion of money. Materialism made the US, and is now, systematically breaking it, and the sad thing is, we don't have social foundations to fall back on that don't revolve around money.
I've been to villages in Bolivia where there is no electricity or water, where self-sufficiency is far more important than a greenback, and life is simpler, and people in general seem happy. Family values are cherished and respect for those in the community is crucial for the survival of the community. The community works together to stay afloat, where as where I am from, New York, it's a rat race.
But like you say, if we were from one of these villages where making money just simply is not a reality, would we be able to get out there and see the world?
jessica_ledford

Comment jessica_ledford posted a comment over 2 years ago:

The comment about people who are from a "rich" country always seemed more stressed out from different pressures is so true. I like how you realize that while your in a poor country you have your "rich" country money, but you're right-- just because you have it doesn't mean you should spend it, especially in a place with so many beaches.