Things that Never Happen at Home #1

Being out here traveling is so fundamentally different from my day-to-day at home that I often find myself pondering these differences. There's the obvious - Not sitting behind a desk + computer all day; Not having neck cramps from holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I multi-task; No stress; No set routine. Now, in contrast - We brave the hot sun + freezing cold outside; My cramps are now in my legs from walking all day long; We ARE free to do as we like, but we're not out here with endless time or money to burn so we ARE judicious in our spending + in making each day count. When I reflect back at the end of each day, week, month... What are the things that seem worthwhile or even important??? It's the experiences of meeting memorable local characters or other like-minded travelers that you can picture yourself being friends with at home; Of tasting some delicious + unique food that you never even knew existed that you'll try to replicate for friends; A wonderous, soul-inspiring sight that burns itself into your memory and which you revisit later in your dreams; AND those rare moments when the big, bright lightbulb in your head goes off and you gain a new insight. THIS will be my ongoing attempt to capture + relate some of the latter. Here goes...

Intense Eye Contact with Strangers

Well, OK, sometimes it happens when you're checking out a tasty specimen of our species, but generally, people in the west are hurrying down the street window shopping, gazing at the ground, whatever. In developing countries, and more specifically in rural areas, the people are as curious about us as we are about them. To either, it's as if the other walked off the pages of a magazine. I can only speculate that we look as extremely exotic to them as they to us. Or maybe we just look ridiculously weird. I've got to admit the western style of travel wear is a far cry from the clothing of hill tribes, for example. These people have style! Though it varies by country and region, both men + women sport earthy + bold colors, cool hats + sometimes even more piercings than a modern primitive. People here don't shy away, not even the women, but instead give full-on extended eye contact. Sometimes without even saying a word. But, just for a moment, you make an intense connection. I love it!