Sunday, March 25, 2012

Progress without colonization

Upon returning from my first adventure to Thailand, my 23rd country in 16 years of international travel, I sit inspired by this peninsular South-East Asian nation. Although I knew very little, historically, politically, and socio-culturally about this tropical gem of a country prior to arrival, I was at once in awe of their obvious level of infrastructural development (roads, transportation, electrical and water capabilities), accessibility and diversity of goods and food products, while holding on to the true nature of the commodity-profit theoretical equation: if it's a basic living condition (food, water, transportation, housing) and cheap (in the global economic dollar-pound-euro scheme of things) most people will purchase at random and often. A definitive role-model society if I ever saw one. Again, compared to the global scheme of things... and especially having lived the last 3 years in Egypt and Nepal. The historic and modern sites memorable, while the country-side and sea-view landscape overwhelming picturesque. Thailand is truly a nation that lives up to being a major tourist hot-spot for the modern traveller.

Personally, I don't know why more South-East Asian nations don't take note of how this small, but diverse nation has maintained its political constitutional monarchy (that is highly praised if not challenged subliminally every now and then), while progressing into the 21st century as a modern nation with much opportunity and forward-thinking in its major grounding arenas: economics (i.e., the control/sale/distribution of the national lottery), education (the diversity and quality of government and private institutions), health (quality and standards with international support), compounded with the acceptance of diverse religious, cultural, racial, linguistic and gender/sexual diversity (I know I have never seen the number of non-gender or ambiguous gender identity individuals in any one experience of a country in all of my travelling experiences, let alone country of origin, it was breathtakingly wonderful!!!!!!!!! let alone freeing).

What more can I say.... Visit Thailand before the rest of the world catches on (and the Thai government hikes up the price of the adventure)...







 Yes...this is one of many "piled high food stands" often filled with various protein/meat products such as these dried/deep fried fish/seafood products....