nature's beauty
"nature's beauty is in its ability to provide.. it is not difficult to make a living if people could understand that.." this was one of the statements made by our cambodian tour guide which got me pondering..as i embarked on a most unlikely holiday to Cambodia and Vietnam, perhaps few could understand that those could be vacation spots rather than community service locations.. incidentally, i felt rather guilty perhaps, that another group of frens from school were there during the same period of time doing good for the people there, while i do good by boosting the economy and living like a princess at the same time.. beautiful hotel, excellent service, flexibility and freedom in touring because we were on a private tour.. As I felt the culture of the country and the relaxing atmosphere at the hotel, I was somehow blocked from the poverty of the people except for the occasional basking and selling.. perhaps it struck me when we left the tourist attraction, magnificent World Heritage Ang Kor Wat, and went to the floating villages which housed the poorest of the population.. I then came to realise how fortunate everyone in Singapore was.. and esp how fortunate I was..
and yet as our hearts pour out to those innocent children in wooden stlit houses we could hardly call homes, those seemingly cruel words were spoken.. as i try to put away the emotional aspect and try to understand in a rational manner, i look at the unmoved figure towards the sights which seem so pitiful to us.. Clad in a simple shirt and jeans i'd hardly call worn by the wealthy, holding a set of newspaper held in one hand, i was trying to decide the truth in his skeptical or unfeeling perspective.. Perhaps he was born in a simliar environment.. or perhaps he knew so much more to be able to make such judgement.. If he were right, dependence on tourism and international aid becomes a reason for poverty in the country.. to make things sound even more distorted, monetary aid out of the goodwill to the many beggers in the country had caused the viscious cycle of poverty to continue..
however, are we able to judge now? when we live in comfort.. when we have clean water, food, proper shelter, education.. good paying jobs.. opportunities to travel.. even him.. one in the country, noeing the politics, noeing the lives of the people.. could he judge when he is able to recieve education, read and write, learn english, get a job.. i really dunno.. but i believe in the truth of his words about the importance of education, and the beauty of nature..
rebec inspired @ 1:28 PM
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