Robyn's Wanderings

So I have traded airplane seats for office seats for a little while and one thing that comes with an office….a commute. It’s true.

I have nothing against my new job, let me preface. It’s a great place to be and I am working on things that matter – healthcare.

What I could trade? My commute. Yesterday as I sat behind the smog-spewing car that would lead me to Bermuda’s capital, Hamilton and my new seat, I couldn’t help but think of….well all the other ridiculous and crazy commutes I have witnessed.

Like this ridiculous video straight from the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh! Honestly, I have never seen such ridiculous traffic in all of my life. Try and cross the road! Near impossible…I had to play “chicken” with the SUV’s!

I mean do you see the motorbike do a U-turn when he is about to be squashed?

Sure Phnom Penh’s traffic was life-endangering, but in Laos it was cow-filled. Witness the scene below with this pink-hewed cow grazing on the side of the road on the way to waterfall! Where do you see that? Certainly not on my commute in Bermuda?

For the next bit of insanity, I bring you to heads as helmets scenario that is all the rage in Cambodia. How about the parents who also stick their toddlers in front of them as pillows? Well, Bermuda often has parents who place their children in front of them, but at least they have helmets on their children; they give them a fighting chance!

This dad below….well…..I crossed my fingers after this photo:

Or what about moving house on a motorbike? I’m not entirely sure what this guy was carrying on his motorbike, but I’m glad that I was not riding beside him! I now feel better riding my own motorbike into work and only having to concern myself with the fuming car!

Moving house?

Or how about how to move your motorbike? Well, in Bermuda we have ferries that will transport motorbikes very comfortably on their bows (front).

In Laos? Oh come on!!!! Who would actually ride their bike? Or put it on the back of the van? A commuter bus, that I had just exited to use the toilet, was far more practical!

How else do you transport you bike?

And when you’re not dragging your bike along with you? Well you have to fill it with gas, of course. But how are going to do that?

Well in Thailand, you ask a woman standing in a shack to start pumping and pour out the blue, red or green gas sitting in tubs!

technical fill-ups

I had never seen this before and I thank my lucky stars, now, when I see my gas gauge going low I can nip into the gas station, whip-out my credit card and head-out on my way…even in rush hour….even with slow attendants (not much in Bermuda moves quickly…I’m Bermudian, I can say that.)

And finally what am I getting at? Well let’s at least, while we sit in the mountains of traffic for Christmas-time commutes remember, we could have been caught in an elephant parade!

elephant parade

Daughter and mom walking through the border between Bolivia and Peru

What does it mean to be a mom? Heck that’s not easy to answer when you live in one culture. What does it mean to be a mom around the world?

Lots of different things. Which is why we celebrate mother’s day (today in Bermuda, hence my post. I know, I know, you celebrate mother’s day on different dates in different places around the world!)

When did it start? Well it actually has it’s calls in feminism and the Women’s Movement in the United States when Julia Ward Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870.

No, she did not demand chocolates and gift certificates to a spa. No, Julia was reacting to the carnage of the Civil War (in the US) and believed that women could be involved in the political movements of their countries.

We can! Yippeee now some more than 100 years later women are….well women have a long way to go. Sure in Bermuda and the United States we might have “equal rights” under the law (and not entirely…but that’s another post at another time), but what we don’t have is equality in society.

It’s hard to argue with the subtle sexism that still exists when in societies such as Egypt’s there are mass problems of women being disregarded even with the recent upheavals and demands for democratic rights! That’s what Amnesty International is calling for (women being involved), but that’s another vein to this story…..

So off of my soap box and down to the founding of this day. Since Julia the day has been taken by various counties to match it with historical matters or the Church to be dedicated to….who else? Mother Mary.

Mother Mary Statue in Santiago, Chile

Like this statue that overlooks Santiago, Chile! Overlooking the city she is the one who will ensure the world is safe.

And who else could? We call her Mother Earth. We know women are the ones that reproduce! So who else would you think of, but your mother when you see a sight like this one:

Glacier

Mother Earth is an amazing place, which makes moms of all kinds and all places amazing people or….animals?

I couldn’t help but throw this photo (below) into the mix. Especially following the glacier pic! Who else could I have picked for strong moms, but Penguins

These classy chics leave the egg cracking and toddler rearing to their husbands, while they head to sea and fill their bellies! Good women.

Pruning Penguins

Of course they return to their babies! But after months in freezing temps they need a few minutes to themselves to warm up and get their composure before returning to their families.

Unfortunately, motherhood is not always recognized in the happiest of situations and one of the most disturbing was in fact the way it was portrayed in Cambodia.

A country that went through a horrendous genocide left behind photos that would break anyone’s heart, but the worst are the photos of the children before they were to be killed and the mothers who held them.

Where does her strength come from?

This will be their last photo together before the Khmer Rouge disposed of them. How does she sit there? How does she hold on?

I know mother’s day is supposed to be happy, but it is also poignant. It is also a reminder of mothers who have gone through so much for their children.

Gone through so much as women and for those who still struggle with motherhood. Unfortunately in too many places in the world, women will die from child birth.

Healthcare is still not universal and women are probably those who lack the most for it. I hope on this day we can celebrate the women who make it all come true and try and make a difference for those who still try.

Happy Mother’s Day

Traditional Mother in Bolivia

Fancy Cinco de Mayo?

It’s Friday and if you were out last night for Cinco de Mayo……well….you might be more ready than others to finish your week.

Or maybe you want to know WHY you were celebrating. Ok, so you need a break to finish your fifth coffee today so I thought I would send you this photo of the day: crazy head covers from Buenos Aires, Argentina (my next Rock Fever column.

So what’s Cinco De Mayo? Why were you out drinking tequila last night? Let’s start:

1) it’s a national holiday in the United States and it’s celebrated regionally in Mexico.

2) In the United States it’s celebrated to recognize the Mexican culture, but also to celebrate the cause of freedom and democracy during the American Civil War.

3) it is NOT Mexico’s day of independence (that’s later in the year….September 16th of course. So be sure you’re ready for more tequila!)

4) In the state of Puebla Cinco de Mayo is celebrated to commemorate Mexico’s unlikely win over the French forces!

5) If that had not happened….well some think the entire future of the United States would have changed! France would have gone to help the south of the United States and then the civilwar…..well who knows.

But now you know why you were out drinking last night so….you’re welcome and good luck with the last few hours of your day.

Coffee in Buenos Aires

Do you know who imports more than 900 million pounds of coffee a year?

No it’s not France. No, not even the obsessed Argentines. Not even my favourite Vietnam.

It’s Japan.

Yes, it’s true. Apparently Japan imports more than 930 million pounds of it each year, which is more than France and less than Italy.

What does this have to do with travel? Well, sure you could ask, but that would mean you haven’t been to Turkey for their sticky and thick coffee that lines the cup.

Or to Vietnam when they fill the bottom of the cup, which turns out to be enough to keep you up through the night.

Coffee in Cairo

How about sipping in Cairo (when they’re not protesting) at one of the oldest cafes in Egypt? One where the Nobel Prize winning authors sit.

It’s a drink that keeps the world ticking and one that you will never be far from where ever you are. Sure there is tea, but coffee is my poison.

Tea in Turkey!

Of course, I am sad to say that my favourite is Starbucks. Yes, I have been around the world. I have tried coffee in lots of places, but my favourite coffee stop is Starbucks.

Plenty of caffeine in their regular coffee and the quality is guaranteed to some degree everywhere you go. Of course that can’t guarantee the Inca Bucks in Peru!

Inca or Star?

Everyone is watching Egypt.

Today is the day: Mubarak, Egypt’s president, must leave as demanded by the protestors or stay and….well who knows.

It’s the culmination of a week of protests predominantly through the streets in Cairo but also other Egyptian cities.

The weird thing about it all? The army is not on the side of the Government. Well and they don’t particularly seem to be on the side of the protestors either. They are stuck in the middle keeping the pro-government side and the anti side from absolutely killing each other.

Now how many countries in the world can you say the army is the moderate voice? USA? Uh…no. The Army’s stance in Egypt among other things (i.e. the population finally finding a voice) will definitely prove to be something academics surmise over for years to come.

What will also be included in these theses will be how this “change” spread to other countries in the region i.e. Jordan.

This Monarchy is only a ferry ride away from Egypt. I should know I took the ferry, but King Abdullah II definitely knows it. On Tuesday he dismissed members of his cabinet at his public’s request.

Ok so he might not have been elected, but this American schooled King knows he’d be crazy to try and fight his public as those around him also get pressure (Yemen was next).

While he’s listening, perhaps King Abdullah II could also hear this: visiting Petra is more expensive than a day to Disney! Ok, yeah it might be a wonder to the world (and it is amazing), but a one day pass will cost you a pretty penny.

And without ferries of tourists coming from Egypt for their one-day trips anytime soon….maybe, just maybe King of Jordan you should think about making your country more affordable and easier to navigate for tourists?

While I’m at it, your infrastructure could use some help. Some public buses that run all day would be a start. That way when I want to go North of Amman (Jordan’s capital) to Jerash (a former roman town) I don’t need to worry about private taxis.

Because I want to see it! I just don’t want to sell my left arm for it. Ok? So for those who also would like a glimpse at what they’re getting in this slowly evolving country here you go: A glimpse into Jordan.

A Roman amphi-theatre in Amman

A temple on the top of one of Amman's original seven Hills (the city now covers 19 hills!)

The ancient Roman City of Jerash which is North of Amman (just make sure you get the last bus at 3 p.m.!)

The Roman display at Jerash. Did you know they only fought at the front for 8 minutes and then moved back?

Start heading south and you'll find Mount Nebo overlooking the Dead Sea (or the place Moses apparently saw the holy land!)

Floating in the Dead Sea! Yeah I'm reading a map....forgot my book!

The Treasury in Petra: A must see of all the places in Jordan. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It spans miles and is filled with rock carvings (like the Treasury above) that are stunning.

Can you find me?

The Monastery: find me? Now you see how large these things are?

An overview of part of Petra

The crazy natural rock colours!

A couple of camels to help tourists around Petra

The famous Siq and the only way in or out (it is a km long!)