Far from the roar of the jet engines and the howl of the ultrafast train and the snarl of the super highways and the flail of the helicopters, there are countries  where travel is slow, difficult, sweaty and hammering but small groups sharing space in ox carts and the remorgs and tuktuks and whacked out old taxis share a companionship and a complete absence of urgency which is the antithesis of modern haste.

It's not just a difference in travel or difference in speed and comfort. It's a whole different relationship with the world around you with the rice paddies, the palm oil trees, the muddy rivers and the very simple villages. It's not just a different world, it's really a different planet and even though space travel is not involved the distances are almost beyond imagination.

Religion is integrated into life in everything that happens. The family isn't just important. It's everything. The place of elders, the role of women, the links to the animals that live inside the communities is so far from Chicago or London or even Istanbul.

It's hard to describe these different planets that exist in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America if you haven't sat in a tuktuk on a rotted country path on the weekly trek to the market. When you look at the photographs, you'll see just a hint of transport in some of these remote planets and that hint perhaps will open a door for you in the different worlds we live in.

The transport on top is called Remorg, a favourite of factory workers to go to work. When you go out of Phnom Penh, chances are you'll see several of these right in front of garment factories or on the road ferrying workers to factories.

You will often see the moto on the roads of Cambodia. Several have come to appreciate the use of helmets but only the drivers are required by law to wear one. Most of the time, they only wear their helmets when they know there are police in the streets they are going. But in many cases, you'll see parents wearing one and the kids none.

Like those in sunny climates, their preoccupation is the hat to keep them from getting dark so even when it is hot, it is not unusual to see them wear long sleeve tops and pants.

In the rural areas, the moto is still far from the reach of many farmers who prefer to use their work animals to transport their produce.

In many cities, you will find the moto is the king of transport. For the foreigners, the tuktuk is their preferred ride. You can see some are wearing helmets and others not but most drivers do as the police try to implement this.

Pigs, garbage, chicken, log pipes, huge crystal frames, roofing and wood materials are often transported by moto. They seem to be able to carry so much.

Embroidery has been a tradition in Vietnam for many, many years. It is taught early in schools as part of educational activities for girls. Young ladies are expected to be able to make some of their household linen using their embroidery skills. 

The lady in the picture below has an embroidery shop in a tiny village of Quat Dong not far from Hanoi. Several other women in the village display their embroidered items in the store which she happily sells for them. It makes her happy to enable these women to earn extra income without leaving their homes. She, herself, embroiders in her shop when there are no customers. Her skills are excellent and when you look at some of her embroidered items, they look like paintings.

Close to Hanoi are several craft villages. It is interesting to go and visit these places. For those interested to know more, here's the link.

Are we losing our own uniqueness as a culture, as a nation? Are jeans and Ts expressions of the common standards we have placed ourselves in?

Even our dogs are socialised into this global culture, fast making us all look the same. But is this really the unity we desire? Do we really want to see everyone homogenised into a consistent blob?

Is it homogeneity now?
Homogeneity seems to result from all the international connectedness and travel taking place. We see the tuktuk drivers now moving from wearing long sleeve shirts and pants to shorts and t-shirts following the tourists they drive around. But, is this an external expression of the growing globalisation of culture or simply imitation of perceived wealth?

Does homogeneity in culture worry you?
Is this really a thing to worry about? As we lose unique languages and cultures each year and what remains drifts to commonality, should we be concerned as inside of all these people following the global cultural norms there still exists the  traditional cultural practices and beliefs.

Cambodia just celebrated Khmer New Year and both young and old danced their traditional sways as they sang their traditional songs. They come to the temple in their traditional outfits and as they pray, and thou can  you see how unique they are from you and I.

Has our unique culture more staying power?
Even the so-called internationalists who are at home in many cultures still define themselves with their own unique cultural  identity and often, find themselves comfortable in the company of compatriots where they can share jokes and comments and smirks and know that they are understood.

​Maybe among those who set the ways in a country, often those who are well travelled and well connected, internationality is a reality but for most locals, life has not changed much. Television brings in the new fashion which gives the illusion of change. Maybe the  trappings become more common, but the root culture seems to have more staying power.

The Hammock is at Work. The owner is not. In-between trips for clients, the Tuktuk drivers in Phnom Penh put out their hammocks and take a rest. The car drivers do this as well. They all have their hammocks at the back of the car. The clients can take time in their meeting or their shopping. No problem. Our drivers are doing just the right thing to do for their health and sanity. 

Taking time out in-between activities at work may prove to be more productive. As the mind gets rested, the capacity to think out ideas and solutions improve. In most of Southeast Asia, it is not unusual for office employees, in the middle of the day, to put their heads down on their desk, if they're  lucky to have a makeshift cot in one corner of the office, to have a nap. They have their mid break and they use it well.

Maybe, this is an option to add to our current lifestyle. What do you think?