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?

Enjoy calm and serenity in your house by placing one of these pots. Get some flowers to float on the water in the pot. If you have the patience, you can create art forms like these ones. It exudes peace, serenity and beauty.

​It brightens any corner and if you place flowers with a nice smell, it gives you a nice feeling as well. In one of these pots, sweet smelling jasmine flowers float on the water and the delicate smell fills the room.

Isn't this a beautiful practice? To make offering to the Universe to thank the forces that be for the success of one's business? Maybe for some, it is just a superstitious act that doesn't achieve anything. But for those who believe, it is a gesture of thankfulness to the forces of the Universe that brought you blessing.

And it's aim is not to achieve something but to give back to the Universe. Maybe, in the hope of making the business more prosperous. Nothing wrong with that.  But believe me, it does change some people. My Australian friend and I, going in that day in Red Apron, the top wine store here in Phnom Penh's Street 240, not only got curious but discussed the beauty of this practice. It certainly reminded us of the value of giving thanks and how beautiful it is to make that practice part of a culture.

In many Asian countries, it is so easy to just go and enjoy the variety of side dishes in the restaurants or the streets but if you have to prepare them yourself, here are a few that you can prepare in no time at all.

1. Sweet potato
Cut it in half. Spear it with your fork in several places. Put some butter or bit of olive oil but this is really optional if you want to keep it much more healthy. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon. Place in a microwave safe dish. Cover and put on High Heat for 7-8 minutes.

2. Squash 
Cut the squash in half. If you have a big squash, cut it to desired size. Remove the seeds and stringy bits. Spear with a fork in several places. Again, depending on your preference, add butter or olive oil. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Place in a microwave dish and put on High for 7-8 minutes. ​

Here's your bonus. A video of how to easily cook Okra (Bhindi). It is so easy, I immediately did it.

"Why was it", Lloyd wondered, "that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?”

By the time WW II finally unfolds, the Peshkovs, the Williams, the von Ulrichs, the Dewars, and the Fitzherberts are our friends and their lives grip us as they take risks in places as widely separated as Spain and Hawaii.
​
Predictably, we are amused as they meet and struggle together in various circumstances, awaken romance in us as they fall in love or break commitments, saddened as some meet their unexpected early death, angered us as the leaders of that time become blinded to their executors who take revenge on their enemies or advantage themselves by liquidating others.

To most, it was just horror and destruction but for others, it was the necessary destruction that comes before the building of a new society, or a new offer for people to take part in power within its society through the empowering of the working class. The image of the great fire bird rising from the ashes of destruction is well understood.

Follett lets history weave the context in which lives of people from a rainbow of countries and the gamut of social levels merge their relationships into a fabric of their work and commitments.

​Think of how historical events mould people into the shape of heroes or villains, all to become survivors through risks and romance.

​The life of a Mole does not sound attractive at first hearing but believe me, the nobility of the Mole species lives well and is the envy of the non-Mole remnant of the city’s population.

Moles?
Okay, these are not short snouted, half blind fuzzy bodied moles. These are downtown Toronto condo hotel and apartment dwellers whose buildings link to the PATH, a 26 km underground shopping maze that has everything but an airport. Toronto maybe one of the world’s great cities but from November till March, the rain, snow, sleet, ice, wind combination means preparation for outdoor visits is a comedy act of hats and mittens and parkas or rain coats and boots or overshoes with scarves and balaclava face covers. Countryside winter has some fun to it. Downtown city winter is where moles are king.

During our last two week stay in Toronto, we hibernated in One King West, a wonderful residence midway on the Path between the financial district and Hudson Bay Company/Eaton Center. Everything was at our feet or perhaps beneath our feet: restaurants, supermarkets, clothing stores and the whole world of fashion. Entertainment centres require a 50 meters sprint outdoors. Even Grumpy can hold his greath that long. The Subway is in the Path and with that the Railway, Pearson airport and the whole world sits within the temperate zone. ​

We're at the beginning of a sea of change in the whole world. Whether its Manila or New York, Phnom Penh or Shanghai, people want better. People will pay a little more for a little better. The day of the Happy Meal is over. The cheap t-shirt is toast. The appliance car will sit alone at the dealership.

I don’t want to be the same as you. My hamburger has to be different. I want my food to have colour and taste. I’m not interested in a stripe shirt and a tie. I’m more interested in experiences than things. I don't want television networks. I want my own Netflix. I don’t want to be part of anything. I don’t mind things being part of me. It's a new age, it's a new role. It's not just a new fashion. The starvation level of poverty is so unusual now even intrepid journalists have trouble finding anything to shock us. The new poor are looking for variety. They like to travel. The new poor can make a living and don’t live in the same desperate situation as before.

The desire for differentness has changed Europe from a world of lumpy babushkas to a culture of crazy colours, discordant ideas and bizarre hair cuts. Even the wealthy are chafing. They can’t give it away fast enough and there’s more prestige in the goodbyes of money than the hellos. The world's changing not at its edges but at the hard core.

ISIS young people wanting to do something because they’re sick of being nothing. They don’t want average, they don’t want everything the same. Good is better than cheap. Trader Joes and the rebirth of small markets in small towns is not the triumph of cheap it is the triumph of better. 

​​One of the most desperate looks in the world is that of the face of any senior buying a new car and staring at the center console. If you haven't kept up in the last 5 years with the world of information technology, be assured any new car will have more boobie traps than a war zone village. If you drive, tech savvy is not an option. Just your nav system has more computing power than the early moon shots. The Bluetooth phone links are Star Wars quality. Information systems on everything from tire pressure to oil levels need a careful understanding or you might blow up with a flat tire.

​And we are on the verge of the Internet of things. Appliances, garage doors, phones and maybe necklaces are all being linked and if your cell phone is a mystery package, your house could become the neighbourhood disaster.

Entertainment systems can Twitter you directly to the President. Facebook and its brethren expose you to the world and the world often replies with some very strange insights. Grandchildren are available through media but almost invisible for a conversation. All information is available all the time. Some of your best tales and war stories would be checked while you're talking and blown out of the water with facts. Can't navigate Wikipedia? You are as isolated as a person on a desert island. 

The other side of the coin is the fantastic world of information, ideas and capabilities that sits at your finger tips. Learning all of these is fairly easy if you have a grand child close by, to explain it all step by step. The secret is to get engaged in the learning now before the technology gets so stretched out its distance from you as your Jurassic relatives. Community centres, community colleges, and online tutorials make the whole world of tech savvy easily available. Don't miss out on the amazing world of technology waiting for you.

Uber jobs, gig-like opportunities, flex skills and mobility are becoming the backbone of the economy and only civil servants and a shrinking cohort of low skill manufacturing jobs offer long term wages and benefits. Searching for these legacy jobs makes little sense as the definition of the work force changes and government crowds further and further into the business of benefits provision that was once the responsibility of employers.

As packages of benefits including health, retirement and paid vacation can add 30% more to labour costs, any employer competing with economies that don't provide these is toast. So, we need to help our young people develop the attitudes, skills and behaviours that will allow them to be fully active and happy participants in this new social and economic model. Wishing for the past only leads to disappointment.

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​The media seems determined to take the fun out of life. If it sees an apple, it will give the history of needles and razor blades and Halloween. If it sees a sailboat at sunset, it will review all the maritime tragedies in history. If the media sees a soaring eagle, it reminds us that the chicken, too, is a bird and it spreads disease all over the world.

In short, we are more and more convinced that life is no longer fun but is increasingly beastly. This is the time to celebrate the joys, the colours, the music and the great artistry of life and shame the media into retreating under the rock it lives by.

This New Year, how do we celebrate life? Most of the time we think of public explosions like Mardi Gras or Oktoberfest or even the Queen's birthday or the water festival in Phnom Penh or TET in Vietnam but celebrating life can be much more personal than this. 

​It can be as quiet as a small smile when you've helped somebody. It can be as simple as a hug for someone when they're happy. It can be a glass of great wine after a day that's gone really well. Somewhat larger is a family celebrating a grandma's birthday or a new family van or a previously disparaged son finding a great job.