BACK!

So here I am again. Almost a month after my trip to SL. I've come to understand that everytime you think everything is just right, life decides to throw a curve ball at ya.

In my previous blog post, I mentioned how I've figured some things out about what i wanted to do with my future. Well, everyone seems to have a future plan...and that's when I came to realize that the people who are the closest to me, will be the farthest from me. It's scary to think that I'll be on my own soon. As much as I yearn for that freedom, I'm also afraid of it. All of us who grew up together..we'll now be seperating. My dad visited his old highschool mates..for the first time since they left highschool and that was over 25 yrs ago. I'm not quite sure I'm comfortable in the fact that I might never see my friends again.

So this post is for my family and friends . I thank God for you, because without you all, I think I would have been nothing! :) Even if we don't talk or see each other often, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you. If ever you need me, you know my email! :D (thank God for technology too!). I LOVE YOU ALL! (you all know who u are)

WOW!!

It's been so long!! Heck, it's been so long that I actually forgot my ID and password. yea..it's that bad! Anyways, it's been crazy busy these couple of months, and I just haven't had the time to post anything. I'm terribly sorry to those who keep checking my blog..hehe..yea..must have been really disappointing,eh? sowwy! :(

Well, third year is DONE..now just one more year to go. InshAllah, everything will go well for my research and next year. :) So, I'll be flying to Sri Lanka in a matter of weeks (making a stopover in Dubai). Can't wait! It's all very exciting to be flying again, but the thought of the work that I have to do while I'm there, just makes me scared. Hopefully, everything will go as planned.

So now it's come to the point where I'm starting to think about the "next step" that I want to take in my life. I have made a few decisions with regards to my career and where I want to live. I had a few options, and one was Sri Lanka. At one point, I did think of moving back to Sri Lanka, but I find myself wondering if I'd ever fit in. Sure, if I'd gone back after highschool, I might have. But now, it seems too late. I feel that more and more, I imagine it would be unbearable for me (and i'm not talkin about the climate..I can handle that!), only because I'm not used to the culture, lifestyle or the people there anymore. People keep telling me that I'll get used to it..I hardly doubt it..especially since I've been away for over 13 years now. But I guess I won't really know where I'll end up...

ha..if any of u find that in the future i move to sri lanka..point this blog out to me! :D

Anyways, i really made no point in this blog..just some ramblings..i'll try and update again soon..yes..VERY SOON! :D

"Hero"

So this movie gave me a whole new perspective on war and why for centuries different rulers/dictators have tried to conquer and control countries and/or the world.

Hero(which stars Jet Li) is a true story about how an assassin tries to kill the Emperor of present-day China. This assassin, along with others believed that the emperor should be killed because he was taking over all the different states and controlling everything. However, near the end, the real story unfolds..revealing that the emperor was only trying to unite all states and make it into one united country. This emperor went on to build the Great Wall of China, thus protecting his united country.

This made me think of present day and many of the wars that have taken place decades ago. Infact, to me today's conflict against "evil" and "terrorism" is not to get rid of evil..rather, in my opinion, we are all trying to come to some form of unity across the globe. But disregarding the wars that go on today, if you think about it, we are all infact turning into one being. The universal language is now English, spreading to even the developing countries. Almost every country is democratic. We all somehow behave the same way, watch the same programs, listen to the same music,etc.

But one thing that the movie missed is the fact that when we become one, we lose our identity, our individuality. That's why I don't necessarily agree with the views of becoming unified across the globe, because to me, we lose the traditions and culture that are specific to each nation. And sadly, it is quite apparent that we are losing our culture today.

I think the best way would be to unite but to retain our own cultures/individuality. Yea, we may not agree with one another's views but I think we can all get along, if we can learn to accept each other.

The Indonesian motto sums it up well: "Unity in diversity"...that's something we all should strive to achieve, rather than trying to make people conform to a certain way of life.

Long Time...

Yea, so it's been a while since I last posted. Things have been crazy, what with school and finally moving into the new house (altho' i still have some stuff i gotta bring frm the old house). Anyways, it's almost New Year's..a new beginning for many of us. I'm personally afraid of what this new year might bring me. There's so many things that are going on around me that I feel like my life rite now is going to drastically change in the next year or so. But then again, I think everyone's feelin the same way about this,eh.

Do people have new year's resolutions ne more? I used to have one every year, but i realized it's a foolish thing, coz I can never keep to the resolution! :P and I know that it's the same with most ppl who do have resolutions..they can never keep it..most ppl forget..so i say..why bother!

I hope the upcoming year brings joy, happiness and great experiences to reminisce about. And God Bless everyone of you. May this new year bring peace, love and happiness to your life.

See you in the new year!

Simple Plan- Crazy

Tell me what's wrong with society
When everywhere I look, I see
Young girls dying to be on TV
They won't stop till they've reached their dreams

Diet pills, surgery
Photoshopped pictures in magazines
Telling them how they should be
It doesn't make sense to me

Is everybody going crazy?
Is anybody gonna save me?
Can anybody tell me what's going on?
Tell me what's going on?
If you open your eyes
You'll see that something is wrong

I guess things are not how they used to be
There's no more normal families
Parents act like enemies
Making kids feel like it's World War III

No one cares, no one's there
I guess we're all just too damn busy
And money's our first priority
It doesn't make sense to me

Is everybody going crazy?
Is anybody gonna save me?
Can anybody tell me what's going on?
Tell me what's going on?
If you open your eyes
You'll see that something is wrong

Is everybody going crazy?
Is everybody going crazy?

Tell me what's wrong with society
When everywhere I look I see
Rich guys driving big SUVs
While kids are starving in the streets

No one cares
No one likes to share
I guess life's unfair

Is everybody going crazy?
Is anybody gonna save me?
Can anybody tell me what's going on?
Tell me what's going on?
If you open your eyes
You'll see that something, something is wrong

Is everybody going crazy?
Can anybody tell me what's going on?
Tell me what's going on?
If you open your eyes
You'll see that something is wrong


i'm not a big fan of Simple plan..but this song makes a whole lotta sense, don't ya think?
Life's definitely never fair.

City of Angels...or is it?

Just to sort of continue from my previous blog. So there were 2 presentations today on international tourism and socio-cultural impacts. The last group presented on some very interesting countries. They talked about how tourism has negative impacts on many developing countries. Even looking at my own presentation(which is next week), i've found a common theme..how tourism is having more of a negative impact on developing countries than a positive one.

Yes, there are positive aspects such as income generation, money coming into the country, better standards of living(not all cases). However, the negatives outweigh more. I've found that due to money woes and people wanting to be more like the "westerners", they've started depending too much on the western region. Something that horrified me was sex tourism and how the government as well as World Bank and US. military(only durin the vietnam war) actually promoted sex tourism in Thailand. Bangkok means "city of angels", but in reality, it isn't. Bangkok(according to the presenter,who visited there) is full of prostitutes and "lady boys". They even have travel agencies that have sex tourism packages for that region. It is disgusting to think that anyone could even think of such extremes...but I guess that's the nature of human beings. We will do anything to get what we want. I mentioned the US military. They infact had asked the locals to provide for the "comfort and relaxation" of the soldiers. And to think back here in the Western society, they condemn those same actions and you get arrested for prostitution. How is it ok for you to have prostitution in the developing countries but not ok for the western countries(altho' there are a few areas that prostitution is permitted). It's unthinkable,as to how standards are so different, even tho' we are all humans and are "supposed" to be equal.

When I first started my degree in tourism...I never imagined that I would learn about all of this. I've always had the picture of how tourism is a must to many developing countries, because that's pretty much all they have to offer(other than cheap labour..but that's another topic). But having said all that...I think its the responsibilty of the nations to ensure that they encourage tourism that is not disruptive to the people, economy or the environment. Don't get me wrong. Tourism is very beneficial in the long run. It's just that we have to learn how to use it in a way that is ethical and morally sound.

I find my International Tourism course to be quite interesting. It deals with views on globalization, the South vs. North, etc. We've been having presentations since last week, and most of the topics that we cover are quite thought provoking.

My group's topic is on South vs. North. It's about the developed/powerful countries vs. the developing/weaker countries. (I'm not goin to talk about my topic exactly) It seems in this day and age, every country wants to feel as powerful as the developed countries...but the steps they take can be questionable. For instance, we've talked about how many of the developing countries want to have the same standards as the developed countries (ie. infrastructure, tech.,etc), BUT they do not have the necessary resources or monetary funds..so then they would turn to the IMF to borrow money. However, borrowing money isn't easy..there are certain things that need to be done(which might go against the country's wishes) before they would give the money. So right from the beginning, they'd have to give up some thing to gain the necessary monetary funds. However, if they cannot receive it, many turn to unconventional methods to gain access to wealth. This includes, sex tourism, drug trafficking n so forth. They do all this, just so they can be upto par(or even close to) the standards of the developed countries. But yet, they are infact lowering their standards, are they not...atleast in the ethical sense.

And when we talk about international tourists entering the developing countries..it seems they have a big impact on the locals. Whenever I visit Sri Lanka, I find myself amazed at how the locals there almost seem like foreigners themselves. Many of the people(particularly in urban areas) have all adopted the western culture (ie. music, language, clothing,technology) and this is due to the demonstration effect(or so it would seem). Demonstration effect is when locals(especially young people) see tourists' behaviour and dress and want to emulate that. But I don't think that's the only reason. I think it's also the media that shows what people do around the world. Sri Lanka's technology is increasing and with that, so is the intake of foreign info. This can be a good thing..but it can also be bad too. As said before, the western culture is pretty much taking over..and altho' it may include some good things, it can also bring about the bad side. More n more, I've seen stories on how there are tons of illegal ops, increased violence among the "elite" and such. Maybe it's me, but I never pictured Sri Lanka like that before. I honestly never even knew that underage kids went bar hopping or did drugs!! Maybe I was being ignorant or just blind. :(

Hmm..so I don't know what I was trying to prove..but I guess what I'm trying to say is that many of the developing countries are putting too much reliance on developed countries. When I was talking to a friend about the movie Hotel Rwanda..He(Adrian) asked me..if Sri Lanka was in need of assistance during the war..would they help? Would the developed countries help other developing nations, eventhough they have nothing to offer them? You give everything you've got to these developed nations..thinking that in your time of need, they will come..but do you really think so? That's something to think about...