Saturday, May 30, 2009

Slumming It

You have heard of eco tourism, dark tourism, medical tourism. What about poverty tourism? This is a term I (thought I) coined myself to define the tourism of visiting the villages or slums in developing countries. Only to learn that this is not a new concept - poorism.

Poverty tourism or poorism, also known as township tourism or slumming is a type of tourism, in which tourists travel to less developed places to observe people living in poverty. Poorism travel tours are popular in places like IndiaEthiopia, and even places that have had natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. After Hurricane KatrinaLouisiana became a big poorism site.

Critics say poorism is likened to a kind of voyeurism, exploiting people less fortunate, snapping pictures and leaving nothing in return. - Wikipedia


While researching travelling materials to developing countries, I see lots of pamplets encouraging me to "experience a day in the life of the native folk".

I don't mind contributing money and time to help improve the lives of the poor in these regions. But if laying two bricks on an unfinished village school and posing for photographs in the process just for the thrill of feeling charitable and sympathetic, I say no thanks.

Some places are so developed in poverty tourism that the visiting route is all planned out for the traveller who wants to "slum it". Recent trip to Siem Reap really opened my eyes to this superficial farce.

Indeed, we leave nothing behind when we visit the slums except the sense of inferiority. What gives us the right to peer and take pictures of people who are hard at work in the fields and fake our sympathy? I say it is fake because most of us will not take sustainable measures to help the poor when we are back in our cushy beds at home, no matter how saddened we are during the tour.

Oh yes, I was also guilty of being the affluent tourist who travelled to the slums to gawk at the villagers "in their natural habitat" as if they were animals at the zoo.

We took a river cruise on the Tonle Sap River whose main attraction is the floating village. We were fascinated by the floating homes, floating markets, floating chapels and basketball courts. We stared in wonder at the river folk while our boat weaved through their homes.


We were then brought to the floating provision shop to buy some stationery for the poor children studying in schools. "We will bring you to see the children later." Immediately an image of happy children hugging my legs while I give out pencils popped into mind.

At the little shop, 8 pencils cost USD$4 and 10 exercise books cost $12. Exorbitant! When I took one packet of pencils, the guide prompted, "Get more. That's not enough for the children," and smiled widely.

The our guide took us to the floating school where the children were having lessons. It was the most awkward experience! There were just 2 of us. When we stepped into the classroom, the teacher stopped and smiled at us. The blackboard was filled with mathematics equations and the children were apparently doing their work.


We looked at them and said hi. The children just stared at us, just like how they stared at the many damn foreigners before us. They did not swarm around me like I imagined. We tried to pictures with them and realised they were not responsive. After a few hasty attempts to be friendly, we scooted off. We really did not want to make them feel like an exhibition.

I don't know if the money paid for the stationery will eventually help the families. It took me a while to grapple with the fact that I was no different from any damn ang mohs - I participated in poverty tourism.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Reliving

Met up with some ex-colleagues last night and as usual, we were reliving the funniest moments that got us laughing till we were gasping for breath.

On Vietnamese beauties
D: I heard Vietnamese girls from the North are pretty. The Southern ones, not so. So which part are you from, M (our Vietnamese colleague)?

M : The central part.

D: Oh, no wonder.

M looked incredulous. The rest of us goggled at D in disbelief, What?!!


On Koreans
M: Has anyone seen the Korean? Has anyone seen the Korean?

J: What Korean? Have you seen C? He's in the other room! (We had a Korean colleague.)

M: What are you talking about? I'm asking about the Korean who delivers documents to us!

M was actually talking about the courier.


On Italian chapels
Me: I may be going to Europe with my boyfriend and his family next autumn.

A: I think the parents are planning to make you marry their son in Europe! Imagine passing by a cathedral in Rome. They'll push you in and lock the doors. They will even prepare the gown.

Me: What?!

A: Just double check their luggage before you leave for Europe. Make sure there's no dubious white dress in their luggage!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Meow!

Eating alone by the riverside has always been a romantic concept to me. I always feel happily lost in the great city, thinking of the million big dreams to fulfill, and countless distances to conquered. It is always nice to sit by the bank and listen to the waves.

Doesn't The Sail look utterly unspectacular? It is dwarfed by the neighbouring office blocks. I remember its sales pitch was to draw people to stay in the city, above the city. And the artists' impressions showed that it stood above the sparkling lights of the city, and everything else. Hmm...

I digress. I actually wanted to say how I enjoyed Cats The Musical. See, I got a really close view of the stage :)

Spoiler alert!
The opening act began with a long sequence of orchestra music. We were anticipating the performers to appear on stage, until one by one, we felt something breathing down their necks. Hordes of Cats had swarmed the theatre without warning, and were prowling among the audience. Although I clearly knew they were actors in disguise, I had to breathe hard and keep still to stop myself panicking. See how close they got:

Don't judge me for being afraid of actors dressed as cats, cos they were really life-like!

And of course, the rest of the musical was breathtaking. I enjoyed every bit of it.

So glad I insisted on watching it even when no one could accompany me :))