Miss America

No, not the contest, but do I miss America? The short answer is no. There is so much of this world left to explore. The ppl the places and the food around every corner offer so much more of an insight to what our planet is than i could ever look up on the internet or see on TV. Sure I miss the convenience of having a sub place across the street or being able to do my laundry or shower when ever i want, but I am in Vietnam, eating from street vendors meeting ppl from all over the world. I can honestly say i have learned more about other countries in the last three weeks than i have my entire educational career. Wars, customs, habits... For example i doubt that anyone knew that the queen of England is the head of state of both Australia and Canada....thats pretty crazy ehh?

So I have been on the road for a little more than two weeks. maybe two and a half, if that; but i can definitely see there are some travellers' illnesses we've picked up.... for example Josh more than definitely suffers from:

Cultural Emulation Syndrome: "Going native" if you will, picking up the local social, dress and eating habits of the country, Josh for the last several days have been wearing what i would call a camono maybe? a sort of man dress?

Cultural Enhancement Syndrome: Exaggerating the home countries local customs....for example, the loud american who likes to go to strip clubs and get massages.

Obssesive Junk Food cravings: Often the result of an unfamiliar and unfulfilling diet for a time unend. in most cases will cause the afflicted to ravage particular foodmarts for the particular brand or item on hand. A chilli cheese burger in the heart of tokyo perhaps?

I currently suffer from at least the following and probably more:

Pack Stoop: Casused by lugging an over-heavy backpack ffrom hostel to hostel seeming to get worse the longer we travel, especially as we load up on un-necessary goods and presents for those loved ones at home....

Constipated Payment Disorder: The result of a traveller not wanting to pay the asked for rate even though when we are home I would easily pay upwards of ten times the going rate here. We could pay the rate they ask but then we run the risk of getting lectured by fellow travellers about the "its not the money, its the principal." - Actually in most of the countries here its custom to haggle and looked as a sign of respect. Weird huh?

anyway tomorrow we leave for a 7 day adventure...two days in halong bay doing water stuff then 5 days on our new hogs...bigger and badder than ever...josh got his yamaha 175 cc and I my 230 CC honda and our giude; just the three of us and 1000km of open road, two homestays, a hotel and a guest house.....sick right? get ready for the pictures and adventures of the trip so far....