Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Bugger, bum, and bastard....
I'm a bloody fool; let my guard down and lost my phone and camera to confidence robbers. I say confidence robbers because they don't just steal your stuff, they steal your confidence. In hindsight I made a couple of poor choices based on my trusting nature and my belief in the core goodness of human nature and wasnt concentrating enough. Probably had a got a bit lazy on the security if truth be told. Had had such a good run and had let my guard down. Another lesson learned.
I have been on the road nearly 5 months, in countries as poor as Peru, and of all political and religious persuasions; have been so aware of being careful and less trusting, and I let my guard down this close to home... Gave my trust to a person obviously not deserving of it.
The big baddie is that I didnt just loose the camera but both my memory chips. So 5mths of photos are all gone...lesson learned - dont carry full memory chips with the camera... Have had a little cry and feel very sad. Surprised myself in that I havent felt angry, just so disappointed and sad - to both loose my record of my memories and that someone valued my trust so little.
But I'm ready to go home too. I think part of the lack of concentration is I'm tired and travelling is NOT a holiday, it's more like a job. I think I was ready for home after Turkey and I miss the boys terribly. That said, I would not not visit Peru. It is a fantastic country, with many beautiful places, contrasts and life-learning experiences. And most of the people are great. If fact the odds of getting as far as I have around the world without loosing anything to crime were pretty low. I've done pretty well; and hey I've still got the memories, I've got my blogg to jog those memories, and I'm fit and healthy. Could have been a lot worse...
It is sad that trust is not a behaviour you can exercise easily in Peru. You have to look at everyone a second and third time - even the taxi drivers, policemen, hotel reception, everyone. There is nowhere that is 100% safe to relax (other than your family's home - and even then they can't trust their own security doorman or driver).
I know no country is better than another, they are just different but I think I prefer the combination of values and lifestyle I enjoy in regional Australia. And I am happy to pay for the priviledge. It might be cheap to live in Peru when you have money, but I'd rather pay for the freedom and safety I enjoy. And I must admit if I was to live in Peru I would feel guilty every day, seeing the grinding poverty and being unable to make a difference. The 'haves' become innoculated against the plight of the 'have nots', otherwise you would never make it up the street to carry out your daily life. And I find ignoring people in need exhausting.
I'm a bloody fool; let my guard down and lost my phone and camera to confidence robbers. I say confidence robbers because they don't just steal your stuff, they steal your confidence. In hindsight I made a couple of poor choices based on my trusting nature and my belief in the core goodness of human nature and wasnt concentrating enough. Probably had a got a bit lazy on the security if truth be told. Had had such a good run and had let my guard down. Another lesson learned.
I have been on the road nearly 5 months, in countries as poor as Peru, and of all political and religious persuasions; have been so aware of being careful and less trusting, and I let my guard down this close to home... Gave my trust to a person obviously not deserving of it.
The big baddie is that I didnt just loose the camera but both my memory chips. So 5mths of photos are all gone...lesson learned - dont carry full memory chips with the camera... Have had a little cry and feel very sad. Surprised myself in that I havent felt angry, just so disappointed and sad - to both loose my record of my memories and that someone valued my trust so little.
But I'm ready to go home too. I think part of the lack of concentration is I'm tired and travelling is NOT a holiday, it's more like a job. I think I was ready for home after Turkey and I miss the boys terribly. That said, I would not not visit Peru. It is a fantastic country, with many beautiful places, contrasts and life-learning experiences. And most of the people are great. If fact the odds of getting as far as I have around the world without loosing anything to crime were pretty low. I've done pretty well; and hey I've still got the memories, I've got my blogg to jog those memories, and I'm fit and healthy. Could have been a lot worse...
It is sad that trust is not a behaviour you can exercise easily in Peru. You have to look at everyone a second and third time - even the taxi drivers, policemen, hotel reception, everyone. There is nowhere that is 100% safe to relax (other than your family's home - and even then they can't trust their own security doorman or driver).
I know no country is better than another, they are just different but I think I prefer the combination of values and lifestyle I enjoy in regional Australia. And I am happy to pay for the priviledge. It might be cheap to live in Peru when you have money, but I'd rather pay for the freedom and safety I enjoy. And I must admit if I was to live in Peru I would feel guilty every day, seeing the grinding poverty and being unable to make a difference. The 'haves' become innoculated against the plight of the 'have nots', otherwise you would never make it up the street to carry out your daily life. And I find ignoring people in need exhausting.
# posted by The Essence of Good Taste @ 8:27 AM 
