Hooked On Asia

In the current, gloomy economic climate I thought the first blog on this site should set the tone for what will follow: it’s about happiness!

In his coronation address on 07 November 2008, The 5^th King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, popularly known as King Khesar, reconfirmed his commitment to the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). According to King Khesar, a GNH society means “the creation of an enlightened society in which happiness and well-being of all people and sentient beings is the ultimate purpose of governance”.

I would say that given the Global Financial Crisis that concept has a lot of appeal. I suspect that had we all been pursuing happiness (as measured by psychological well being) we would not be in the mess we currently find ourselves.

Most of us, I believe, can agree that happiness is a state of mind. In theory we just have to think happy to be happy.

If I extend that idea to the notion of vacations then I could easily argue that the stay-at-home vacation, so-called staycation (yuk), is the new black. Indeed for many, through force of circumstance, it is. In my opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with that because there is much to be discovered almost literally on our own doorsteps. However, in a blog about vacations in Asia obviously I cannot stop there.

For those in the fortunate position of realistically contemplating a vacation in Asia, I would guess that among the things drawing you back are the feeling of well-being and a sense of spirituality, which seems to pervade the region. Yes, in theory, you can capture that same feeling in your own home, but it’s those familiar sights, sounds, tastes and smells which for me cannot be replicated.

As I write I am transported to Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia. I am seated at a table, on the pavement at a corner of a busy intersection. Droplets of water roll down my bottle of coke and form small puddles on the metal table top. The smell of cooking wafts from inside the restaurant carried in puffs of smoke from the fire that roars beneath a wok seasoned by years of use. Motorcyclists toot and jostle for space on the thin ribbons of concrete that cut between ancient Chinese shophouses. A trishaw driver briskly accelerates, calf muscles bulging, in a hopeless struggle to recapture the streets that were once his.

I know I am lucky to have such memories and although, to a degree, this goes against the concept of GNH: I want more. Vacations for me are in the mind but my body needs to be in situ to truly enjoy them.

If during these difficult times that means economising along the way then so be it. Dropping a hotel grade is probably the easiest way of reducing costs and while those extra in-house restaurants, 24-hour room service and branded toiletries in the bathroom are nice to have they are, generally, not a vacation breaker. For me the hotel just needs to be clean and close enough to the sites and local facilities: I can take care of the rest.

A vacation in Asia is a luxury but it can still be affordable. We just have to decide what are the true essentials of our vacation, budget wisely and imagine how grumpy we would be if we didn’t go.