Auto-reflex: Travels in South East Asia (Part 2)

[capitalq]

<p>one of the most surprising things i experienced in my travels was the sense of optimism all across SE Asia. there's none of the pervasive gloom and doom of the greeks and the euro, gnashing of teeth over obama's debt ceiling talks, or the anemic economic growth prospects of the G8. all across the region i saw dynamism and a belief that tomorrow will be better than today. despite corruption and graft, there is still a widespread belief that politicians can and do make a difference -- that public servants engage in good long-term public policy that creates infrastructure and economic prosperity for all. this is especially true in malaysia and thailand but also applies to poorer countries like bangladesh. frankly, by comparison, we in the west seem afflicted by a loss of confidence and an increasing inability to work with each other to solve our shared problems. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>even in bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, there is a drive and an optimism that is reflected everywhere: from the new air-conditioned malls that are being built to the street vendors selling thier wares by the curb. there is also a growing recognition that not all things from the West are worthy of emulation or imitation... </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>however, with increasing prosperity, the traffic congestion and pollution in asian cities is becoming notorious...but there are still pockets where people travel in ways they did for the past hundred years. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>traffic jam?</p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>what these images also show is the ever-increasing pace of construction in the urban areas. as rising sea levels swallow up more and more land, the higher urban areas are becoming increasingly valuable and unabated (and unregulated) construction of towers is taking place. in fact, i was told that purchasing land in dhaka was more expensive than in tokyo! </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>and to feed the construction boom, more and more arable land is being used as brick foundries. the once pristine countryside is being blighted by the brickworks chimney stacks all over farmlands. what will this mean for future food production for these growing urban centres? </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>but i keep coming back to the people. they have little by way of western standards but they're working hard, and they're happy, and they value human relationships. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>and although everyone now has a cell phone or two (including the professional beggars), many still do things the way they have been done for centuries... </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>another pic</p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>making an honest livlihood </p><div></div>

[MarcelRomviel]

<p>I love to see how people in other countries live and your pictures show some of it.</p>

 

[Mike Gammill]

Great series. I enjoyed the photos as well as the commentary. Thanks for posting.

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Excellent,<strong> Capital</strong>, great documentation and a thoughtful commentary. It works really well in monochrome.</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Lovely shots of the bazaar and countryside. Good humor in your approach to the perspectives and elements in the picture. I like the confident smile of the "fruitwallah". Thanks for the nice tour, <strong>CQ</strong>. sp</p>

[CoryAmmerman]

<p>Excellent series Capital. Your pictures make me feel like I'm right there in the middle of things. Thanks for sharing.</p>

[rustys pics]

<p>Great to see these shots and what life is like in Developing countries. The portraits of people do indeed seem to reveal an openess lacking in more developed countries. However I have to take exception to your political and Economic views; the Western (and Japanese) economies are collapsing NOT because people don't want to work or are cynical. They are collapsing because Multi national corporations have moved jobs to cheap labor markets. You did a great job of raising the question of what will happen to croplands in these "New Market" countries though by photographing the Brickyards in fields.</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Nice half-frame work. Cool Pics!</p>

[capitalq]

<p>thanks everyone for the kind comments and insights. much appreciated.</p>

[capitalq]

<p>i don't want to be misinterpreted. i wasn't suggesting that the West is collapsing or under imminent threat of political, social or economic demise. clearly, there are many things that work just fine here and are indeed much better in the West than elsewhere. what i was commenting on was the contrast and evolution in the mood or mindset. in the 70s, 980s and 90s, anyone with any brains and/or money wanted to leave south east asia and come settle in the west. now, homegrown economic opportunities are available and the best and brightest are not not necessarily leaving to find fortune and fame. indeed, there is that sense of optimism which i find lacking in the west (despite our many advantages). </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>there was a time when these scenes of humanity would have seemed backward. now, it seems fitting and right given the challenges of a young and developing country. how else do you find gainful employment for so many people?</p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>frankly, i'm in awe of these people. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>i also happened to find myself inside a garment factory (the largest industry in bangladesh). here's a little of what i saw...</p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>while the mothers worked, their kids were in a classroom next door. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>but as i mentioned earlier, the dynamism and growth has a downside. the city of dhaka is being developed without much long-range planning. what was once a city of gardens has become an urban jungle. </p><div></div>

[capitalq]

<p>this one neighbourhood of gandaria is typical. once a place ful of courtyards and verandahs, it has been supplanted by multi-story buildings which are erected without consideration of zoning or even courtesy. many a window now faces onto a brick wall of the neighbouring building...gandaria is supposed to be even more densely populated than the Gaza strip! </p><div></div>