Dr. Belle Taylor Acupuncture

Summer Twilight @ Cua Dai Beach – Hoi An Vietnam

As the sun lowers in the evening sky on the horizon of Hoi An’s beautiful local Cua Dai beach. I curiously watch on as local’s from all walks of life begin to gather, busily chatting and setting up small wind breakers, barbecues and picnic mats.

The temperature remains perfectly balmy long after the sun goes down and dinner time is fast approaching.

Laughing amongst one another, the locals mingle from family to family, meandering around one another’s dinner specialties, sussing out the delights on offer for either trade or a small fee.

Its as if they all know each other, yet there are so many families, is that even possible… In what way are these people all connected I wonder…?

As one stall runs out of a vital ingredient their neighbor offers to replace it or better yet, they can just come over and cook at the other barbecue with them.

The families, friends and community continue to dine, bath and mingle with one another until long after the moon has ascended into the early night sky. Eventually they simply all pitch in and help one another collect the armfuls of utensils and cooking instruments and slowly, happily make their way home, where they will lounge on hammocks or cushions, with the evening breeze wafting through the open front door and watch some television with immediate family.

Quality family time is a way of life and involves the entire community, their is no concept of separation based on familial surname or structure, the locals are united by their humanity and love for their families and fellow members of the human race.

Easy Rider Tour – Ho Chi Minh Trail

Vietnamese Mountains Enveloped in Lush Jungle Canopy Bordering Laos

The people living out here are the minority groups, the villages nestled within mile upon mile of mountain and jungle terrain, stunning, untouched wilderness, waterfalls and rivers carve their way through the valleys. Inhabitants include monkeys, tigers and bears plus the innumerable smiling, waving hospitable and oh so welcoming local people.

These people are completely self sufficient, they hunt, grow their own crops, raise their families and welcome all who happens to be passing by, inviting us in for freshly picked pineapple and brewed green tea.

Their is an unwavering trust and fearlessness which is expressed in their shouts of hello and waves as we pass by. My arms and cheeks were honestly sore from smiling and waving by the end of five days but my heart was warm and inspired that through these peoples experience of the world, they have learnt to trust all unconditionally, with no doubt or fear. Truth be told, its okay and safe for them to trust because it is understood, that trust creates unity.

Most warming was their complete acceptance of new or “different” individuals and by different I mean myself, which is purely based on my cultural perception. I was taught, I am different and separate to people of other cultures, religions, even sports team supporters or states in Australia. So much separation, disconnection and competition has being drummed into my psyche, no wonder I felt so very lonely at home.

Here there is no such thing as separation, yes each of us is different, and it is our differences which make us an in integral part of the whole. Here I am important because I am me, accepted. Where ever I am, I bring completion.  This is unity.

Train from Dong Hui to Hanoi

Another Vital Component of Society 

Boarding the train after 5 days on a motorbike, those similar nerves crept upon me, that knowing that I am once again alone, even in all that I have learnt in the past 3 weeks of being completely welcomed and accepted into the Vietnamese society, my fearful western mind plays tricks on me and tells me that I am still separate, isolated and alone… To my unknowing, this was blessedly all about to change.

I took my seat and nervously tried to figure out what to do with my pack, for it was so large and there was other peoples luggage everywhere. A Vietnamese man grabs my small bag off me, smiles reassuringly, puts it above my head and then shoves my big pack in at my feet. I am the only westerner on the train and everybody is busily chatting in vietnamese with one another, again I get the feel like they all know one another, but I now know that the social connection comes purely from the Vietnamese’ open and accepting nature.

As the train begins to depart the lady next to me takes her seat and holds her dinner up in front of me, and raises her eyebrows at me. Then to my surprise opens the box and offers me the first bite of the salty peanut rice… Hungry as usual, I oblige. She continued to offer me every second spoonful until it was completely finished.

I was brought to tears.

This lady had showed me greater compassion and acceptance completely unconditionally than I have ever experienced in my life. She did not want anything from me, not conversation, not praise, not reward. She had shared her dinner with me purely as one member of the human race giving to another.

Western society taught me that nothing comes for free, never to trust anyone, people only give when they want something in return, if you give to someone they are obliged to return the favor and relationships are conditional.

The Vietnamese taught me that a community is not only a group of people from this country or that minority but we are all a part of the community of humanity. If only we are fearless enough to allow ourselves to accept our inherent connection to one another.

Ultimately we all love our family and friends and wish happiness upon them and ourselves. A stranger is purely a friend that you just haven’t met yet. Connecting with people goes far beyond having a conversation or offering a random act of kindness, its being accepting and non judgmental of all, knowing that what makes us different actually unites us as a complete unit of humanity.

We are a community of human beings, separated by nothing but our perception of the safety in trusting others.

Vietnam accepted me so unconditionally it has empowered me to be fearless. The most inspiring gift of all.