Just a few fish and the End of Fantasy Time? (Dubai, UAE)
I finally managed to get out of the city of Dubai proper and visit a neighboring city to the North - Sharjah. Very modern looking as with Dubai, though not quite as polished -though still spotlessly clean. I had an opportunity to visit the market area. This area of the world is interesting because quite often similar businesses are all grouped together in markets called SOUQS. Makes for great photo opps. I happened to visit Sharjah's fish souq. Nothing like the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, Japan or even the one in Sydney, Australia, but I did see something that caught my eye.
Mandarin Fish
A fisherman was selling his catch for the day on a large round "plate" made of straw. I immediately recognized the fish. There were about 10-15 of them I think (I have a picture), maybe 1-2.5 feet long each. Mandarin fish (Oriental?) white, with black spots, and some yellow stripes I think. They were selling each for 10 Dh / US$2.75. It made me sad when I saw them. The first time I saw these fish, was in the wild - while diving in Palau. A few families - swimming along so peacefully. So beautifully.
As they lie motionless, their original color was beginning to fade, nothing like their brilliance underwater.
It saddened me that this man probably has no appreciation for these fish in the wild. He is just making a living. I can't fault him. I was quickly reminded of so many other things in the world that I've either seen or read about where people don't appreciate the bigger picture - because lack of knowledge of a better way, desperation, just plain ignorance, brainwashing, cruelty, excessive greed and/or pride in some cases.
End of Fantasy Time?
One of my friends (Whose traveled a fair bit - a different one from earlier journals) commented to me once that I was about to embark on a fantasy life - of traveling the world and not working. To a certain extent he is right, but I countered his comment with another - that everyone not seeing the world for what it truly is, is living a fantasy life. As global trade in products and services continues at a relentless pace all of us are continually becoming disconnected from where things come from and their impacts. For those (Especially for those who are able) who don't make a point of seeing the reality of our world for themselves, or for those who don't even question the products and services we use everyday - they are much closer to living the fantasy life, not I. I certainly lived the "fantasy life" for most of my life, but I decided recently enough is enough - especially when the fantasy didn't seem to be so satisfying.
This is a topic I could write extensively about - but I proably won't for now, I actually need to live a fantasy life again for awhile I think. I'll end with this - I won't shed a tear or perhaps even any sympathy when the fantasy world comes crashing down for others who just didn't care the whole time. Although in practice, this could be hard to determine on an individual basis. Perhaps I'll join the other privateers and capitalists, or "storytellers" who take advantage of this desire to live in a fantasy world. At least for awhile. Fantasies aren't all bad, they are good too - we need them, they have their place - but in some areas of the world it is definitely excessive to the point where I think the fantasy is twisted. I'm reminded of the movie series Matrix as I write this.
If you can't "beat em'", join em' until you can "beat em'!!"
When do I get to fly like Superman? Episode 2?
Am I still living in Episode 1? Will I ever get to Episode 2? Still haven't seen the last Episode - #3.
Mandarin Fish
A fisherman was selling his catch for the day on a large round "plate" made of straw. I immediately recognized the fish. There were about 10-15 of them I think (I have a picture), maybe 1-2.5 feet long each. Mandarin fish (Oriental?) white, with black spots, and some yellow stripes I think. They were selling each for 10 Dh / US$2.75. It made me sad when I saw them. The first time I saw these fish, was in the wild - while diving in Palau. A few families - swimming along so peacefully. So beautifully.
As they lie motionless, their original color was beginning to fade, nothing like their brilliance underwater.
It saddened me that this man probably has no appreciation for these fish in the wild. He is just making a living. I can't fault him. I was quickly reminded of so many other things in the world that I've either seen or read about where people don't appreciate the bigger picture - because lack of knowledge of a better way, desperation, just plain ignorance, brainwashing, cruelty, excessive greed and/or pride in some cases.
End of Fantasy Time?
One of my friends (Whose traveled a fair bit - a different one from earlier journals) commented to me once that I was about to embark on a fantasy life - of traveling the world and not working. To a certain extent he is right, but I countered his comment with another - that everyone not seeing the world for what it truly is, is living a fantasy life. As global trade in products and services continues at a relentless pace all of us are continually becoming disconnected from where things come from and their impacts. For those (Especially for those who are able) who don't make a point of seeing the reality of our world for themselves, or for those who don't even question the products and services we use everyday - they are much closer to living the fantasy life, not I. I certainly lived the "fantasy life" for most of my life, but I decided recently enough is enough - especially when the fantasy didn't seem to be so satisfying.
This is a topic I could write extensively about - but I proably won't for now, I actually need to live a fantasy life again for awhile I think. I'll end with this - I won't shed a tear or perhaps even any sympathy when the fantasy world comes crashing down for others who just didn't care the whole time. Although in practice, this could be hard to determine on an individual basis. Perhaps I'll join the other privateers and capitalists, or "storytellers" who take advantage of this desire to live in a fantasy world. At least for awhile. Fantasies aren't all bad, they are good too - we need them, they have their place - but in some areas of the world it is definitely excessive to the point where I think the fantasy is twisted. I'm reminded of the movie series Matrix as I write this.
If you can't "beat em'", join em' until you can "beat em'!!"
When do I get to fly like Superman? Episode 2?
Am I still living in Episode 1? Will I ever get to Episode 2? Still haven't seen the last Episode - #3.
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