Who loves the sun* - The Velvet Underground

One of the nights at the hostel in Kuching, me roomie Ordi was basically sharing about the joys of traveling. He was amused at the small things that are different - so very different.

For instance, he was so amused - and surprised - that we have products here to whiten our complexion. He said that people in his country - and for that matter, in Europe in general - loves the sun. No, the word should be adore! I know that very well, having lived in the UK for a short while.

I was telling him that when the sun peeked out, the Brits will be out on the grass, lying on towels in their bikinis!!!! Mind you, the temperature can be really cold.

Enjoying the sun on the UoE lakeside - Summer of 2006

Ordi said that he loves having a tan. But the people in South East Asia seem so scared to get a tan - and they go to the other extreme and use products to whiten their skin!!!

He laughed when i pointed out to him that he can see locals hiding under umbrellas when it is not rining but when the sun is out. He said he must get a photo of that and show his mates back home.

Oh well... The Europeans get so little of the sun in a year. We get it all year round. But they long to get a tan while a lot of the girls here try so hard to look pale! When it is easy to get, you don't want it. You want something which is difficult to attain.

That's life, isn't it?

*Track 14 from the soundtrack of the brilliant movie, High Fidelity.