It takes nothing to be kind, so please, be kind, to everyone
I’m on the beach the other evening and there’s a team
of horses the tourists love to hire. During the low season – which is coming to
an end soon - we haven’t seen too much activity on the horse front. But the
horses are back in numbers, and that means the tourists are coming back too.
In the last 12 months, I’ve certainly come to
appreciate the serenity of Phuket’s low-season, sans tourists, although low
season equals unbelievable amounts of rubbish washed up by the ocean. There’s so
much rubbish… sigh.
Anyhoo, this crew who hired the horses could ride - unlike
most who plod along the beach. But when these teams head to the beach, I’m
never looking at the tourists, as there’s always much more to admire in the
work ethic of the guy’s accompanying them. Typically, they walk along, holding
the reins of the horses, but on this occasion, they ran while doing it.
That is endurance sport right there – running on sand,
sometimes hard, sometimes soft – and one must assume these are some bloody fit
bastards! Because let’s not forget, they do it multiple times a day.
Freddy (the dog) tends to stay well away from the
horses, preferring to give his love to any human crossing his path. I’m happy
he wants to stay away from the horses, however his love for humans is not
always an endearing quality – especially in this part of the world. You’d be
amazed how shit scared people are of a friendly Golden Retriever!
Anyhoo, Freddy decides to run up to one of the guys
working, who at this point, was doing a video of his customer, galloping down
the beach. I can already hear the oohs and ahhs when he gets home and shows his
friends/family the video…
Except the guy videoing screwed it up, because of
Freddy. Sorry mate is a regular
mantra on the beach, but this is when it headed in a direction I don’t admire
too much.
The guy on the horse comes racing up to the guy, shouting
at him: why didn’t you take the video?
What is wrong with you? I asked you to take the video!!
I can hear all of this, but only made it to the
men/horse by the time he finished yelling. I’m like, hey darls, this is all my fault. I’ve just got a really friendly dog.
I’m so sorry it spoiled your video.
I get an obsequious oh no problem madam. It is not your fault. I just really want to
capture this moment on video.
All with a sweet smile on his face.
The guy working with the horses gave me a grateful
smile for taking the anger away from him.
The difference couldn’t have been starker in how he
spoke to both of us, and I have to say, especially in Thailand, when people
speak like shit to the locals, I want to punch them in the face.
You will never meet a more respectful and humble
people. The Thai’s are amazing, and they will never respond in kind if you
speak to them like shit. It is not in their character.
Unfortunately, he was off before I had a chance to
say: oi, don’t be a prick! Can you see
how hard this guy is working for you? Be respectful. You are in Thailand and
besides, EVERYONE deserves respect.
But this is not an uncommon experience for me, having
lived in Asia for more than 15 years, and traveling the world for nearly 25
years. People speaking like shit to those they consider beneath them, but when
I am in the middle of it, I get all deference and respect. Something I haven’t
earned.
I don’t know if it’s my skin colour, the fear I’ll
dish out a massive bitch slap on them, or my accent/nationality attracts this
deference - although mostly, I’m going to assume it’s my skin colour - but whatever
it is, it’s never on. Never.
I cannot stand this side of humanity. I don’t expect
to be treated differently (better), and I certainly don’t expect anyone to be
treated differently (worse), because of their skin colour, religion,
nationality, perceived lower social status, or anything else.
I have a community made up of all makes and models. We
are all human. Some were lucky to be born into great wealth, others have created
their own wealth, and many are struggling week to week, but we are not
different, our life experience is just different.
If I could cut one thing out of the world right now,
it is this idea that some are above, while most are below.
No, we are all human, having a unique human experience
– personally, within communities and globally – and if we want to take this
world into the light from the dark place it now resides, changing this would be
a good place to start.
So please, don’t be nice to me if you’re an arsehole
to everyone else. Or I will give you a bitch slap.
Can anyone else relate?
Yours, without the bollocks
Andrea
Thank
you for reading my ramblings. My brain and heart are a work in progress,
always. I’d love a comment if it stirred any thoughts or feelings and of course,
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