WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY
Sometimes experiencing a place means sitting back,
doing less and feeling more
(posted 3/25/02)

A friend of mine is traveling to Italy this summer and she has only an afternoon in Venice before heading south. She asked me what she should do to "maximize" her time there.

Of course, many would try to squeeze in as much as possible, do as much as they can. I, on the other hand, prefer to do less and feel more.

I would select a small cafe, sip an espresso and simply watch the people, experience the magic, feel Venice.

That's really all she has time for, the feeling. And she can capture that spirit in a few short hours--if she lets herself steep.

If she doesn't like sitting, she can amble around and imbue. Explore centuries-old crevices. Meander slowly and infuse the essence of Venetian history and culture.

My most memorable "in-between time" has been spent weaving my way through the backstreets of numerous villages and towns. Whole worlds open up to us, if we give it the right pace.

A few years back, I was traveling north from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Hanoi in a minivan with six other intrepid souls. We arrived in Hoi An late at night and planned to continue on to Da Nang around noon the next day.

The following morning, while everyone else used the early hours to take care of laundry and other road essentials, I headed out to one of the many bakeries serving croissants and other delicacies left over from the French colonialists. Willy, a very energetic, heavyset Dutch woman in her mid-fifties with a kind face and Bo Derek braids, joined me.

As we wandered through the teeming market and down the labyrinth of alleys, dozens of women gathered around, gawking at Willy. Then they pointed toward a large Vietnamese woman, making comparisons between the two.

Not missing a beat, Willy approached the woman, smiled and hugged her. Buyers and merchants broke out in laughter as these two international pals of plenty shared their common bond.

Leaving the market, we were summoned by Truong Thuc, a man who looked much older than his forty-five years. He invited us for tea with his wife and daughter.

In well-spoken English, Truoc related how he had been imprisoned for two years after 1975 but wished it had been three. Only those who had been jailed for at least three years were permitted to immigrate to the United States. As a result, he was forced to live with his father, a man who brought him "only disasters". Now, he was "a prisoner for life".

Strolling further, we chanced upon Pham-Le, a 75-year-old French-speaking gentleman. Very handsome with a strong youthful body and a peaceful face, he evoked serenity and a deep sense of satisfaction with his life. He lived happily in his family's house which they had owned for 145 years.

An hour later, we were sipping tea in Hoi Nam temple with Cham Cuong, an 83-year-old man who took great pride in his Ho Chi Minh-style beard. He had difficulty breathing and didn't say much. Instead we sat together in comfortable chairs in the courtyard and absorbed his wise face and welcoming smile.

We arrived back just before twelve. Our traveling companions looked fresh in their laundered wears. We were still in our tattered tank-tops and dusty shorts. But our hearts were full and feeling.

In life we have many choices in how we use brief windows of time. I like to savor the gentle souls.

Steve Zikman is the author of The Power of Travel: A Passport to Adventure, Discovery & Growth and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul. To learn more about Steve’s books, visit his website at: www.GOscape.com Click here to read a sample of The Power of Travel. To correspond with Steve, email him at: soulfultraveler@GOscape.com For information about Steve's speaking programs or to book Steve for your organization's next event, please call Cindy Bertram at 219-322-9186.