My fascination for the Far East

I have never been in the Far East, but every year I promise to do my best in order to go there and live, even for a few days, in a culture I definitively admire. Japanese and Chinese cultures (just quoting the two most important ones) are so far different from ours, that I can hardly imagine how live can be there. I would like to recommend a book by Ruth Benedict, called “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword”, where a nice analysis of the Japanese culture is made.

From my perspective, thousands of kilometres away from the Far East, it seems that it is a land of quietness and relaxation, where stress is not a common word. I would certainly like to wander through its gardens and palaces, to feel that a different organisation is possible for our cities (although even cities in Far East have fallen to our concept of life). There, it is evident that the soul is the most important part of the human body, not how much money you earn or how many employees you can fire in five minutes. It seems to me that an hour there could provide enough peace as for to work for a complete year.

That is what I admire of the classical cultures in the Far East. But I also maintain some admiration for their technical development. Going for a walk in the commercial streets of Tokyo may be like living for a while in the XXIInd century. Concerning new technologies and quoting my idol Homer Simpson, they are years ahead of us. I still remember a lot of Japanese and Korean fans taking photographs of the football players in the 2002 World Cup with their mobile phones, whereas in 2002 mobile phones were still landing in Europe. Besides, every time I watch on TV one of their mechanical pets, I cannot help smiling.

Well, that is what I wanted to write about Japan and China, in particular, and about the Far East in general. So far, I have not had the chance to go there, since it is an expensive and long journey from Spain. Some friends have been there (Javi and Teresa) and even my boss. But I do not give up hopes, and I would like to consider it as one of my favourite destinations in my honeymoon (if ever).