On vacationing

There are times, for instance when two dozen people stop walking and
talking to turn around and stare at you as you approach and have no
choice but to walk through their midst, when tourist development is a
glorious thing.
And how funny that the hell-fer-leather atmosphere in Thailand now
seems like an easy, westernized respite from the raw world. What's
next, predictable electricity?

Suffice it to say, the plains of Northern India were almost as
pleasant as the 10 hours on a bus-sized shagwagon driven by a wannabe
stock car drive with an inferiority complex while a group of
traditional mountain women spent at least 6 hours setting off each
other's vomit reactions. Somehow, I do better with that than with
someone covering her face as she walks past me.
It's also easier facing the blatant "FARANG!" stares than the flock of
furtive glances that disavow my existence if I catch them.

Yes, authentic is good. But so is comfort.