Fili’s world

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Most of the people who know me are somewhat aware that the last few years it has been giving me hell. My stories and complaints about what was happening to me were famous and commonly unpopular around my family and friends. It has also effected my appearance and physical health, making it hard for me to keep everything stable.

Back in Israel, I hated my !%^&! stomach. Almost everything I ate found its way out fast - keeping even the important ingredients out of my body. I’ve lost weight, I’ve lost most of my energy and I was always aware of what was going on inside. Becoming hungry was scary, knowing I need to face that fucked up sensitive digestion system.
Back in Israel, I hated my !%^&! allergies. Almost everywhere I went and every tree I passed by gave me allergies to die off. Running closed-up nose, short headaches and the inability to have a good night sleep were only some of my common symptoms.

True, I wasn’t dying, and somehow I was able to maintain a pretty good shape and a fairly reasonable life, but I knew that I had it different than the lucky others. There were periods I had the hardest time “covering things up” and trying to avoid direct conversation about it, since criticism and more questions always followed. I think that at some point I even lied to my self about how bad things have become.

Only reason I’m bringing this up is that up till now, tfu tfu, I haven’t had any of those things traveling. I walk through the hardest jungle rainforests, sleep next to Malaria and Flu infested lakes, eat shitloads of dirty local food and nothing happens. My stomach has survived and overpowered food that has made my strongest travel-mates fall off to a near coma, my immune system fighting off allergies and diseases that had severely shutdown people I met. Eating that wonderful street food yesterday with the locals I was suddenly aware of the transformation. I no longer need to think twice about what I eat and where I eat it. Everything is fine and it allows me wondrous interactions with the local folks.

My Hoi An time is legendary. Even today, which had nothing exciting on schedule, brought up a nice surprise of finding a well hidden Ping-Pong place. Ping-Pong! I haven’t played a good game in nearly 9 years, so I entered to check out the place. Weed, the local champion, quickly embraced me and we started playing. God, how I’ve missed this game. I was nothing close to his level, but we both didn’t mind. He loved the fact that I was admiring his moves and studying some of them, and I loved the training and the company. After 30 minutes, I was even able to get my game back, to earn a few points and to show great improvement. Sitting down later with all the Ping-Pong players for a cold soda outside I got to know English speaking Hai and a couple’o people who’s name I forgot and we’ve set for a Ping-Pong rematch training tomorrow morning at early 7:00am. Seems like I’m the first western that ever visited them. God, I have a Ping-Pong place and great players 2 minutes from my hotel. Isn’t life grand?

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