By Every once in a while, I have moments of intense forgetfulness. This forgetfulness that I speak of has to do with forgetting about the Asia trip. Perhaps forgetfulness is not the correct word choice because believe me, I will not soon forget this experience. Every once in a while, a memory appears in my mind’s eye and I realize that I have indeed been to Asia. Sometimes, I look down at my feet upon which one can often find my beloved Birkenstocks. My Birkenstocks are very good at helping me remember.
Now, you may be wondering how shoes can possibly help me remember anything. You see, I wore my Birkenstocks nearly everyday while in Asia; they were good to my feet. Unbeknownst to me when I packed them in my suitcase in preparation for the trip, they have become one of my principle reminders of my experiences. When I look at them, I remember the places that they have taken me. Places like Philippine church, Paoay Church built in the 16th century by slaves to the Spanish crown. They lead me past cows and stray cats to a small mosque in a Muslim village in the interior of East Malaysia. These reliable shoes steered me through the sacred grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok; and they help me remember.
Every religion has icons. Icons are meant to be vehicles through which people remember the significance of something such as religion in their lives. For Christians one such icon is the cross and for Buddhists the image of the Buddha. Similarly, in a desperate attempt not to forget the places that I have been and valuable lessons that I have learned, I rely on familiarity to bring remembrance. I suspect that as the days and weeks turn into months and years, as I slip my feet into my faithful Birkenstocks time and again, I will remember the places that they have taken me and the things that I learned in those places. That, my friends is how my Birkenstocks will be one of my favourite icons of my trip to Southeast Asia.