Shell shocked by the sterility

How do I begin to describe what it feels like to visit the second richest economy in the world after having lived in the second poorest country in the world?

Shell-shocked is the best term I can come up with.
Japan
is
nuts.

Here's a few comparisons for y'all to mull over as you enjoy a beer on a sunny patio in July:

average monthly salary in Japan (allegedly): 2500 USD. [I think this must be wrong...it must be higher because the cost of living is so insanely high here]
average YEARLY salary in Nepal: 470 USD

typical street in Japan: Spotlessly, obsessively clean. Filled with cars that run smoothly and silently. Lined by stores selling every item imaginable from Hello Kitty bags to Louis Vutton suits.
typical street in Nepal: Dirty and disordered. Filled with rickshaws, water buffalo and a few motorcycles all making a heap of noise. Lined with garbage, livestock and a few small shops.

a cheap meal in Japan: 10-15 USD
a cheap meal in Nepal: 1-2 USD

typical streetwear in Tokyo: Glammmmmmmed up women in designer dresses, wearing SKY high stillettos. Harajuko girls in outrageous cos play outfits (google it if you don't know what that means), goth guys in black mesh shirts with hairstyles that defy description.
typical streetwear in Pokhara: Saris and khurta shurbas. Sandals or bare feet depending on your preference and/or financial restrictions. All the colours of the rainbow, with very few frills.


typical bathroom in Japan: Tiny, and containing a toilet likely designed by NASA. Remote control flushers, princess sound systems (as in the toilet makes a noise while you go about your business to mask any embarrassing sound faux-pas), bidets and 'powerful deodorizers'. As in the toilet smells like roses.
typical bathroom in Nepal: A bucket to shower with. A hole for a toilet.


Japanese grub: Sushi, sashimi, pastries filled with mysterious bean pastes. McDonalds and Starbucks if you so desire. french croissants and pain au chocolate. Wine, beer, sake and very respectable coffee.
Nepali grub: Dhal bhat (lentils and rice). Milk tea. Occasionally a warm beer. Very very very rarely a cold one.

Japanese sporting event: Tigers baseball game. Possibly the funniest most outrageous thing you have ever witnessed - quiet, timid Japanese men and women decked out in allll the team gear chanting and screaming and singing. But in an orderly fashion.
Nepali sporting event: Volleyball or cricket in the dirt. Definitely no local sports teams and no stadiums.

Japanese greeting: a complex series of bows....Very Complex. I don't understand the rules...but it's insane to watch. On the trains, the women selling coffee and snacks bow when they enter AND when they leave every. single. car.
on the streets, people keep their heads down and avoid eye contact for the most part.
Nepali greeting: hands over heart, 'Namaste' and a head wiggle.
on the street, people smile and say hello to everyone, calling each other sister/brother, aunt and uncle whether they are related or not.

One country has its roots in order, discipline, structure and rules. The trains are always on time, everything is impeccably clean, there's little to no visible poverty (at least in the cities).

The other country has its roots in chaos. Nothing is ever on time, it's always dirty, most people are poor.

One country is prim and proper. One is filled with passion.

Guess which one's which......

It's been fascinating being here.
It's been over-the-top amazingly awesome to spend time with my family again.

And I'm stoked to go back to my little chaotic paradise soon.....