24 March 2009

Is it time for Asia to bare all?

By Yeoh Siew Hoon

IÃ¢â¬â¢ve never been much of a naturist. By that, I believe there is a time and place for nudity.

And I also believe some people are better naturists than others even though I know this goes against the very grain of the naturism cultural and political movement that advocates equal nudity for all.

For example, I struggle to know where to look when I see a naturist in full bloom on a beach, which is where most of my exposure to public nudity has been Ã¢â¬' so far.

Once in Brittany, I came upon a group of naked sunbathers and swimmers and I had the hardest time concentrating on my Elizabeth George whenever they got up to walk about. I mean, which dangly bits do you focus on?

At times like these, I wish I was French. They are born naturists. They are so comfortable in their own skin, or rather with their own skin that they have no qualms exposing all of it at the slightest opportunity.

Now I hear the Swiss mountain folks in Appenzell have similar inclinations. Apparently, in this mountain town, the hills are coming alive to the sound of nude hikers.

I have been to Appenzell maybe twice in my life and now I wonder why IÃ¢â¬â¢ve never spotted one naturist in this town of 5,600 people. A lot of cows, yes, but never one nude hiker for which I am now eternally grateful Ã¢â¬' nudity on the beach is one thing but nudity in the hills, well, thatÃ¢â¬â¢s several things Ã¢â¬~¦

According to a report in the IHT, the growing phenomenon is worrying locals but thereÃ¢â¬â¢s not much they can do because in Switzerland, just like it's legal to keep secret accounts, it is also legal to hike in the buff.

And so you meet them, both in summer and winter. One naturist climber doesnÃ¢â¬â¢t understand the fuss; he says he never meets people who are bothered. Ã¢â¬ÅâœYou greet them, and they greet you, though in winter, many ask, Ã¢â¬ËœArenÃ¢â¬â¢t you cold?Ã¢â¬â¢Ã¢â¬~

This man, named Konrad Hepenstrick, is an architect and has been nude-hiking for about 30 years. He does profess the need for hat and gloves in winter.

Ah, but where does he wear them?

He does it for freedom. Ã¢â¬ÅâœFirst, freedom in your head; then, freedom of the body.Ã¢â¬~

Curious, I went free-surfing on the Internet and realised thereÃ¢â¬â¢s a whole world of naturists out there. In fact, the world is crawling with them, from Europe to the US to Canada to Australia.

ThereÃ¢â¬â¢s a site called Euro Naturist where you can download pictures of Ã¢â¬Åâœthis monthÃ¢â¬â¢s naturist photosÃ¢â¬~. The Australian Naturist (TAN) declares, Ã¢â¬ÅâœIf social nudity was an accepted practise, in appropriate situations, we believe that the world would be a much better place.Ã¢â¬~

British Naturism says it in fewer words, Ã¢â¬ÅâœNothingÃ¢â¬â¢s better.Ã¢â¬~

Yahoo has a directory of naturist resorts and nude beaches and, wait for this, running events called Bare To Breakers and Naked Mile.

Croatia, I learnt, has more than 30 official naturist resorts and the first naturist beach was opened on Paradise Beach on the island of Rab in 1934.

In forums, I learnt that there are people out there looking for places to be naked in Asia.

One advocated the establishment of a pan-Asia naturist association. He/she says there is growing interest. Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt might be really interesting for a representative group of Asians to get together somewhere to discuss their various cultural traditions, current national situations, links with global issues like environment and equality, religious issues, etc, and maybe even try to develop a sort of "manifesto" for Asian-style naturism Ã¢â¬' for Asians, not tourists.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœI bet internet-powered under-30s Asians Ã¢â¬' into their culture but living in public systems basically created in their grandparents time Ã¢â¬' could think of some cheerfully innovative ways to get a little official space for Asian-style naturism.

And I bet it would be easier in each national context with the support of a regional umbrella group.

Hmm, do I smell an opportunity for South-east Asian tourism?

LetÃ¢â¬â¢s face it, we all need all the customers we can get these days, with or without clothes.

Catch Yeoh Siew Hoon every week at The Transit Cafe

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