[Bangkok, 1/2/23] Since leaving Vung Tau on 11/9/22, I’ve been at seven hotels in five cities in three countries. Returning to Bangkok from Chennai last week, I thought about staying near Hua Lamphong. There, I wouldn’t just get to know another neighborhood, but be ready to hop on a train to wherever.
In reading of your conversation with the Burmese man, I had the fleeting thought that most Westerners probably view Southeast Asian nations as interchangeable, a sentiment that seems faintly insulting to all of them.
I like those last few pictures; its interesting to look at the different facial expressions on your subjects and imagine what they are thinking...
"In any society, most people just want to be left alone..." I always thought that was true, but here nowadays we seem to have more than our fair share of those who not only don't want to be left alone, they don't want YOU to be left alone either. While hoping myself (probably in vain) for the former, I keep thinking of Pericles: "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you."
Very nice, enjoyable piece. I admire Mr. Dinh's ability to talk to strangers and extract their best stories. I wish I could do that, but I'm usually too anti-social. I enjoy reading and writing about travels, tough. Happy New Year, Mr. Dihn!
Happy New Year Linh! Did you catch that Monday Night Football game you mentioned in your last piece? I heard it got called off when 24 year old Bill's safety got a heart injury. I used to root for the Bills back when I cared about the NFL. They had bad luck then too.
He had to turn off the comments feature because the jab cultists were spamming the article. Let's hope the cancellation of the game gets more people to notice what is happening.
Love that the Burmese only have to pay a 200 baht bribe. One of the things I appreciate about living in Thailand is that bribery is open to everyone. The US is every bit as corrupt at a high level but the corruption isn't open to the average person.
If you'd like a change of pace from the Mam, walk down Soi 1 all way until the very end almost to the river. Riverline Guesthouse is cheaper quieter and there's places where you can sit and work. Belle Belle is close by, the same price as Mam but much better location.
I'm too worn out, so will likely stay put for a little while. Plus, I can get good pasta dishes and burgers on Samsen, when I need a break from Hong Kong Noodle.
South east asian gays are often funny and nice in that old school sassy way. Gays in the west are just bores nowadays. I'm glad he didn't shit on Burma. Seems like a nice place, always wanted to go there. Well i've actually been there, but only for a couple of hours. Doesnt count.
Happy New Year, Linh Dinh. Thank you for your writing and your sensitive portrayals of one sacred member of our human family after another. Even though you go right into the degradation and underbelly, you always manage to see the humanity and beauty in your subjects. I appreciate that. May God protect you and may your openness and sensitivity in our very decaying civilization not make you vulnerable to despair. Despair is a sin in Catholicism and I believe that is for good reason. In his new book on beauty, E Michael Jones talks about the transcendentals of the the good, the beautiful and the true that elevate our souls and that when we work for these, we are doing a service to others. Your art is most centered on the true, but contains a lot of beauty and good as well. You are a treasure. If you haven't looked into the work of E Michael Jones, you should since he has been persecuted by the same people that have persecuted you. Many of his lectures can be found on the archives at his website CultureWars.com . God Bless you and your family.
Hi Aimee, Thank You. I know you meant that link for Linh, but I checked out the website for myself. I've heard of Mr. Jones before but had never been to CultureWars.com, I purchased Logos Rising. I won't bore you with the details but for me personally it's the right book at the right time. Thanks again for the link. MLM
The link is for Linh, but I assume Linh's readers might also find his work interesting. I see Linh is the man holding up the mirror to us about our society and Jones as the one to explain how we got here, how to do our best to protect ourselves and hopefully help get our society back onto a good track. I am reading _Logos Rising_ now and I think it is great, but not light reading. The beauty book is a bit lighter, but still digs into a lot of deeper concepts from philosophy and theology. Both are, however, very uplifting. _Libido Dominandi:Sexual Liberation as Social Control_ and _The Jewish Revolutionary Spirit_ (starting in the modern period) are page turners with a lot of explanatory power for the train wreck we are experiencing. I also find the magazine very thought provoking. I hope you find the book useful and it would never bore me to hear about your journey, but only when and if you care to share. May God bless and protect you.
Fascinating read, Linh. In two of the pictures, the subjects appear to be unhappy Anglos tourists, with the couple in the last photo towering over the locals in a disco, as if dancing on a platform. Is there some symbolism there that I cannot quite grasp, or am I getting it all wrong?
Those night photos of people reveling were taken just before 3AM, so just about everyone was well trashed. The couple towering above everyone had just climbed onto a table. After only a bit of half assed dancing, they got down.
With these partying situations, you always find as many people looking bored as joyous, and since it had gone on a while, there were many slumped on sidewalks. It was a mini version of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but without anyone throwing up, at least by the time I got there.
In reading of your conversation with the Burmese man, I had the fleeting thought that most Westerners probably view Southeast Asian nations as interchangeable, a sentiment that seems faintly insulting to all of them.
I like those last few pictures; its interesting to look at the different facial expressions on your subjects and imagine what they are thinking...
"In any society, most people just want to be left alone..." I always thought that was true, but here nowadays we seem to have more than our fair share of those who not only don't want to be left alone, they don't want YOU to be left alone either. While hoping myself (probably in vain) for the former, I keep thinking of Pericles: "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you."
Happy New Year!
Very nice, enjoyable piece. I admire Mr. Dinh's ability to talk to strangers and extract their best stories. I wish I could do that, but I'm usually too anti-social. I enjoy reading and writing about travels, tough. Happy New Year, Mr. Dihn!
https://contrarium.substack.com/p/strasbourg
Happy New Year Linh! Did you catch that Monday Night Football game you mentioned in your last piece? I heard it got called off when 24 year old Bill's safety got a heart injury. I used to root for the Bills back when I cared about the NFL. They had bad luck then too.
Hi Matthew,
I never watch a full game any more, not even when my Seahawks play.
Here's Steve Kirsch's take on Damar Hamlin's injury:
https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/what-caused-damar-hamlins-injury
Linh
He had to turn off the comments feature because the jab cultists were spamming the article. Let's hope the cancellation of the game gets more people to notice what is happening.
A $5 bribe to cross a border is a tip for two hamburgers at a local diner. Money is an amazing invention.
Love that the Burmese only have to pay a 200 baht bribe. One of the things I appreciate about living in Thailand is that bribery is open to everyone. The US is every bit as corrupt at a high level but the corruption isn't open to the average person.
Hey Lihn,
That traffic on Samsen is too much!
If you'd like a change of pace from the Mam, walk down Soi 1 all way until the very end almost to the river. Riverline Guesthouse is cheaper quieter and there's places where you can sit and work. Belle Belle is close by, the same price as Mam but much better location.
Hi SacredCowPies,
I'm too worn out, so will likely stay put for a little while. Plus, I can get good pasta dishes and burgers on Samsen, when I need a break from Hong Kong Noodle.
Linh
South east asian gays are often funny and nice in that old school sassy way. Gays in the west are just bores nowadays. I'm glad he didn't shit on Burma. Seems like a nice place, always wanted to go there. Well i've actually been there, but only for a couple of hours. Doesnt count.
Happy New Year, Linh Dinh. Thank you for your writing and your sensitive portrayals of one sacred member of our human family after another. Even though you go right into the degradation and underbelly, you always manage to see the humanity and beauty in your subjects. I appreciate that. May God protect you and may your openness and sensitivity in our very decaying civilization not make you vulnerable to despair. Despair is a sin in Catholicism and I believe that is for good reason. In his new book on beauty, E Michael Jones talks about the transcendentals of the the good, the beautiful and the true that elevate our souls and that when we work for these, we are doing a service to others. Your art is most centered on the true, but contains a lot of beauty and good as well. You are a treasure. If you haven't looked into the work of E Michael Jones, you should since he has been persecuted by the same people that have persecuted you. Many of his lectures can be found on the archives at his website CultureWars.com . God Bless you and your family.
Hi Aimee, Thank You. I know you meant that link for Linh, but I checked out the website for myself. I've heard of Mr. Jones before but had never been to CultureWars.com, I purchased Logos Rising. I won't bore you with the details but for me personally it's the right book at the right time. Thanks again for the link. MLM
The link is for Linh, but I assume Linh's readers might also find his work interesting. I see Linh is the man holding up the mirror to us about our society and Jones as the one to explain how we got here, how to do our best to protect ourselves and hopefully help get our society back onto a good track. I am reading _Logos Rising_ now and I think it is great, but not light reading. The beauty book is a bit lighter, but still digs into a lot of deeper concepts from philosophy and theology. Both are, however, very uplifting. _Libido Dominandi:Sexual Liberation as Social Control_ and _The Jewish Revolutionary Spirit_ (starting in the modern period) are page turners with a lot of explanatory power for the train wreck we are experiencing. I also find the magazine very thought provoking. I hope you find the book useful and it would never bore me to hear about your journey, but only when and if you care to share. May God bless and protect you.
Hi Aimee,
I've long been an admirer of E. Michael Jones. He is a tremendous teacher, and fearless, which is most important right now.
Linh
Fascinating read, Linh. In two of the pictures, the subjects appear to be unhappy Anglos tourists, with the couple in the last photo towering over the locals in a disco, as if dancing on a platform. Is there some symbolism there that I cannot quite grasp, or am I getting it all wrong?
Hi Outsider,
Those night photos of people reveling were taken just before 3AM, so just about everyone was well trashed. The couple towering above everyone had just climbed onto a table. After only a bit of half assed dancing, they got down.
With these partying situations, you always find as many people looking bored as joyous, and since it had gone on a while, there were many slumped on sidewalks. It was a mini version of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but without anyone throwing up, at least by the time I got there.
Linh
Happy New Year Linh. And happy trails to us all.