[Phnom Penh, 11/15/22] The bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap took more than eight hours, with roughly three at various stops. Traveling on the ground, I got glimpses of Chey Odam, Skun, Khum Andoung Pou, Kompong Svay, Baray Santuk, Stueng Saen, Stoung
That feeling of strangulation is exactly what drives me to do anything anymore. It's definitely hard to breathe sometimes. F' em, I'm going to enjoy as many breaths as I can.
Thank you for the toast Linh! We all need it.
The Butthole Surfers do a goofy cover of Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man that's pretty sloppy and funny.
It's always pleasant to wake up and see a notice from Postcards. Reading your work in the morning generally makes for a more contemplative day. Much thanks.
I recall your saying a while back that youtube has ignominiously taken down your interview by RT's Chris Hedges. You may want to know that the interview can be viewed in its entirety on RT's website. Following is the link.
Friends of Linh, who have not had the pleasure of seeing that interview, may want to take a look, if only for the pleasure of seeing Linh in his "wedding and funeral suit".
Lies, exaggerations, half-truths, fictions, advertising: little stories as much as globe-spanning myths, capturing minds and motivating behaviors. It's always fascinating how it's universal among humans to have such nuanced relationships with truth. So many people wearing masks, yet everything on display shows such immersion in the waste and stench and grime of other's lives, when eating food is gambling for completely unknown jack pots, not knowing if the flavor compensates for the poison, if the protection is just a talisman, if the gossip keeps away personal tragedy. Yet always there's a way to see and touch and savor and adore Beauty, and Comedy.
I appreciate how there's always layers to the postcards, subtle under the scenes. Thank you for your continuing, your gift as practiced, your struggle to keep it real. "Eat, drink, hush," yet thankfully, you can't.
Haha, nice! If you are planning on publishing these diaries as a collection sooner or some day, ring me please for public endorsement (a blurb, a review, I write everything). This is sensational, and I want to be a part of it. Best! 🤪👍
Great to read as ever, thanks Linh. And thanks to the reader that gave a link to your Chris Hedges interview. In my time, I have known a genius who was translating the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a child and also once knew a world-class liar. Max reminds me more of the latter - no reason what they say can't be true but it is the time line that lets both of them down in the end, they can't resist loading on far too much to be possible. Your reference to the Butthole Surfers made me think of the Cowboy Junkies for the first time in ages. How about this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Oh wow, they don't do funerals like that in Vietnam? 3 days of chanting and music from dawn to dusk. I had one across the street from my apartment, and by day 2 I was contemplating leaping from my 5th floor balcony.
As for social security, I think Max may be getting ahead of himself. Government benefits are not available to people living in "communist" countries, however nominal.
Thanks so much, Linh! Such a good feeling to see you in my inbox! Great essay. I used to love to go to bars and strike up conversations with patrons. The covid lunacy killed all that. Plus, at 75 I can't handle alcohol as well as I used to.
Depressing story. I might end up in similar straights eventually as Max, but I sure won't be kidding myself about where I am, who I'm with or why I got there.
What sanity is left Linh? I'd drink to forget the insanity for a while, not sure there's enough left to drink to. I do love Siem Reap. I've never seen Angkor Wat either. I have good memories from the place and have spent combined 5-6 months there with just short trips back to Perth for business to break it up, while I had my wife parked there between eloping from Pakistan and getting her into Oz. New Years on Pub Street was a blast. It sounds like the place might have an entirely different feel these days though. Tourism was everything.
Max is the type of quirky but interesting expat who is harder to find these days. Visas have more onerous restrictions which ban them (intentionally). Many of the Eastern Asian countries lust after wealthy Asians and don't want cheap Charlie's even though they are often more generous with the locals.
Also, living over here full or part-time is a lot easier so we are getting more status quo middle class to wealthy "professionals" who have all the approved thoughts allowed on social media.
I can believe that giant snake story. A few years ago in Disney World a little boy got too close to the lake outside of his family's hotel room and was dragged off and eaten by a giant alligator.
That feeling of strangulation is exactly what drives me to do anything anymore. It's definitely hard to breathe sometimes. F' em, I'm going to enjoy as many breaths as I can.
Thank you for the toast Linh! We all need it.
The Butthole Surfers do a goofy cover of Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man that's pretty sloppy and funny.
It's always pleasant to wake up and see a notice from Postcards. Reading your work in the morning generally makes for a more contemplative day. Much thanks.
Dear Linh,
I recall your saying a while back that youtube has ignominiously taken down your interview by RT's Chris Hedges. You may want to know that the interview can be viewed in its entirety on RT's website. Following is the link.
https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/380346-america-poverty-stark-statistics/
Friends of Linh, who have not had the pleasure of seeing that interview, may want to take a look, if only for the pleasure of seeing Linh in his "wedding and funeral suit".
Cheers,
Lies, exaggerations, half-truths, fictions, advertising: little stories as much as globe-spanning myths, capturing minds and motivating behaviors. It's always fascinating how it's universal among humans to have such nuanced relationships with truth. So many people wearing masks, yet everything on display shows such immersion in the waste and stench and grime of other's lives, when eating food is gambling for completely unknown jack pots, not knowing if the flavor compensates for the poison, if the protection is just a talisman, if the gossip keeps away personal tragedy. Yet always there's a way to see and touch and savor and adore Beauty, and Comedy.
I appreciate how there's always layers to the postcards, subtle under the scenes. Thank you for your continuing, your gift as practiced, your struggle to keep it real. "Eat, drink, hush," yet thankfully, you can't.
Haha, nice! If you are planning on publishing these diaries as a collection sooner or some day, ring me please for public endorsement (a blurb, a review, I write everything). This is sensational, and I want to be a part of it. Best! 🤪👍
Beautifully written piece Linh, but a 5 year old comprehending the nuances of a complex novel like "War & Peace" is nonsense.
What is worse, the lies people tell each other, or the ones we tell ourselves?
Still, better a few harmless liars like Max, than the liars who promote a worldwide vaccination with strange concoctions, and nothing happens to them.
Great to read as ever, thanks Linh. And thanks to the reader that gave a link to your Chris Hedges interview. In my time, I have known a genius who was translating the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a child and also once knew a world-class liar. Max reminds me more of the latter - no reason what they say can't be true but it is the time line that lets both of them down in the end, they can't resist loading on far too much to be possible. Your reference to the Butthole Surfers made me think of the Cowboy Junkies for the first time in ages. How about this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Mi_ZUI6Q1kg 'Cause Cheap Is How I Feel' .
Oh wow, they don't do funerals like that in Vietnam? 3 days of chanting and music from dawn to dusk. I had one across the street from my apartment, and by day 2 I was contemplating leaping from my 5th floor balcony.
As for social security, I think Max may be getting ahead of himself. Government benefits are not available to people living in "communist" countries, however nominal.
Thanks so much, Linh! Such a good feeling to see you in my inbox! Great essay. I used to love to go to bars and strike up conversations with patrons. The covid lunacy killed all that. Plus, at 75 I can't handle alcohol as well as I used to.
Depressing story. I might end up in similar straights eventually as Max, but I sure won't be kidding myself about where I am, who I'm with or why I got there.
What sanity is left Linh? I'd drink to forget the insanity for a while, not sure there's enough left to drink to. I do love Siem Reap. I've never seen Angkor Wat either. I have good memories from the place and have spent combined 5-6 months there with just short trips back to Perth for business to break it up, while I had my wife parked there between eloping from Pakistan and getting her into Oz. New Years on Pub Street was a blast. It sounds like the place might have an entirely different feel these days though. Tourism was everything.
Max is the type of quirky but interesting expat who is harder to find these days. Visas have more onerous restrictions which ban them (intentionally). Many of the Eastern Asian countries lust after wealthy Asians and don't want cheap Charlie's even though they are often more generous with the locals.
Also, living over here full or part-time is a lot easier so we are getting more status quo middle class to wealthy "professionals" who have all the approved thoughts allowed on social media.
I can believe that giant snake story. A few years ago in Disney World a little boy got too close to the lake outside of his family's hotel room and was dragged off and eaten by a giant alligator.
Dude sounds like a character. Good finding him. There is a lot of Western flotsam in Cambodia...