[Phnom Penh, 10/30/23] Barista is too fancy a word, so I’ll just call her coffee server, or caffeine wallah. Today, this plump and pretty young woman is again wearing her Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck shirt. This cheers me up so much, even my crappy coffee tastes fine. In Vietnam, low end joints mix toasted corn with coffee, so this caffeine wallah must have done the same.
Thanks Linh. Your photos reflect your mood and they certainly alter mine. Your last essay 'Bodies, Voices and Bread' was filled with human photos, the last of which (the father with his young son on the bank of the Mekong river) was sublime. It brought back many happy memories of two decades ago when I was living on the beach with my own young son who spent his life in the water.
The photos in this essay are as grating as the previous ones were beautiful. Tacky fast food billboards with fewer people who are more expressionless. The same gaudy colours worn in nature by a bird of paradise trying to attract a mate to perpetuate life being used here trying to attract someone to indulge in greasy fast food designed to shorten life.
You have a way with a camera that matches your skill with the written word. Thanks again.
Just saw ur talk with Chris Hedges again and very good. I drove a taxi in N philly summer of 70, came around a corner with row houses where 4-5 black men naked, police with shotguns and spotlights and told me to, ''turn this thing around and get the f... outta here''. Turns out they had been shooting at firemen from rooftops and every other rowhouse was empty because they used them to burn for heat when power was out in the winter. Saw stabbing in W Philly and a cabbie who pinned a customer to a wall with cab to get paid. Can't believe it has hung on for so long. The Kensington porn is awful with people trying to make money off it. I have lived in Norway for 50 yrs and that's a story in itself. Plenty of cash but no heart, like a members only club. Socially braindead. Have a good wkend.
John, your mention of taxi driving had me recalling my own experiences driving a taxi in San Diego in 1980, during the last few months of my Navy enlistment. I was playing Navy during the day and driving the taxi all night, trying to accumulate a little financial cushion to tide myself over until I landed a job.
I thought it might be an easy way to make some cash that didn't require any real skills. I gained an incredible wealth of experience I could share from those three months. One big takeaway, I found, is that despite what passengers may think, no one out there is getting rich driving a taxi, and unless he has a side hustle he is probably just barely getting by.
It's a sunny fall day here. The days when I can get out and catch a good sunrise usually end up being better than most. Today's "space walk" didn't disappoint. Slightly buzzed, it was one of those crisp sunrises where everything shines and glows as the sun gets above the trees and buildings. I'll stand by the St. Joseph river and feel pretty lucky to be alive. For a few moments, everything will make sense, most of my worries f*"k off and I'll end up feeling pretty good.
When I saw the title to this piece after my walk this morning, I thought, "Yeah, Linh's right. Despite all of that nonsense, things could be way worse."
I had to read it to understand it's reference to the obliviousness of so many to the horrors ahead. I envy them in a way. Regardless, I have to enjoy those nice, simple moments every chance that I can get.
The end of this reminded of a little imaginary ditty "Budlight, Cheetos and Jet skis" that I came up with after seeing a jet ski behind someone's house on one of my walks in the dead of winter.
I really appreciate a good cup of coffee, and have heard tell of all kinds of suggested fixes for a crappy cup, but never heard of mixing coffee with toasted corn—sounds “interesting.” I have never found Chicory, the old standby, appealing myself, but some actually like it--must be an acquired taste.
Alternatively, just get rid of the coffee entirely and drink Postum. Similar idea to roasted corn, but taken to its extreme, Postum is made from roasted wheat grain and molasses. It was invented around 1900 as a “healthier” coffee substitute. I actually don't think it tastes bad, but it's not anything like coffee.
Your coffee server is indeed a pretty lady. Somehow coffee shops don’t seem to have latched onto hiring good-looking women as a marketing tool. They could follow the lead of betel-nut sellers in Taiwan. There are lots of betel-nut chewers, and years ago, some guy there had the idea of putting drive-up glass booths along the road and hiring good-looking leggy women to sell the product. He got rich with the idea, and now they have a name for these “betel-nut girls” (which escapes me at the moment, sorry). You still see them everywhere when you drive around Taiwan.
Your description of the Saigon real estate situation is interesting. I have read about a big exodus of manufacturing from China in particular. Some companies are "reshoring" to eliminate the overseas supply chain, while others are “friend-shoring”, i.e., relocating to friendlier countries and away from China, the perceived “enemy.” I would think that Vietnam might be getting a bit of benefit from the latter, but perhaps not enough to offset the general economic downturn.
Regarding perhaps knowing the "parent, spouse, sibling, child or close friend who’s more or less like Giang" and thinks everything is "still A-OK, or just slightly off," I wouldn't say "perhaps." To me it seems like almost everyone I know falls into that category! My wife and I feel like the outliers, despite our studious avoidance of pernicious influences like legacy media. (Another good reason to regularly visit your blog!)
Harvey talking about what is essentially cannibalism puts me in mind of a book by Anthony Burgess (best known for “A Clockwork Orange”). His novel “The Wanting Seed” is quite a read—the book jacket describes it as “a Malthusian comedy about the strange world that overpopulation will produce.” Included are cannibalistic dining clubs, and people are known to disappear when they go out for walks because they are waylaid by hungry citizens desperate for meat.
Sorry, this is way too long. So much of your great piece today sent me down innumerable bunny trails….
Do they still actually cook the burgers on grills there at Burger King? In the US, Burger Kings have been converted to using microwaves. You used to smell the grilled burgers when driving by one but now you don't. One small part of the great American downgrade.
I, for one, never believed for a minute that American fast food restaurants cook their french fries in human fat. I mean, after all, have you ever been called to the manager's office in the back of McDonald's to confer about a liposuction procedure? Of course not. McDonald's french fries just taste good because, because, well because they're McDonald's!
Nobody has time to read your column this week, Mr. Dinh because one very important American has "unexpectedly" died. While sitting in a hot tube. I won't mention his name but he stared in a sit-com that helped to pacify American TV viewers with I.Q.s below 85; and that's a large demographic. He famously said that he wouldn't even touch Diet Coke because it had caffeine in it; and (he added) caffeine is addictive.
This much admired TV "star" was preoccupied with and worried about caffeine "addiction"? No wonder he drowned in a hot tube. If that hadn't happened he would have slipped on the sidewalk and drowned in a mud puddle. Where do they dig up these morons? Only in America....
You had some opinion of Thai people that was slightly negative, what was that again?. Might come to Thailand soon. John at honus49@htomail.com and to paraphrase Chris Rock 's description of Obama, ''and 'I'm white enough''.
I love Thailand, but had weird experiences at a hotel and bank in Ubon. The people in Isan are basically Laos anyway, and I love Laos.
In Don Det, Laos, I was the only customer in a restaurant. After I ordered a large Beerlao, I waited for maybe ten minutes before going to the cashier/waitress to ask about it. Just walking from my table to the cash register, she had forgotten all about it.
P.S. Also, I've not exactly praised their current king, but he's not a reflection of Thailand. He barely lives there! He spends nearly all his time in Bavaria.
You must have come across a book called, ''American Pictures'' by a Dane by the name of Jakob Holt? This must have been very early 80's but dont know where u were at that time. Good to hear ur up and doin'.
Thanks Linh. Your photos reflect your mood and they certainly alter mine. Your last essay 'Bodies, Voices and Bread' was filled with human photos, the last of which (the father with his young son on the bank of the Mekong river) was sublime. It brought back many happy memories of two decades ago when I was living on the beach with my own young son who spent his life in the water.
The photos in this essay are as grating as the previous ones were beautiful. Tacky fast food billboards with fewer people who are more expressionless. The same gaudy colours worn in nature by a bird of paradise trying to attract a mate to perpetuate life being used here trying to attract someone to indulge in greasy fast food designed to shorten life.
You have a way with a camera that matches your skill with the written word. Thanks again.
Just saw ur talk with Chris Hedges again and very good. I drove a taxi in N philly summer of 70, came around a corner with row houses where 4-5 black men naked, police with shotguns and spotlights and told me to, ''turn this thing around and get the f... outta here''. Turns out they had been shooting at firemen from rooftops and every other rowhouse was empty because they used them to burn for heat when power was out in the winter. Saw stabbing in W Philly and a cabbie who pinned a customer to a wall with cab to get paid. Can't believe it has hung on for so long. The Kensington porn is awful with people trying to make money off it. I have lived in Norway for 50 yrs and that's a story in itself. Plenty of cash but no heart, like a members only club. Socially braindead. Have a good wkend.
John, your mention of taxi driving had me recalling my own experiences driving a taxi in San Diego in 1980, during the last few months of my Navy enlistment. I was playing Navy during the day and driving the taxi all night, trying to accumulate a little financial cushion to tide myself over until I landed a job.
I thought it might be an easy way to make some cash that didn't require any real skills. I gained an incredible wealth of experience I could share from those three months. One big takeaway, I found, is that despite what passengers may think, no one out there is getting rich driving a taxi, and unless he has a side hustle he is probably just barely getting by.
It's a sunny fall day here. The days when I can get out and catch a good sunrise usually end up being better than most. Today's "space walk" didn't disappoint. Slightly buzzed, it was one of those crisp sunrises where everything shines and glows as the sun gets above the trees and buildings. I'll stand by the St. Joseph river and feel pretty lucky to be alive. For a few moments, everything will make sense, most of my worries f*"k off and I'll end up feeling pretty good.
When I saw the title to this piece after my walk this morning, I thought, "Yeah, Linh's right. Despite all of that nonsense, things could be way worse."
I had to read it to understand it's reference to the obliviousness of so many to the horrors ahead. I envy them in a way. Regardless, I have to enjoy those nice, simple moments every chance that I can get.
The end of this reminded of a little imaginary ditty "Budlight, Cheetos and Jet skis" that I came up with after seeing a jet ski behind someone's house on one of my walks in the dead of winter.
I really appreciate a good cup of coffee, and have heard tell of all kinds of suggested fixes for a crappy cup, but never heard of mixing coffee with toasted corn—sounds “interesting.” I have never found Chicory, the old standby, appealing myself, but some actually like it--must be an acquired taste.
Alternatively, just get rid of the coffee entirely and drink Postum. Similar idea to roasted corn, but taken to its extreme, Postum is made from roasted wheat grain and molasses. It was invented around 1900 as a “healthier” coffee substitute. I actually don't think it tastes bad, but it's not anything like coffee.
Your coffee server is indeed a pretty lady. Somehow coffee shops don’t seem to have latched onto hiring good-looking women as a marketing tool. They could follow the lead of betel-nut sellers in Taiwan. There are lots of betel-nut chewers, and years ago, some guy there had the idea of putting drive-up glass booths along the road and hiring good-looking leggy women to sell the product. He got rich with the idea, and now they have a name for these “betel-nut girls” (which escapes me at the moment, sorry). You still see them everywhere when you drive around Taiwan.
Your description of the Saigon real estate situation is interesting. I have read about a big exodus of manufacturing from China in particular. Some companies are "reshoring" to eliminate the overseas supply chain, while others are “friend-shoring”, i.e., relocating to friendlier countries and away from China, the perceived “enemy.” I would think that Vietnam might be getting a bit of benefit from the latter, but perhaps not enough to offset the general economic downturn.
Regarding perhaps knowing the "parent, spouse, sibling, child or close friend who’s more or less like Giang" and thinks everything is "still A-OK, or just slightly off," I wouldn't say "perhaps." To me it seems like almost everyone I know falls into that category! My wife and I feel like the outliers, despite our studious avoidance of pernicious influences like legacy media. (Another good reason to regularly visit your blog!)
Harvey talking about what is essentially cannibalism puts me in mind of a book by Anthony Burgess (best known for “A Clockwork Orange”). His novel “The Wanting Seed” is quite a read—the book jacket describes it as “a Malthusian comedy about the strange world that overpopulation will produce.” Included are cannibalistic dining clubs, and people are known to disappear when they go out for walks because they are waylaid by hungry citizens desperate for meat.
Sorry, this is way too long. So much of your great piece today sent me down innumerable bunny trails….
Soylent Green? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green
this type of coffee was what people drank in the war years 1940-45
it is a pity that the east has taken the American diet to heart and produce obese children
Do they still actually cook the burgers on grills there at Burger King? In the US, Burger Kings have been converted to using microwaves. You used to smell the grilled burgers when driving by one but now you don't. One small part of the great American downgrade.
I thought I was the only one who noticed that! We'll have to have a burger together sometime, Mr Drevin. If not in this life then in some other...
As I sat and watched my chickens happily pecking in the post-drought green grass, I briefly escaped the gathering doom.
Israhell going scorched earth in Gaza. And as WWIII breaks out, maybe Giang will snap out of it.
Linh, you once said that Americans would one day try to escape their doomed country to Mexico or South America, but, I am not sure if having American expats all over the world is good either. See this for the latest example: https://dailystormer.in/watch-american-boomer-shoots-at-protesters-blocking-highway-in-panama-kills-two/
Thanks. My note on sharing to my personal FB:
Another fine statement of the poet’s theme, piercing the veil of illusion around the poverty and wreckage of utopianism.
It is the theme of our contemporary Ho Anh Thai as well. Thai is a deep-in cadre of the foreign office and the arts,
while Linh works in cafes and I shovel shit. It’s just the way things are.
Linh differs from Thai in addressing the illusion of our big PX rather than in Viet Nam.
I would prefer not to see Jewjab in the title. But as a medical anthropologist I prefer that people come up with their own views on public health.
Other than that, no Jew blaming in this one. The poet does pass on intemperate views from a fellow traveler.
Oh. Best bit. “Caffeine wallah.” Man has a gift.
I, for one, never believed for a minute that American fast food restaurants cook their french fries in human fat. I mean, after all, have you ever been called to the manager's office in the back of McDonald's to confer about a liposuction procedure? Of course not. McDonald's french fries just taste good because, because, well because they're McDonald's!
Nobody has time to read your column this week, Mr. Dinh because one very important American has "unexpectedly" died. While sitting in a hot tube. I won't mention his name but he stared in a sit-com that helped to pacify American TV viewers with I.Q.s below 85; and that's a large demographic. He famously said that he wouldn't even touch Diet Coke because it had caffeine in it; and (he added) caffeine is addictive.
This much admired TV "star" was preoccupied with and worried about caffeine "addiction"? No wonder he drowned in a hot tube. If that hadn't happened he would have slipped on the sidewalk and drowned in a mud puddle. Where do they dig up these morons? Only in America....
"he drowned in a hot tube"
He died a boiled wiener.
You're so bad. It's good. You cheeky monkey, you!
Thanks, Bud!
You had some opinion of Thai people that was slightly negative, what was that again?. Might come to Thailand soon. John at honus49@htomail.com and to paraphrase Chris Rock 's description of Obama, ''and 'I'm white enough''.
Hi john,
I love Thailand, but had weird experiences at a hotel and bank in Ubon. The people in Isan are basically Laos anyway, and I love Laos.
In Don Det, Laos, I was the only customer in a restaurant. After I ordered a large Beerlao, I waited for maybe ten minutes before going to the cashier/waitress to ask about it. Just walking from my table to the cash register, she had forgotten all about it.
Linh
P.S. Also, I've not exactly praised their current king, but he's not a reflection of Thailand. He barely lives there! He spends nearly all his time in Bavaria.
You must have come across a book called, ''American Pictures'' by a Dane by the name of Jakob Holt? This must have been very early 80's but dont know where u were at that time. Good to hear ur up and doin'.