Here are two images of the guy who robbed me. Does he look Indian, Turkish or something else? If he thinks I've slandered him, he can look me up and we'll have a conversation. He knows my hotel!
Many Indians I've seen have distinctively Aryan features and dark skin. This guy's facial characteristics don't look anything like that, so if he told me he was Turkish, I'd have no difficulty accepting that.
Hard to say with the cap obscuring his eyes, but I would say South Asian. He doesn't look Turkish at all, neither South American as some are saying. Could be Arab. Or Indonesian or some mixture.
Some kind of North African, perhaps. Hard to say in the dark with the cap. Hearing the accent might've helped to nail it down. Sorry about the awful experience, but I do admire your gregarious nature. When you open yourself up I suppose you take the good with the bad, and you have had your share of good.
Simone 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 Weil. Fun fact: Nearly 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 historical figure with the name "Adolph" has been demonstrably Jewish...
Get a money bag that's built like a fanny pack, it fits in your crotch. Or else just keep your money right in your underwear.
As you can see, I was clearly coherent enough to shoot photos in the restaurant. For this set, I used my Sony A6000, and I shot manual, of course. To get away with taking photos of so many strangers, you must know what you're doing, so I was obviously sharp. Not long after this, however, I was lying on the pavement, with scrapes on my knees and my bag searched through, though I have zero memory of how it happened.
As one reader remarked at SubStack, I was lucky my robber didn't overdose me. I seriously doubt he's still in Laos, much less Pakse. The Thai border is nearby, so he probably got out in that direction. When I caught him on film, he put up his hand and said, "No photo," with clear irritation.
I don't know why, perhaps from my early childhood days of after-school TV, but that picture of that dude doesn't inspire. "I trust you, man", then add the Biden like tendencies, and my mind would be screaming it's Boris from the cartoon Boris and Natasha. If I had $2000 on me, I would be studying this guy from the far side of the bar with my money in my shoe. But then, I am not a fellow who hops off a train, enters a dive bar, and immediately befriends someone. That's like a 12 to 14-beer event, and even with that much swirling around in me, I have to think hard about where this happened in my past.
I have spent half a dozen winters outside of Sarah Palin's town, where you can't see Russia, and have talked to maybe three people more than once at the local isolated bar. I am not sure, but I may be just now climbing out of the "that dude is a narc" or whatever phase, as some waitresses are saying my name. But then I only go there .75 times a month for fear of having too many people know me. Thus exposing my not so warm, rudimentary social skills.
Strange to say but you were really lucky, like Lotto lucky, that all you lost was money. I am not a rich jerk who laughs at $2,000; losing two grand in one fell swoop would mean borrowing and new debts for years to come. Nevertheless...This is a good time for a joke - what's the difference between a condom and a Porsche? You can only fit one prick in a condom.
Though an avid reader of yours, I must admit I kept some of it for later. In northern Europe spring is just popping its wings, everyone is like a newly popping butterfly at the moment. People are getting jolly. Parties are being thrown. I'm getting distracted.
Moved about a ton of furniture about the farm today with my relatives. Heavy, old school, massive wooden furniture most of it. From the house to an empty barn. Almost called the tractor in, but we made it without it.
See, uncle (and others) is jewjabbed several times and is diagnosed with cancer. He's 81, OK, happens. But he just lost a 55 yo jabbed son in law from "heart problems" and my direct uncle ( jabbed
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, and $2200 certainly isn't chump change for any of us. But it could have been much worse, and it's good to hear that you are personally OK. You also got a very good story out of it, but if you paid that much for every experience that led to a blog entry, I think your business model might be in trouble...
When you mentioned bad translations ruining non-English literature, you touched on something I've often wondered about. I've read quite a few things in translation over the years, and have often wondered, when I read something I didn't like, how to tell whether it was a bad translation or if it was just something that didn't appeal to me for other reasons. How does one go about identifying a "good" translation, or even know if there is more than one? My own experience in actually reading more than one translation of a book is limited to a few ancient classics that everyone knows exist in multiple translations.
for someone with your experience, senstivity and intelligence, the idea of you meeting a stranger in the street, letting him know you have money in your pocket and going off to drink with him in dive bars is incomprehensible. many people all over these days are looking for an off ramp. in psychiatry freud's "death drive" is making a big comback. best hopes and wishes for you.
Anh Linh, I think you’re drugged with Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB - liquid ecstasy, or “date rape drug”). After a few minutes, you might “find nearly everyone and situation delightful”, then black out, and memory loss when you regain consciousness. It is odorless, colorless, and nearly tasteless.
Rapist first choice actually.
That face looks like someone from Central Asia, one of the -stan countries.
Sounds like it was the ol' Thuggee conversate-distractate-immobilizate-expropriate routine. At least he wasn't a Thuggeemudist. You would have been vaccinated at the end. These graphics are obviously still apropo.
Ack! I'm so sorry you experienced this. On a selfish note, you messed up my escapist fantasy. I'm not saying i'm living through you, but one of my top three EF 's is to live in cheap hotels across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
When i was young my family spent a couple years in Thailand. And my first job post college, was in VN Boat People Resettlement. Speaking of my time in Thailand, every once in a while Air America pilots we knew wouldn't make it back from Laos. You see any of them? Live or dead they are still there.
Laos is very safe. What happened to me was highly unusual, and the perpetrator was definitely not a Lao. I also increase my chances of mishaps by being on the streets constantly, and having frequent interactions with strangers.
"El Sur" is one of Borges' most memorable stories. It seems to be partially based on a personal experience - apparently, Borges did hit his head on a door and ended up in a hospital. But the knife duel part is fiction. As I read it in Spanish, I can't vouch for which is the best translation, but I guess it's hard to translate Borges into English. Borges' own preference was for Norman Thomas di Giovanni's translations, which do not sound the best ones to me.
I was confused by the line "an imperfect copy of Weil's edition of The Thousand and One Nights", because you had mentioned Simone Weil just before, and I couldn't see her translating The Arabic Nights, but of course, the Weil here in the story is Gustav Weil, German orientalist and translator. No direct relation to Simone, unless very distant (her surname comes from Germany too). However, she was the sister of mathematician Andre Weil.
Also, I don't think the gaucho in the story is "Chinese". Borges describes him as "achinado", which really means something like "slant-eye". But it's probably an indigenous or mestizo. I don't think there were many Chinese people in Argentina back then (there are quite a few now).
Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't too bad except for the $2200, it could be worse. To my mind, you're too trusting of strangers, I'd never go to a bar with a guy that looks like that.
Hi everyone,
Here are two images of the guy who robbed me. Does he look Indian, Turkish or something else? If he thinks I've slandered him, he can look me up and we'll have a conversation. He knows my hotel!
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/guy-who-robbed-me.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/scammer-on-5-17-23-pakse-3-copy.html
I'm sure he's nowhere in town, though.
Linh
Many Indians I've seen have distinctively Aryan features and dark skin. This guy's facial characteristics don't look anything like that, so if he told me he was Turkish, I'd have no difficulty accepting that.
Turks are much lighter skinned.
Classic method for obscuring the face - a baseball hat without distinct marks pulled low.
I would say the guy is more likely from South Asia than Turkey but everything is possible.
Classic method for obscuring the face - a baseball hat without distinct marks pulled low.
I would say the guy is more likely from South Asia than Turkey but everything is possible.
Hard to say with the cap obscuring his eyes, but I would say South Asian. He doesn't look Turkish at all, neither South American as some are saying. Could be Arab. Or Indonesian or some mixture.
Too plump for pure Indian.
I would guess Indonesian.
Some kind of North African, perhaps. Hard to say in the dark with the cap. Hearing the accent might've helped to nail it down. Sorry about the awful experience, but I do admire your gregarious nature. When you open yourself up I suppose you take the good with the bad, and you have had your share of good.
Simone 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 Weil. Fun fact: Nearly 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 historical figure with the name "Adolph" has been demonstrably Jewish...
Get a money bag that's built like a fanny pack, it fits in your crotch. Or else just keep your money right in your underwear.
He looks anything but Turkish, I'd say Indian, Pakistani, or Latin American with some negro blood.
Hi everyone,
Go here for a 2:11 video of "Sucker Bar":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6MdyD-8tmE
As one reader commented, at least the guy didn't overdose me.
Linh
Hi everyone,
I posted more photos from that night:
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/woman-at-festive-restaurant-on-5-17-23_20.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/woman-at-festive-restaurant-on-5-17-23_82.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/three-women-at-festive-restaurant-on-5.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/festive-restaurant-on-5-17-23-pakse-copy.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/middle-aged-man-drinking-at-festive.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/two-women-looking-at-cellphones-at.html
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2023/05/as-you-can-see-i-was-clearly-coherent.html
As you can see, I was clearly coherent enough to shoot photos in the restaurant. For this set, I used my Sony A6000, and I shot manual, of course. To get away with taking photos of so many strangers, you must know what you're doing, so I was obviously sharp. Not long after this, however, I was lying on the pavement, with scrapes on my knees and my bag searched through, though I have zero memory of how it happened.
As one reader remarked at SubStack, I was lucky my robber didn't overdose me. I seriously doubt he's still in Laos, much less Pakse. The Thai border is nearby, so he probably got out in that direction. When I caught him on film, he put up his hand and said, "No photo," with clear irritation.
Linh
I don't know why, perhaps from my early childhood days of after-school TV, but that picture of that dude doesn't inspire. "I trust you, man", then add the Biden like tendencies, and my mind would be screaming it's Boris from the cartoon Boris and Natasha. If I had $2000 on me, I would be studying this guy from the far side of the bar with my money in my shoe. But then, I am not a fellow who hops off a train, enters a dive bar, and immediately befriends someone. That's like a 12 to 14-beer event, and even with that much swirling around in me, I have to think hard about where this happened in my past.
I have spent half a dozen winters outside of Sarah Palin's town, where you can't see Russia, and have talked to maybe three people more than once at the local isolated bar. I am not sure, but I may be just now climbing out of the "that dude is a narc" or whatever phase, as some waitresses are saying my name. But then I only go there .75 times a month for fear of having too many people know me. Thus exposing my not so warm, rudimentary social skills.
Strange to say but you were really lucky, like Lotto lucky, that all you lost was money. I am not a rich jerk who laughs at $2,000; losing two grand in one fell swoop would mean borrowing and new debts for years to come. Nevertheless...This is a good time for a joke - what's the difference between a condom and a Porsche? You can only fit one prick in a condom.
Thanks Linh,
Though an avid reader of yours, I must admit I kept some of it for later. In northern Europe spring is just popping its wings, everyone is like a newly popping butterfly at the moment. People are getting jolly. Parties are being thrown. I'm getting distracted.
Moved about a ton of furniture about the farm today with my relatives. Heavy, old school, massive wooden furniture most of it. From the house to an empty barn. Almost called the tractor in, but we made it without it.
See, uncle (and others) is jewjabbed several times and is diagnosed with cancer. He's 81, OK, happens. But he just lost a 55 yo jabbed son in law from "heart problems" and my direct uncle ( jabbed
) is being tested for cancer. Say What???
I'm sensing fuckery.
Owls of Phan Thiêt giving me the sense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iVv_pbX47Yz
Yes sensing is a big deal. I am glad to be introduced to Jose Gonzalez.
Glad that you are safe and able to put together a piece like this in good spirits Linh. Rest and be safe.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, and $2200 certainly isn't chump change for any of us. But it could have been much worse, and it's good to hear that you are personally OK. You also got a very good story out of it, but if you paid that much for every experience that led to a blog entry, I think your business model might be in trouble...
When you mentioned bad translations ruining non-English literature, you touched on something I've often wondered about. I've read quite a few things in translation over the years, and have often wondered, when I read something I didn't like, how to tell whether it was a bad translation or if it was just something that didn't appeal to me for other reasons. How does one go about identifying a "good" translation, or even know if there is more than one? My own experience in actually reading more than one translation of a book is limited to a few ancient classics that everyone knows exist in multiple translations.
for someone with your experience, senstivity and intelligence, the idea of you meeting a stranger in the street, letting him know you have money in your pocket and going off to drink with him in dive bars is incomprehensible. many people all over these days are looking for an off ramp. in psychiatry freud's "death drive" is making a big comback. best hopes and wishes for you.
Anh Linh, I think you’re drugged with Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB - liquid ecstasy, or “date rape drug”). After a few minutes, you might “find nearly everyone and situation delightful”, then black out, and memory loss when you regain consciousness. It is odorless, colorless, and nearly tasteless.
Rapist first choice actually.
That face looks like someone from Central Asia, one of the -stan countries.
Well. I suppose Linh was lucky he was not raped. That would be awkward.
You got mugged? Beaten? Murky writing. Should be able to locate him. Nobody can hide from the Internet.
Sounds like it was the ol' Thuggee conversate-distractate-immobilizate-expropriate routine. At least he wasn't a Thuggeemudist. You would have been vaccinated at the end. These graphics are obviously still apropo.
https://pathwhisperer.info/2021/10/18/thuggeemudists-show-how-its-done-conversate-distractate-immobilizate-vaccinate/
Ack! I'm so sorry you experienced this. On a selfish note, you messed up my escapist fantasy. I'm not saying i'm living through you, but one of my top three EF 's is to live in cheap hotels across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
When i was young my family spent a couple years in Thailand. And my first job post college, was in VN Boat People Resettlement. Speaking of my time in Thailand, every once in a while Air America pilots we knew wouldn't make it back from Laos. You see any of them? Live or dead they are still there.
Best
Hi Prisoner45,
Laos is very safe. What happened to me was highly unusual, and the perpetrator was definitely not a Lao. I also increase my chances of mishaps by being on the streets constantly, and having frequent interactions with strangers.
Linh
So you never got a chance to suck this guy off?
Dreadful. So sorry. What you do is difficult and exhausting when it isn’t also dangerous.
"El Sur" is one of Borges' most memorable stories. It seems to be partially based on a personal experience - apparently, Borges did hit his head on a door and ended up in a hospital. But the knife duel part is fiction. As I read it in Spanish, I can't vouch for which is the best translation, but I guess it's hard to translate Borges into English. Borges' own preference was for Norman Thomas di Giovanni's translations, which do not sound the best ones to me.
I was confused by the line "an imperfect copy of Weil's edition of The Thousand and One Nights", because you had mentioned Simone Weil just before, and I couldn't see her translating The Arabic Nights, but of course, the Weil here in the story is Gustav Weil, German orientalist and translator. No direct relation to Simone, unless very distant (her surname comes from Germany too). However, she was the sister of mathematician Andre Weil.
Also, I don't think the gaucho in the story is "Chinese". Borges describes him as "achinado", which really means something like "slant-eye". But it's probably an indigenous or mestizo. I don't think there were many Chinese people in Argentina back then (there are quite a few now).
Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't too bad except for the $2200, it could be worse. To my mind, you're too trusting of strangers, I'd never go to a bar with a guy that looks like that.