by spitthedog » Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:46 pm
Miguelito wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2019 9:16 am
I'm trying to nail down the formula that seems to be what all the nostalgia is about:
Other white people: There should be a large handful of expats living in the same city. There should be enough to fill a few bars, but not too many so that you're not meeting new faces too frequently when you go out. Any tourism is frowned upon, especially from a younger generation that could be deemed backpackers, hipsters, etc.
Safety: There should be a hint of danger, but little to no actual danger. One should be able to get pissed drunk and home safely at any time of night, but there's always the chance that if one were to pass out drunk on the street they could be robbed.
Electricity: Full working electricity and internet is discouraged. There should be enough each day to get some A/C, and work and check the internet, etc, but cut outs need to occur.
Traffic: The streets should be enough of a mess that they would scare your grandmother back home, but not too much as to cause gridlocks. They should be generally safe enough to ride your moto around drunk.
Scenery: It should be dirty and ugly. Not a cesspool like a Haitian street on a midsummer day after a hurricane, but one must need to watch what they might step in. Fresh paint on buildings is discouraged.
Economy: The average wage for earners should be about 1/40th of the wage of respectable expats, or 1/10th the wage of TEFLers. Locals should not be able to afford nice cars or to dine out at the few nice hotels or Western restaurants, and obviously cannot afford international travel. Typical jobs for locals should be menial, with office workers as the exception.
Hookers: These are a must. They need to be cheap and plentiful, with enough options that you're not shagging your mate's ex and there's a variety cycling through the bars every few months to keep it interesting. A few ladyboy bars too, for good measure.
How does the above sound? Have I got it down?
Well, now that's just being sarcastic now isn't it.
I reckon there is beauty in decaying shitholes though.
Loving the older imperfect stone cottages here in Ireland, over the newer Barbie & Ken houses, with perfectly manicured lawns and imaqulate driveways.
I wonder whether part of peoples problem with the rapid change is that it all feels abit unreal? SHV is not really a proper town anymore for example. Even Yatingpong says so.
Phnom Pehn's property market does not really reflect the state of the average khmer's lifestyle no? So Riverside aside, aesthetically when you look at the place, has it become abit fake/ugly in parts? The life has gone out of the place in parts.
I can be an unsociable cont, but it's nice to see abit of life when i go out.
The fun has gone out of Bangkok last time i was there. Locals didnt look jolly.
They are definitely under the cosh. Almost anti small business establishment i would say. You used to see average Thais sitting next to yoy having a beer. Abit of a rare sight now in BKK.
Vientiane, didnt feel like a thriving real town either last time i was there. Mutton dressed up as lamb i reckon. Where is everleebody?
My day off work today.
Fark, €5 for a pint of Irish Black Panther. Criminal.
Gonna miss the Kingdom of Wonder this evening. Ahhh nostalgia.
[quote=Miguelito post_id=977384 time=1563761806 user_id=39241]
I'm trying to nail down the formula that seems to be what all the nostalgia is about:
Other white people: There should be a large handful of expats living in the same city. There should be enough to fill a few bars, but not too many so that you're not meeting new faces too frequently when you go out. Any tourism is frowned upon, especially from a younger generation that could be deemed backpackers, hipsters, etc.
Safety: There should be a hint of danger, but little to no actual danger. One should be able to get pissed drunk and home safely at any time of night, but there's always the chance that if one were to pass out drunk on the street they could be robbed.
Electricity: Full working electricity and internet is discouraged. There should be enough each day to get some A/C, and work and check the internet, etc, but cut outs need to occur.
Traffic: The streets should be enough of a mess that they would scare your grandmother back home, but not too much as to cause gridlocks. They should be generally safe enough to ride your moto around drunk.
Scenery: It should be dirty and ugly. Not a cesspool like a Haitian street on a midsummer day after a hurricane, but one must need to watch what they might step in. Fresh paint on buildings is discouraged.
Economy: The average wage for earners should be about 1/40th of the wage of respectable expats, or 1/10th the wage of TEFLers. Locals should not be able to afford nice cars or to dine out at the few nice hotels or Western restaurants, and obviously cannot afford international travel. Typical jobs for locals should be menial, with office workers as the exception.
Hookers: These are a must. They need to be cheap and plentiful, with enough options that you're not shagging your mate's ex and there's a variety cycling through the bars every few months to keep it interesting. A few ladyboy bars too, for good measure.
How does the above sound? Have I got it down?
[/quote]
Well, now that's just being sarcastic now isn't it.
I reckon there is beauty in decaying shitholes though.
[url=https://postimg.cc/MnvQ64F3][img]https://i.postimg.cc/x1PyRVyQ/Thomas-Jones-001.jpg[/img][/url]
Loving the older imperfect stone cottages here in Ireland, over the newer Barbie & Ken houses, with perfectly manicured lawns and imaqulate driveways.
I wonder whether part of peoples problem with the rapid change is that it all feels abit unreal? SHV is not really a proper town anymore for example. Even Yatingpong says so.
Phnom Pehn's property market does not really reflect the state of the average khmer's lifestyle no? So Riverside aside, aesthetically when you look at the place, has it become abit fake/ugly in parts? The life has gone out of the place in parts.
I can be an unsociable cont, but it's nice to see abit of life when i go out.
The fun has gone out of Bangkok last time i was there. Locals didnt look jolly.
They are definitely under the cosh. Almost anti small business establishment i would say. You used to see average Thais sitting next to yoy having a beer. Abit of a rare sight now in BKK.
Vientiane, didnt feel like a thriving real town either last time i was there. Mutton dressed up as lamb i reckon. Where is everleebody?
My day off work today.
Fark, €5 for a pint of Irish Black Panther. Criminal.
Gonna miss the Kingdom of Wonder this evening. Ahhh nostalgia.