console wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:27 pm cheap ciggies , cheap beer....

I honestly think some expats come here to die. They’ve just given up and here is an escape from reality and pressures from “real life”.

Go to any bar and you’ll see and hear the smokers. Sounds like they are about to cough up their lungs then when finished back on the smokes.
It’s up to them it’s there body and if you don’t like the smoke go elsewhere, like Australia or Singapore!

I know some people who go from their home to the bar. That’s it. They seem happy more so than some who exercise, explore, dive into the culture, save brown children etc.

Each to their own. Don’t judge others on your own expectations.

Some people just want to escape the realities of back home and I guess some people have enough coin to do so, I guess another question could also be presented "Do people really think life is meaningful?" Ultimately 99.99999% of people on the planet are relatively insignificant. Most people just want an easier life.

I like topics about meaning of life and other insignificant things. That’s why I couldn’t resist to answer although I’m not living in Cambodia. I think every life, wherever is meaningful, although I may not know the meaning. We cant understand the meaning of the lifes of all living beings. do we understand the meaning of life at all? And if you think you do, then you must be the next prophet or the returning Jesus. What makes you think that your life is more or less meaningful. Money?family? Power? Yet a monk will find no meaning in all of that. Is he wrong or are you. Maybe no one is wrong. Once I asked a monk in Sri Lanka , how do you think about the western world. He said not better or worse than the eastern world. His answer was satisfying to me. Everyone has his her own way I guess. This goes to OP

My life in Cambodia was meaningful to me because i was able to sustain my little family, and it wasn't meaningful enough anymore when i understood it wasn't good enough for them, especially my kid.
So, it's was meaningful in terms of my own selfish agenda.
Ideally, if my modest personal agenda is fullfilled, then it should become meaningful too in terms of relations with the local population, which is my second step of feeling well here. But beetween the work and the streets, there was too much redflags for me about how fucked up the society is, about the craziness background atmosphere, from 2015 to 2018. I met pleasant people, i had a few good laughs and good interactions with Khmer people, but no time or energy to maintain and dig deeper in it.
Must have been a very special atmosphere indeed prior to that, difficult to imagine.

Purpose and meaning are both worthy pursuits, and they both come from a place deep within, not from physical geography.

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:12 am Purpose and meaning are both worthy pursuits, and they both come from a place deep within, not from physical geography.

I agree, but we are also a product of our environment.

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:12 am Purpose and meaning are both worthy pursuits, and they both come from a place deep within, not from physical geography.

If think so too. But as many young guys bored of their home, wishing for a big breath, or a big break, change of context is needed to get a better perspective, and refreshing our lives.
I believe a lot that a year or two abroad before entering university or work, would benefit anybody to find purpose and meaning.
The change of physical geography is a good trigger, especially in this area, because it includes a change of culture, of social ties, of wealth, gives a fresh start with a blank new perceived personality, and is a great door open to whatever can happen, good or bad, but bad is a lot depending on you. Not all, shit may happen, but a lot.
If one keeps his mind, works a bit and blend in, purpose and meaning should emerge after a few things happening, right ?

I guess it works like this for some people, as it did for me. Maybe it didn't work as good as another way to get my purpose, but it impacted me enough to find my own path and enjoy it. Thank you Asia.

A white guy arriving in S.E Asia really has a great opportunity to test himself, understand a few things, learn some stuff, and go back home wiser. It's like a open kitchen where you can see what you can't anymore at home.
Yet so many manage to aggravate their own situation here down to extreme ends, even a bit is too much power in their hands, no control, it's mind boggling.

Seems to me that nowdays peeps are finding more meaningful in moving towards other Countries as changes are happening in the Kingdom....

Meaningful to me is waking up. If you wake up in the morning, its gonna be the best day you ever had. No matter what.

Consider the alternative.