Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

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timmydownawell
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by timmydownawell »

ExPenhMan wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:45 pm
The need to comment came about this afternoon right after I got conflicting info about renewing my Viet visa. No 1-years available now from my sources. One claims this new rule has been imposed, another says it hasn't. It's like in Thailand, every immigration officer gives you a different rule interpretation. Bahhh
I read that VN occasionally suspends the 12 month visa for a while and then later reintroduces it. I hope so because it's my next intended destination.

Sorry to digress.
You must walk in traffic to cross the road - Cambodian proverb
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by explorer »

People who live in S E Asia for a long time normally get to understand what really goes on. Many of them come to the conclusion, I dont need to put up with the constant stupidity. Those who can go back to civilized countries, often do. I feel the same way but:

I have met students with a good attitude from poor families, and am helping a few financially so they can continue their education. If I did not help them they may be planting rice and catching fish. The lucky ones might work in a sewing factory. After getting a university education, they should go on to get good jobs. When they are working, I will strongly encourage them to support other family members to also get a good education. Helping people like this, changes their lives, and I will be their best friend for the rest of their lives.

I have been teaching English for a short time on a voluntary basis. I have been teaching students from poor families, who have been sponsored by an NGO to get a university education. They also have meetings where they are taught and trained in many good life skills, and get involved in doing positive things in the community. These are people who will make Cambodia a better place.

Just recently two girls approached me, and told me they would like to practice speaking English. I am getting to know them. They just finished year 12 this year and passed the exams. The had come to town a few days earlier, rented a room, and are looking for work. If they can get work, they will save money to go to university next year. Their family is giving them money for a short time, but if they dont get work, they will have to go back to the village and forget about university. I dont know how much money their family will give them next week, but they will probably have enough for one meal a day. I bought them some bread rolls with coconut filling, and asked them it they tasted nice. They said they taste very nice when you are hungry. I plan to be their friend, and help them out a little financially when their families cant. Hopefully next year they will go to university while they are working part time, and I will probably help them out a little financially when the money they earn is not enough. I say that, knowing that anything may happen in the next year, and plans may change. These girls are very vulnerable. I have met other girls in the past. Boys tell them they love them. To make a long story short, the girls finished up working as prostitutes. It is good to meet these girls before anyone with a bad influence does.

So while you may put up with a ridiculous amount of stupidity in Cambodia, there are also opportunities to do a lot of good. Helping change peoples lives for the better is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

My friends and I will help make a small part of Cambodia a better place.
## I thought I knew all the answers, but they changed all the questions. ##
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by ExPenhMan »

timmydownawell wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 7:32 pm
ExPenhMan wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:45 pm
The need to comment came about this afternoon right after I got conflicting info about renewing my Viet visa. No 1-years available now from my sources. One claims this new rule has been imposed, another says it hasn't. It's like in Thailand, every immigration officer gives you a different rule interpretation. Bahhh
I read that VN occasionally suspends the 12 month visa for a while and then later reintroduces it. I hope so because it's my next intended destination.

Sorry to digress.
Read the major thread on the outrageous price increase for the long-term business visas on FB: "Expats in Vung Tau (Vietnam)". The 1-year and 6-month are largely unavailable right now unless you want to spend near a $1,000US.
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by timmydownawell »

ExPenhMan wrote: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:21 am
timmydownawell wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 7:32 pm
ExPenhMan wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:45 pm
The need to comment came about this afternoon right after I got conflicting info about renewing my Viet visa. No 1-years available now from my sources. One claims this new rule has been imposed, another says it hasn't. It's like in Thailand, every immigration officer gives you a different rule interpretation. Bahhh
I read that VN occasionally suspends the 12 month visa for a while and then later reintroduces it. I hope so because it's my next intended destination.

Sorry to digress.
Read the major thread on the outrageous price increase for the long-term business visas on FB: "Expats in Vung Tau (Vietnam)". The 1-year and 6-month are largely unavailable right now unless you want to spend near a $1,000US.
Cheers, I'll take a look. Surely you can just get a 3mo one and keep renewing it though? (no need to reply I'll go and read)
You must walk in traffic to cross the road - Cambodian proverb
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by JayNoCat »

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:48 am These last couple of stints in the region have reaffirmed what’s been building for a few years - travel and living in Asia isn’t what it used to be for me. From a green eighteen year old right-of-passage Bali-holidaying-Australian, to Nepal guesthouse owner - from messed up Phnom Penh junkie, to reluctant fiance - from living alone in a stone cottage in the mountains for months, to swinging in hammocks on cargo boats on the Mekong - from bumming on the beaches of Goa, to running bars and owning boats in Bali…along with all the other craziness, I never thought I'd fall out of love with Asia. But, well, I'm done.

Where once I’d bound off a plane in India invigorated by the aromatic collision of curries, cow dung, humidity, bidi cigarettes, aviation fuel and the hint of urine, I now greet it with disdain. I’ve lost patience with the noise of Asia, the double pricing, the ignorance, the stupidity, the modernization, the lack of quality health care, the culturally insensitive, the traffic, the rubbish, the smell, the impossibility of finding clothes to fit, the saving face, the power cuts, the corruption, the beggars, the intolerance, the foreigner fucktardery…and on. Familiarity does indeed breed contempt it seems.

I’m heading back to Australia soon earlier than planned, and I have to say, I’m looking forward to the civility and order of things when I get there. Where once I complained the sterility and predictability of western living lacked the energy, chaos and color that made Asia alive and so enticing,I’m now looking forward to embracing the mundane reliability of the west. I'm surprised, Asia has been very much who I am, it's been kind of my identity for a long time. The idea of planning my future without Asia in it is weird. And it appears I'm not the only one.

There's been a bit of a shift recently I've noticed with quite a few others I know packing up and heading home,and not because they can't afford to live here. Asia has changed considerably over the years and some would argue not for the better. But I suspect for many of us who don't want to be here any longer we are just getting older and can't be bothered putting up with the bullshit. We just don't have the energy for it any more. We're tired. Well, I am. I wonder if you really do truly adjust to living in the region over time, or you just make bigger compromises.


That is all. Carry on.
I think you should have said “SE Asia.” Pretty much all of the things you are complaining about are non issues in the more developed Asian countries like Japan and Korea.
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by jmagic »

If you are sick of bullshit, I'm not sure Australia is the best place to go.

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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by Kung-fu Hillbilly »

Cruisemonkey wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:13 am Kung-fu Hillbilly,

Let us know if you experience any reverse culture shock.
Admittedly it's only been a week since I washed back up on Aussie shores, but an aspect of being back here I'm actually enjoying is how one's own politeness toward others is mostly sincerely welcomed. I learned a long time ago that locals in many parts of Asia would sometimes perceive social consideration or kind regard as a personal weakness, that you were somehow naive, perhaps gullible. As a consequence one hardened up and generally only offered casual social warmth toward those he was familiar with. It's also refreshing to be greeted by others/strangers back in Australia with a smile and something similar to a "Hi, how's things?" with there being no hidden agenda or ulterior motive behind the pleasantry. Of course, if a complete stranger in SEA were to casually sidle up to me and casually ask how I was doing, I'd immediately be suspicious.

The first negative aspect of being back here has always been a part of western living that sticks in my craw a bit. I've been at two gatherings of family where people I've not met before will invariably fire the same predictable questions at me in what I perceive as being nothing more than a mechanism for weighing me up, or in some pursuit of pigeonholing me, boxing me up, working me out or categorizing me. These questions masquerading as social lubrication irk me, and probably always will.
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by Yobbo »

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:21 pm
Cruisemonkey wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:13 am Kung-fu Hillbilly,

Let us know if you experience any reverse culture shock.
I've been at two gatherings of family where people I've not met before will invariably fire the same predictable questions at me in what I perceive as being nothing more than a mechanism for weighing me up,
What questions?
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by Kung-fu Hillbilly »

Yobbo wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:53 pm
Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:21 pm
Cruisemonkey wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:13 am Kung-fu Hillbilly,

Let us know if you experience any reverse culture shock.
I've been at two gatherings of family where people I've not met before will invariably fire the same predictable questions at me in what I perceive as being nothing more than a mechanism for weighing me up,
What questions?
Questions like, what do you do for a living? Where did you grow up/go to school? Been married, got kids....?While it could be argued these are normal inquiries from people wanting to get to know you, I perceive them as mostly individuals trying ascertain your status or trying to gauge you in some way. Perhaps this has more to do with me than them.
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Re: Out of Asia. I'm Done. (A ramble)

Post by Yobbo »

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:15 pm
Yobbo wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:53 pm
Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:21 pm
Cruisemonkey wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:13 am Kung-fu Hillbilly,

Let us know if you experience any reverse culture shock.
I've been at two gatherings of family where people I've not met before will invariably fire the same predictable questions at me in what I perceive as being nothing more than a mechanism for weighing me up,
What questions?
Questions like, what do you do for a living? Where did you grow up/go to school? Been married, got kids....?While it could be argued these are normal inquiries from people wanting to get to know you, I perceive them as mostly individuals trying ascertain your status or trying to gauge you in some way. Perhaps this has more to do with me than them.
Yes perhaps :chin:
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