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A lot of talk about the things we miss, the things we dislike about Cambodia, etc... lets try something different... list the things you DON'T miss and are glad to be rid of from your western homes.

• Traffic Cops: I somehow ALWAYS ended up in their attention and have had more traffic tickets for dumb little shit than I can count.

• Expensive... well... everything: Rent, smokes, food, drinks, beer, clothes... this is a long list.

• Freeway Traffic: While traffic here can be frustrating... it's not alone in that. US highways are really just glorified parking lots quite often. At least here it's not 47 miles of it... leading to my next...

• A 47 mile commute, each way, for work: Fuck that. Period. Sucked ass.

• Paranoia: Sometimes I've had a little more to drink than I should have when driving home. Sometimes I've bought something to get me high. Neither of those here are life ruining incidents if the cops nick you. No speed traps sitting in wait, no wondering if the guy you're buying this bag of pot from is an undercover cop... less fear.

• The People: I don't mean my family/friends... I miss them. I mean the rest of the lot.

• Curfew: Well, not really a curfew... but bars and shops stop selling in most cities at some point, in mine it was 2am. Sometimes you found one of the rare 3am spots. Here if I'm partial to it I can go on a bender 'till 7am, have some breakfast, and do it all over again.

I never missed the questions asked with the intent of labelling or the categorizing of you, or putting you in some sort of social pecking order. The "where do you live" "what do you do" "what do drive" "what's your position" type questions that often masquerade as social lubrication but are most always used to try and ascertain your value, rank or worth to the other person. I have experienced this type of questioning in SEA on occasion, but nowhere near to the same extent.

I'll think of more later, but one of the biggest for me whenever I go back is the lack of mobility. Granted, I don't own a car anymore and neither do my folks (whom I stay with when I visit), but not being able to just jump on a bike, drive the wrong way 50m, gun it down a main road and reach my destination in a few mins is difficult to cope with. Public transport is great and all, but a bus+subway ride which takes 45 minutes would have taken me 15 minutes on my motorcycle. Less if I could burn a few red lights and speed... That and being able to get anything you need anywhere. Walk a few meters down the street to buy a phone card, that type of stuff.

Affirmative action.

Thank you, Bill Clinton, you fucking moron.

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote:I never missed the questions asked with the intent of labelling or the categorizing of you, or putting you in some sort of social pecking order. The "where do you live" "what do you do" "what do drive" "what's your position" type questions that often masquerade as social lubrication but are most always used to try and ascertain your value, rank or worth to the other person. I have experienced this type of questioning in SEA on occasion, but nowhere near to the same extent.

440 has had some obscenely wankish one-upmanshippers. Small penises and shitty origins they cannot forget.

OrangeDragon wrote: The People: I don't mean my family/friends... I miss them. I mean the rest of the lot.

This. If I needed just ONE reason, it's the people. Sour-faced, paranoid people who take themselves too seriously.

vladimir wrote:Affirmative action.

Thank you, Bill Clinton, you fucking moron.

Personally I'm for confirmative action. Tell me what I want to hear baby!

I am very glad to be away from Australian politics right now.

Mrs Stroppy wrote:I am very glad to be away from Australian politics right now.

Wanna buy some refugees? I'll even Christmas Island wrap them for you...

Lol, nicely done! I'll pass thanks.