Comments Posted By Brian
Displaying 271 To 300 Of 1,084 Comments
Re: chili
How does yours compare to Buddy fuckers? What makes his (or yours) better?Re: Swan on ice
What is special about finishing a 44th hash? Why is it more momentous than a 43rd or a 45th? LOL» Posted By Brian On 23/July/2025 @ 5:53 am
Re: Video
Yeah, I have made my thoughts known on expats that come to SE Asia with no economic backup plan, especially in case of a medical issue, though it happens due to other circumstances as well. Have no insurance, and then are surprised if they get in an accident/medical emergency and don’t have money to cover hospital/doctors, etc. and start asking for a handout. I feel sorry for them, but……….(Do you carry international medical insurance? Dont know for sure, but I dont think that Medicare works overseas. Can only speak about Thailand in SE Asia, but basic care is quite reasonable, but for complex situations, the price starts moving closer to Western prices, though still cheaper. I think in Thailand they hold your passport or dont let you leave the hospital until you pay up. LOL)
Re: currency collapse
Looks like the PI peso has been pretty steady against the USD. Most Asian currencies have lost roughly 10% vs. USD YTD.But, I am guessing that you would be able to easily weather a 10-20% drop in the peso’s value. Having a pension that is indexed vs. inflation is a good thing and helps cushion any shock caused by the USD losing value.
» Posted By Brian On 17/July/2025 @ 3:12 am
What sin were you guilty of that meant time on the ice?
» Posted By Brian On 15/July/2025 @ 11:09 pm
Sounds like a pretty good trip overall. Glad it went well.
Lots to places to see and explore in Asia (and even further afield).
» Posted By Brian On 14/July/2025 @ 11:27 pm
Got to love the matching T-shirts. LOL
I am guessing that was Swan’s idea and not yours? š
» Posted By Brian On 11/July/2025 @ 10:36 pm
>Brian, Iāll be back on Saturday for a day. Any ācanāt missā suggestions?
Are you staying by the airport or getting a hotel on the “mainland”?
Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island
Tram to the top of Victoria Peak (or if you want a real workout Ala your time in Seoul, skip the ferry and walk up)
Hollywood Road is a fun walk (as well as Tai Ping Shen street)
Some cool things up in the New Territories, but these are a bit more difficult to get to.Anyway, lots to see and do.
» Posted By Brian On 09/July/2025 @ 12:55 am
Too bad the messed up flights stopped you from exploring HK. Been a while since I have been there, but an interesting city in which to spend at least a few days.
Maybe another trip on the horizon for you. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 07/July/2025 @ 11:33 pm
Do you have any touring planned to other parts of Vietnam while in Da Nang or just hanging out there?
Safe travels
» Posted By Brian On 06/July/2025 @ 11:34 pm
Re: Video has disappeared completely. :shrug
Glad things seem to be back on the path of normalcy.
» Posted By Brian On 04/July/2025 @ 1:19 am
Re: Lack of tourists/customers
Is this a regular rainy season occurrence, or is this year worse than normal?» Posted By Brian On 03/July/2025 @ 3:58 am
John, hope that things get resolved in a way that is good for all involved.
» Posted By Brian On 01/July/2025 @ 1:34 am
Re: Bar scene
Will anything really change? Different owner, probably a different decor, same girls either re-hired or hired from nearby bars, (mostly) the same menu items, etc.If somebody was going to come in start a bar, what if anything, could they do to distinguish their bar from the umpteen other bars in Baretto? You can sell on value or price. Selling on value is tough because I think most/all of the demographic where you are at is very price conscious and any attempts to increase price because of higher value would be met with resistance To sell on price, you need to keep overhead low, which means unmotivated servers, minimal ambiance, etc.
(to recycle the old say – if you want to make a million in the bar business, start with 2 million…………..)
re: Smart Girl Philippines.
She has a very infectious personality. Can’t help but smile and laugh along with her.» Posted By Brian On 26/June/2025 @ 11:06 pm
Gotta say. Love the new commenters. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 24/June/2025 @ 10:29 pm
Re: for spicy food, a yoghurt drink seems to help. In India, they have a drink called laksi. Other countries with spicy food have similar things to soothe the palate.
Re: blogger Vitaly. No sympathy from me. Getting what he deserves.
» Posted By Brian On 23/June/2025 @ 11:30 pm
re: SOB – I think that they are held too often. For something like that, it becomes stale rather than an event.
I would move it to a once/quarter completion. It would still be fresh if it is done every three months.
The brain has a chance to recharge and it seems new again. Same-O same-o week after week, it loses its luster.
» Posted By Brian On 22/June/2025 @ 2:32 am
Re: Bali.
Like you, only visited there once, but really enjoyed it. I am sure you are aware, but Bali is majority Hindu, something like 90%+ of the residents follow the Hindu religion.
At least when I worked in Indonesia (and granted, that was a few years ago), Indonesians practiced a pretty tolerant form of Islam. Spent a lot of time in a pretty small town in Central Java and wouldn’t have known I was in a majority Muslim country (except for the blaring of the mosque loudspeakers).
I have heard that things have tightened up a bit in the intervening years however.
Maybe Indonesia should be another place to plan a visit? If not Bali, there are lots of cool spots on other islands in Indonesia.
» Posted By Brian On 19/June/2025 @ 3:12 am
How come Swan didn’t get the birthday cake on the head? Isn’t that a hash tradition for birthday hashers? LOL
Re: Video – pretty one sided. Each of the reasons he gives probably (no, not probably, they do) apply to the guy as well. Goes back to the earlier discussion about relationships as their most basic are transactional. At least half the time, guys are just as guilty as having ulterior motives in a relationship, especially when it comes to a first world/third world relationship.
» Posted By Brian On 17/June/2025 @ 11:15 pm
Re: Filipino culture taking over the world. Dont see that from my perch. K-pop, K-dramas, etc still seem to be prevalent however.
(Happy Birthday to Swan!!)
» Posted By Brian On 16/June/2025 @ 11:23 pm
I think I have mentioned it before, but when I have had bowel problems (which generally are due to bad food), I do a “nothing but rice and sports drinks/water” diet for a couple of days.
I know you are not a fan of rice, but the above seems to work in re establishing the proper gut health for me.
As @Kevin said, and I am sure it was pun intended, but this too shall pass.
» Posted By Brian On 15/June/2025 @ 10:00 pm
Hope you are feeling better. Did you possibly have food poisoning?
Re: certified caregiver.
Not to belittle the title, but what exactly does that mean? How does having a certified caregiver “improve” the situation when you are sick versus just having a loving partner take care of you? Seems like a lot of it is common sense. Make a person comfortable, hydrated, etc etc.» Posted By Brian On 15/June/2025 @ 4:28 am
Re: Politics – definitely would be better if both sides were able to talk things through in a civil manner. Neither side has an exclusive stranglehold on morality, good ideas, implementation, etc. Unfortunately, that fact is proven everyday.
» Posted By Brian On 12/June/2025 @ 11:26 pm
@Kevin makes good points. Granted, as you have said before, when (generic) you are gone, it doesn’t make any difference to yourself what happens, but there is some “closure” (though I dislike that word) for others.
» Posted By Brian On 07/June/2025 @ 3:31 am
>After all that time in Thailand you still have a virgin ass? Congrats!
At least as far as I know. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 07/June/2025 @ 3:24 am
Glad things went well with the cataract surgery. Maybe I misread, but I thought you indicated that you were going to be put completely under for the surgery.
Which made me think back to when @Kevin had his episode and commented about making sure affairs are in order if something happens. Probably none of my business (actually, I am sure it isn’t, but will comment anyway. LOL), but are yours? If something happened to you, where does that leave Swan? Rent paid far enough in advance so that she has some cushion before she would have to leave? etc.
TMI, but I have colonoscopy tomorrow (queue the Billy Connelly monologue on that procedure. LOL) and I will definitely be completely out of it while they are performing the procedure. :eek I guess if I am going to be taking something up the ass for the first time, better to be completely oblivious to it!!!
Relates to the above in that while the odds are greatly in favor of nothing happening, I did do some pre-work just in case.
» Posted By Brian On 05/June/2025 @ 10:53 pm
My “fondest” memory of Busan is being on the beach and then buying and eating a live octopus on stick. Not surprisingly, alcohol was involved! LOL
In southern ROK, spent more time in Ulsan. Quite liked Ulsan. Relatively good sized but not overwhelming.
» Posted By Brian On 03/June/2025 @ 3:41 am
>But since youāve spent a lot of time out of the USA, I think you know what I mean. Thereās just something about a Seoul or Bangkok experience that feels exciting and fresh. I guess thatās probably related to being an outsider and it seems like an adventure.
Agree 100%.
» Posted By Brian On 03/June/2025 @ 9:46 pm
>Brian, Iām not sure what āBS that happens in the PIā you are referring.
I actually dont know LOL, but I am assuming there is a lot of stuff that goes on both culturally, socially, politically, etc. that we, as expats in a country are blissfully unaware of. How tied in are you with the locals? I am not being snarky (as I fall into the same trap also when living long term in a country), but I would guess that your interactions with local life, people, etc. is extremely minimal. .
(PS (and now I am being a bit snarky), but you mention that everything in the US is the same. How often do you change things up? You often mention your routines – Monday, go here, eat here. Tuesday, go to a slightly different but same type of place, eat at a slightly different but same type of place, etc. Next week, repeat exactly the same. LOL.
Anyway, humans are generally creatures of habit. I know I am. There is comfort in that. I think that the human brain can only handle so much new sensory input. Life would be quite tiring otherwise. That is why we repeat and like familiar things.
» Posted By Brian On 02/June/2025 @ 11:20 pm
You mentioned in a previous comment:
>Yes, it is far from perfect here, but I still prefer it to my nation of birth. Donāt think Iāll ever move back there. I still miss my happy life in Korea.
Just curious as to why. Is it the money aspect? Is it because you are somewhat insulated from (and ignorant of) the BS that happens in the PI? Other? I guess the root question is; What does the PI offer/do better than the US?
» Posted By Brian On 02/June/2025 @ 12:00 am
Just wondering what your ball cap says and what is the significance. 5-11??
Re: living among the locals. Made me think of that westerner that was living in a $50(?)/month “house” out in the boonies and got kidnapped. IIRC, he was found and/or pronounced dead, correct?
» Posted By Brian On 31/May/2025 @ 7:50 am
«« Back To Stats PageIt appears that your original domain name is for sale for the grand sum of $10.88!!! LOL
https://www.whois.com/whois/johnmccrarey.com
» Posted By Brian On 27/May/2025 @ 11:34 pm