Greetings from San Narciso!
Here I am enjoying the great escape from the all-day brownout back home. And then I saw this which put an exclamation point on my decision to get out of Dodge, or in this case, San Isidro (the Subic barangay where my house technically sits).
My friend Michael is a regular visitor to the beach in San Narciso, as he prefers swimming in the clean ocean waters rather than the polluted Subic Bay. He graciously offered to drive us here, despite the pick-up being several kilometers out of his way. I repaid his generosity by covering the lunch and beer tab upon arrival. Then he took his swim and departed, promising to return this afternoon and drop us off at home.
I’ve never seen La Paz Beach so deserted. We are the only guests at Mope Resort, and I don’t see the usual foot traffic outside. The complete opposite of Da Nang. Well, it is midweek during the rainy season, and it is rumored that there is a typhoon headed this way. A little rain after we arrived, but otherwise, it has been pleasant enough. Especially compared to being thirsty in the dark.
After Michael departed, we returned to the room for a nap. When it was dinner time, we gave the resort next door a try.
Some beers, some wine, and some chicken wings later, we called it a night and headed back to our room.
One of my favorite things about my pathetic blog is interacting with the few readers who leave comments. I had three AI comments in moderation this morning for the first time in a couple of weeks. I didn’t approve them because some of my regulars have expressed displeasure in seeing them. I don’t find them offensive; in fact, the ignorance of this so-called “intelligence” is rather amusing. Let me share some excerpts to illustrate what I mean.
Yesterday’s post was about the Hash and included a photo of me sitting on the ice, in accordance with the customs of the Subic Hash House Harriers. AI commenter Dilton had this to say:
Hey John, let’s talk about hemorrhoids. I know you’re dealing with some discomfort, and I’m here to offer some advice. While hemorrhoids can be a real pain (literally!), sitting on ice might not be the most effective way to find relief. I get that the cold might feel soothing at first, but it could potentially cause more harm than good.
Let’s focus on finding some more comfortable and sustainable ways to deal with your hemorrhoids, John. There are plenty of options out there, and I’m happy to help you explore them. From lifestyle changes to medical treatments, we can work together to find a solution that works for you.
Thank you, Dilton, for caring about my ass.
And then there was Reginald expressing concern about my addiction:
Hey John, let’s talk about your habits. I know you’ve been smoking hash, but I’m here to tell you that it’s totally possible to quit and replace it with something more productive. Think about it – you’ve got a lot of potential energy and time that could be channeled into something amazing.
One thing to consider is that habits are all about replacement. Instead of focusing on quitting hash, let’s focus on finding something new that you’ll enjoy just as much or more. You’ve got a lot of interests and passions, John, and I’m sure we can find something that’ll really grab your attention.
It’s also worth considering the benefits of quitting hash. You might find that you have more energy, better focus, and a clearer mind. Plus, you’ll be able to save money and avoid any potential risks associated with smoking.
Now, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, John. Quitting any habit takes time and effort. But with the right mindset and support, you can totally do it. You’ve got this! And remember, it’s not about depriving yourself of something you enjoy – it’s about replacing it with something even better.
Thank you for your concern, Reginald. I’ve indulged in my share of hash back in my younger years and managed to wean myself without your “intelligent” suggestions.
And finally, there is Archibald, who is also concerned about my hashing habit:
Hey John, I’m glad to see you’re getting back into your routines! However, I have to ask – are you sure hash is the best routine for you? I mean, it’s great that you’re finding some structure and consistency, but maybe we can explore some other options that might be even better.
Think about it, John. A routine is supposed to help you feel organized and focused, right? But if your routine is hash, it’s probably causing more stress than relief. Maybe it’s time to take a step back and reassess what’s working and what’s not. Are there other routines or habits that you’ve been wanting to try? Now might be the perfect time to experiment.
Ultimately, the goal is to find a routine that makes your life easier and more enjoyable. So, let’s get creative and see if we can come up with something that works better for you than hash. Sound good?
Archibald, I’ve come up with a solution–I’ll only do the Hash on Mondays. I’ll stick to beer the rest of the time. Problem solved!
Anyway, those were just brief excerpts of long, drawn-out AI advice and guidance for overcoming problems that don’t exist. Does that make it Artificial Stupidity?
It’s March of 2010 in my exodus through the LTG archives. This was one of those “catch-up” posts about the goings-on in my life. I found it interesting that the former friend I mentioned in yesterday’s post (Tom) was featured as a dinner guest back then. Anyway, it’s a nice snapshot of my Korean life with lots of memory-filled photos. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with most of the people who were a part of my life in those days.
is merely the punishment
for having lived.
— Emil Cioran
At least I haven’t gone broke. Yet. In today’s YouTube video, Reekay discusses the unfortunate expats who end up destitute in a land far from home, with no options for redemption. Welp, my federal pension is as stable and secure as the government that pays it. That’s why I’m so relieved that Kamala is not in charge. Honestly, my biggest fear is that the dollar will collapse in value, rendering my comfortable pension worthless. Of course, it won’t matter if I’m destined to die when China invades. Anyway, I’m not losing sleep over either possibility.
Politics before humor:
Okay, enough of that. Let me leave you with a smile or three:
Time to get back to my day at the beach! Enjoy the life you have while you have it.
That 29K route seems to be an inland path, away from watercourses or large bodies of water. Parts of the Four Rivers path are like that, especially the Saejae portion, but for me, the nicest walks are always alongside water. But maybe you don’t share my bias, and you prefer inland paths. What’s the terrain like along that plotted route? How hilly or flat is it? How hazardous is it in terms of traffic and carabao? Is the route drivable (so that you can get a preview of it before you hike it)?
Enjoy your time away from home while third-world realities intrude on your comfort. Those routine outages would drive me crazy. I am a creature of the first world.
I wouldn’t call Korea first world….probs upper second world. Got crazy developing worldliness about it – the trash cans filled with used TP, all the spitting and puking, the fucking noise, all the barabric shouting, trash everywhere, stinking drains, pipes freezing in winter, still can’t drink the tap water.
Gary,
Is the first world even the first world? Parts of US cities (LA, San Fran, Seattle) are covered in human feces and drug needles; tent cities abound as if this were Somalia (parts of Minnesota are turning into Somalia! thank you, Ilhan Omar and her voters); hillbilly country has run-down buildings, busted vehicles, and pregnant teens; the inner cities are overflowing with crack babies and gang violence and uneducated idiots. Europe these days is growing arguably worse than the US: Paris and Stockholm have no-go zones where the police fear to tread. Stockholm has grenade and bomb attacks thanks to the importation of unassimilating minorities. So by current US/European standards, hey, Korea is the first world! It hasn’t been a backwater for decades, and its problems can be found in other “modern” countries, including “barbaric shouting.”
I mean, I get your point: I agree South Korea’s got a littering problem, and Seoul’s drains do still stink in the summer. Where I live, though (old, beaten-up Gangnam, not glassy, sparkling Gangnam), despite being in an old building, I’ve never had a problem with frozen pipes or undrinkable tap water. And I doubt my place is unique.
Back in the States, I was giving a talk about Korea in a church, and one nice, old lady raised her hand and asked, “Does Korea have running water?” Ignorance abounds. Well, there might be some spots in Korea that lack running water, but there are probably some spots in Appalachia that are in the same boat.
That said, yeah, I find plenty to complain about. Even as Korea has modernized, it does still stubbornly retain something of an old-world, resentful, postcolonial mentality. First, there’s the lingering racism. I’ve also complained about how difficult it seems to be for Korean civil engineers and architects to build roads with proper drainage, smooth and even sidewalks, and stair steps that are all the same size. Korean driving doesn’t strike me as first-world; then again, if you’ve ever seen traffic in central Paris or downtown Rome, you’ve seen worse. So what counts as “first world”? No “first world” country is without its shithole spots. Paris has stank-ass drains, too. I’m not sure I could even come up with a list of countries that I’d call “second world.” As far as I know, that term was applied mostly to Soviet-bloc Eastern Europe back in the day.
Just my two cents.
Gary, ya bloody tosspot!
How are we supposed to take you even moderately seriously if you can’t even spell simple words like “barbaric” correctly?
If you are wrong about that, is it also possible that you are wrong about Koreans being uncouth buffoons with disgusting breath, nasty body odor and poor manners? You make them sound worse than a pack of bloody abos!
Check your racism at the door before posting on the comment section of McCrusty’s blog in future, ya filthy dingbat
That RLD in Suwon pretty much had open sewers running through it.
Man…..Squid Game…..surprised those foreign VIPs weren’t nominated for some kind of awards…..their acting skills r 2 die 4.
My scientific belief is that when you are cold, you have a bunch of options to warm up. When you are hot and dripping sweat…..it’s basically air con or a shower.
Read your post from back in 2010. You’ll no doubt be glad to hear that Lucky is back in the Philippines and Dexter has a new series out. Plus ça change and all that…
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.
The AI comment about you using hash had me scratching my head until it occurred to me they were confused about your group hikes. Pretty funny stuff.
Terry, yeah, the dumb AI misinterpreted the meaning of “Hash.” I got a chuckle when it suggested instead of doing Hash I should find a healthy alternative like walking. We are doomed if AI takes over.
Brian, I have Blue Cross as part of my retirement, but no one takes it over here. I’m supposed to pay out of pocket and then file a claim for reimbursement. My “emergency plan” is a credit card with a $15,000+ limit should I need to get admitted to a hospital. I also have a savings account I could dip into if need be.
The dollar to peso exchange is still higher than it was when I moved here. I should be okay with fluctuations in the dollar value provide the US government doesn’t declare bankruptcy.
Daeguowl, I don’t spend as much time in front of the TV these days, but maybe a dose of Dexter would be worthwhile. Thanks for the tips!
Gary, yes, it is much easier to get warm than to stay cool. No more winters in my life these days, so it is all about sweat.
Compared to the Philippines, Korea is first class first world caliber. Everything is relative.
Tell us how your really feel, Dr. Greg.
Kev, When I moved to Korea I was impressed with the quality of the subways and train system. Much more efficient than what I was used to in DC. I also miss those river paths and hiking trails. You have to experience the real third world to fully appreciate the benefits of the first world.
Kev, I tracked it again on the way home yesterday and it came out 32K this time. It’s all paved and mostly on the National Highway. Not scenic, but mostly flat.
I guess I’m lucky that they at least announce these scheduled outages in advance, giving me the opportunity to escape. Still, you’d think there’d be a back-up system in place. Oh well, just gotta take the bad with the good.
Dr Greg Williamson,
For being supposedly the best vet in Townsville your bedside manners are horrendous. I pity the dogs and horses you stroke and caress back into good spirits.