Tag: tourist

What Is Culture Today? – 21st October 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Everything is an advert Begging you to pay But it’s all a load of talk With very little to say No contribution to society Not in any little way Is it only me alone That doesn’t understand the play Too old for an opinion Too old, too far away Is it possible to tell me What is culture today?

Today I’m feeling:

Excitedly anxious as we pack and prepare for our flight this afternoon. I’m not looking forward to it but am looking forward to getting back to Thailand and home. It’s been very pleasant to be back in Sydney as a tourist but that’s all I am in relation to being here this time.

Today I’m grateful for:

Karin and Peter for letting us use their house as a base whilst they are away on their own travels. I’ve never met them but I am grateful.

The best thing about today was:

It hasn’t happened yet but getting off this plane will probably be it!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

There are lots of empty seats in today’s flight so should be able to spread out a little bit after take-off. 

(later) The ten hours are nearly up and this flight has been nowhere near as much of a struggle as the one to Australia. I’ve stayed awake and hope to be able to sleep soon after getting to the hotel and then be back to normal in the morning. Let’s see.

Something I learned today?

Being able to catch up on my Substack reading I read a lot about Israel and Palestine and didn’t realise that the Jews in Israel are extremely disunited and would likely collapse into civil war without having Palestinians as an enemy.

How can I be kinder to myself today?

I’m pretty kind to myself every day. I don’t think I need to be especially kinder. I’d be better served by being kinder to other people and again, I feel I’m kind most of the time too. I have noticed how much Australians are more wordily polite than folks in Thailand but also at the same time how these words don’t always translate into actions.

Today will be a little gruelling as we spend 9-plus hours on a plane. I’ll try to remain patient and kind!

I took this picture because that’s our plane and the last picture of Australia for a while.

The Price Of Peace – 20th October 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Reality doesn’t care about your shoulds and shouldn’ts
The way out of suffering is the same on any scale
Would you side with peace or with the wouldn’ts?
Determined to see the negotiations fail
Does the price of peace negate your profits?
How many bodies are on your bottom line?
The brave will do the right thing to stop it
Not afraid to call the reality a crime

First two lines borrowed from Caitlin Johnstone

Today I’m feeling:

Slow but positive. Got home at around midnight and found the documentary about the making of Dogs in Space on TV so watched that and then there was a show about an explosion on an active volcanic island in New Zealand that killed 22 tourists. It was pretty compelling and kept me up til 2 am.

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy’s co-workers to have become good friends and colleagues over the last 18 months. They were quite emotional to say goodbye today at dinner.

The best thing about today was:

Walking through Balmain down to the ferry, with a beautiful full blue Australian sky, purple jacaranda blooms scattered across the ground and the scent of jasmine everywhere.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Amy wants to dance this evening and I’m tired already but know that she will miss all this very much. I sat just outside in the foyer reading and finally, Amy came out.

Something I learned today?

China’s divorce rate has dropped for three years in a row. This seems surprising considering that time includes pandemic lockdowns where it would be assumed that families having to spend so much time together would get on each other’s nerves and separate easily.

What are you afraid of?

Toothache. At the wedding, I broke some more off one of my teeth whilst eating risotto of all things. The nerve isn’t exposed thankfully but it’s only a matter of time before more pieces break off and fall out. Toothache is the worst!

I’m afraid of other more existential things too but right now it’s toothache!

What am I longing for right now?

Knowing a long flight is ahead tomorrow I’m longing to be back home again.

I took this picture because it was a beautiful day to be a tourist in Sydney so that’s what we did.

Signals – 11th October 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I didn’t ask to be me
Yet here I am
Not excited or proud to be
But that’s what I am
Why can’t I be you
There you are
I like your point of view
And what you are
Together is community
Made from many mes
All signals of society
The mes, the yous, the wes

inspired by the first paragraph of the introduction to Wallace Shawn’s Essays

Today I’m feeling:

I woke up feeling pretty great as the sun was coming up. Unfortunately, it was just the street lights from outside, I’d only slept for three hours and it was 1.30 in the morning. 

I eventually got back to sleep and Amy woke me up again at around 10.30. I still wanted to sleep more but forced myself up.

Amy is showing me around the area now, like the tourist I’m actually feeling. I’d forgotten how big Australians are. Loud too!

A successful shopping expedition has me dressed for dinner tonight and the wedding on Saturday. I feel fucked though and will perhaps sleep a little despite three shots of Campos.

Today I’m grateful for:

Finding new shirts and pants at reasonable prices (for Australia) at Birkenhead Point. It’s nice to be in a place where there is lots of choice for me. In Thailand, it is difficult to find nice clothes in my size. Anything that really attracts me is usually made for skinny Thai boys.

The best thing about today was:

Doing 10000 steps without realising. In the evening after cocktails and tapas, we walked from Barangaroo to Haymarket then back through Chinatown and up George Street to catch the bus back. It was cold in the wind but perfect out of it.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Today was about going with the flow which meant letting go of control. Amy continued as my tour guide through new areas of the city and I enjoyed it very much.

One thing I noted was that just outside Paddy’s Market a family car had stopped in the middle of the road and a big old Ute couldn’t get past and the guy inside kept leaning on his horn. That doesn’t happen in country town Thailand. No one will toot their horn, they’ll just wait or even get out for a sticky beak to see what the situation is. I can imagine in Bangkok it’s a little different but that’s what I’m used to in sleepy Chiang Rai.

Something I learned today?

As Amy and I were walking up to the bus stop I could see that I have changed. I now walk much slower than her, now moving at the speed of a Tropic dweller, just as I remember having to slow down when visiting my friends in Malaysia.

The peculiarities of Australians feel mildly annoying but I know that that is my fault, not theirs. It is something that makes me feel like I’m a tourist again.

What am I nervous or anxious about?

I’m anxious about Amy’s return to Thailand and how she will deal with things. Anxious about next April and the air pollution and the possibility of being able to escape it for a while.

That’s about it really.

I took this picture because that’s not a bad view from the bar we’re drinking at.