Llabyrinthine

Anyone ever had an “Amount exceeds the contactless offline limit.” When trying to pay for something with their phone?

First time I’ve had this…

Edit: Turns out it’s on their end. Annoying.

Okay… I think I’ve honoured my part.

I didn’t make it halfway through (Choeung Ek) without having a bit of a cry though and I didn’t go into the Stupa.

One thing I respect (and I know it’s not for everyone), they don’t sugarcoat it. They just say it how it is.

I’m generally a sucker for the heavy stuff, but this wasn’t actually high on my list of plans. What on earth does my brain do sometimes?

Anyway if anything, present me is now thankful for my bougie hotel splurge at my next stop. (Recovery and helping the economy is going to be my mantra.)

I haven’t been to any either, but there is a level of… I don’t think words can accurately describe it. It’s an infectious psychopathy that belies belief, but I also have questions (I don’t get into a lot of war history) what happens when you’re collateral damage in a war.

There are a couple older gents there that are survivors and one of the banners said that he now identifies with those members, feeling as though they were victim themselves.

I think the human capacity to endure in the face of such horror… I just have no words, really. I don’t think I would ever have that strength.

Think I cried in a few of them.

I’ll take them. 🖤

I legit don’t know how people do the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum without breaking down. I’m usually sooky with poor sleep, but this took just about all my will power.

I mean, I didn’t even to ask for the price, so when it came up I was like: 😑

So no secret here that I pay obnoxious amounts for coffee. Not particularly a coffee snob, but heh, I get around.

The most expensive so far I think I’ve paid for was at Greece Airport.

So far:

• Changi Airport - Kenangan Coffee $6
• Jewel (Changi Airport): % Arabica $10 (that’s on par with the airport above, price-wise)
• Melbourne Coffee (Phnom Penh): $1.88 USD

The last equates to under $3 AUD. I gave $2 (USD) and said to keep the change…

I’m now sitting in a park contemplating how this feels like it’s socioeconomically representative. Not from what we can afford, but what they charge. % Arabica, was good but just the general level I’d expect in Melbourne from a minimalist white designed cafe, but not for that price point which was around $8 SGD to begin with.

Props to Kenangan, though. Man who made my coffee, hard to tell with age, but easily 50s, maybe 60s?

Probably can go on a holiday with my coffee money.

I did, too, years ago.

Though checking in a hotel in Patong and watching a slight Japanese woman wheeled out in wheelchair after she broke both and and legs (face looked fine, luckily) on a scooter, should be enough to make some people think twice.

Sending some warm, muggy, late night love…

Man, it’s been years since I’ve spent time in the more chaotic parts of Asia. Favs atm are:

• A passenger on a scooter legit carrying a ladder upright.
• Gramps on his scooter living his best life riding at about 10kms an hour.
• Women riding scooters in PJ’s

Back at ya, CEO. 🖤

Stressful. Fingers crossed for you.