All the enlightenment, adventures and awesome experiences they promise you in guidebooks, travel agencies and outdoor stores are nothing but hollow words. The essence of travel is fruitlessly struggling with a severe lack of leg-space in a moving vehicle. That covers a large part of the trip. The rest of time is spend at 'obligatory' tourist hotspots, haggling about prices (getting scammed) and updating your Facebook-status regularly (to show your friends how cool you are)… Did modern-day backpacking ever really change anyone? Sure, a few backpackers die and others get fucked-up for life (on too much inferior dope) but the majority of them will be working a regular 9-to-5 in the near future…
Anyway, that's not my world anymore.
I've been happy in my quiet one-room appartment for two weeks now. A few days ago I bought an awesome second-hand Honda Wave to cruise to the beaches and all around town.. I sweep my room in the morning, go buy ice for my coolbox regularly and eat 3 meals a day (mainly cheap, delicious Khmer food and the occasional hot-dog/pizza/hamburger). On hot afternoons, I enjoy playing online poker. Opening the PokerStars-lobby feels like the most natural thing in the world when it's baking hot outside. I can play for hours on end without getting bored or stressed. The Full Tilt debacle is nothing but a distant memory. Just like Sihanoukville is supposed to smell like ganja, online poker is a respectable career choice in this town. I'm doing all right; grinding out a small profit (for the moment). The numerous power cuts can be a nuisance (especially in the heat of the game) but hey, I'm not complaining. In the worst-case scenario (a long power cut) I just close my laptop and drive out to the beach...
Life's good here. I'm living on my own. I like it that way. Sometimes I go out at night, more often I stay in and watch movies. It depends on how I feel. I wake up when I want, eat when I'm hungry, drink when I drive, take orders from no one and do as I please...
Happy or hopeless.
It's all fine by me.
I just like to enjoy this idyllic existence
for a little while/ for as long as it lasts
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