GammaGlobulin

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

First time to Hong Kong with Cathay and landing at Kai Tak; what an experience.  Xmas 1989 and everything open, bustling City and 18 degrees C. Perfect.  Then on the way home 23:00 flight leaving for the UK on the  31st December. Pilot asked us which of the 8 (or 9 cant quite remember) New Years would would like to 'see in'.  For quite a few of us, celebrations for the first 5 until everyone was sound asleep.

Landing at Kai Tak was never so easy for new pilots.

And, looking left from the cockpit, you could see the so-called walled city.

And, going into the walled city, there were many glorious sights, and an entire harmonious community.

Much of Hong Kong no longer exists.

And, since the glory days of Hong Kong are now pretty much over, then what is the point of living...almost.

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I agree, but that is rather sad, that a country with so many problems is better than anywhere else I have resided, other than Antarctica, and all who go there are given but a short time in that blessed continent.

Some who go there, to Antarctica, do not just go for a short time. (not making a pun)

Some who go there, go forever.

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Can't say that I've ever been content. I have been happy a few times though.

The best I can hope for now is to not be any more unhappy than I have to be.

Please do not worry.

You are already doing quite well.

Being happy a few times is more than most could hope for.

Realize that you are most fortunate to not be happy ALL THE TIME.

And, let it go at this.

Just now, Rookiescot said:

Nope.

Once spent a night sleeping in Waverly station though if that helps.

Not the same experience.

I prefer the Château.

(The Château is pretty amazing once you get inside, and begin to climb the stairs)

And, on holidays, sometimes, the locals burn the town down. This has happened once or twice. I was there at the time.

20 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

I thought he was something to do with cigarettes. 

Speaking of Rothmans...

How many of you guys have spent the night at the Château Frontenac?

You can smoke Rothmans here.

21 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

The flights through Asia on my first RTW trips were near empty - easily affording us the center seats where we could have a row of five seats to stretch out in... 

 

I do remember one time on a flight out of Burma being asked, all 8 of us passengers, to move our seats to help distribute the weight for take-off on the way to Kathmandu... and heigh heigh, aweigh away we went - our youth blossoming in fearless travail, off and oft to flight in pursuit of life's next adventure, the Yak and Yeti, ahoy, and beyond, 

Not a 737, obviously.

Years ago, we would exit out the stern of the aircraft, down a flight of stairs, to the tarmac.

The "stairs" were built into the aircraft.

The engines were often kept running.  And, who is unable to recall the smell of JP-4, even to this day?

I LOVE the smell of jet fuel.

Smells like....VICTORY!

2 minutes ago, carlyai said:

 

Sorry. Did you say that you miss the connection?

OK. No problem.  Sorry.  Probably most people outside of the US also do not get the connection.

Frat houses, and fraternities, use designations, such as: Alpha Phi Alpha.  Doing so is moronic, and can sometimes lead to death due to overdoses on alcohol.  But, fraternities insist on this.

You can go to this link in order to learn more about Greek Life.....   https://www.ka.org/

So, anyway, Belushi came to fame, principally due to his role in Animal House.  And, Animal House was short for Frat House.

Here is one more link for you:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_Beta_Tau

Zeta Beta Tau

29 minutes ago, mahtin said:

when Johnny Carson asked Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann on The Tonight Show what she thought of Portnoy’s Complaint, she brought the house down with her reply: “It’s a great book, but I wouldn’t want to shake hands with the author.”

 

nextavenue dot org

Nice retort.

However, you can't compare Dolls to Complaint.

Please Note:

Regarding FEER:  The Review aimed to report and analyse financial, commercial, and industrial developments in the Southeast Asia and Pacific regions with specific emphasis on Hong Kong and China. It gathered the most incisive and provocative commentary in Asia through leaders from every ideological stripe, background, and profession. Articles were selected according to their potential progress toward prosperity, security, and well-being for all Asians. Besides free-lance contributions and viewpoints from professionals, FEER's journalists also traveled around the region reporting from their own perspective with the intention of improving the local economic and political zone.

Also worth a note:  There are people here who read FEER religiously, and still recall it, today.

Dare I say that there are writers here on TV who wrote for FEER...  And, this was not so easy.  Because, the writers on FEER were superior to most others.  Dig up a copy, and you will see.

Anyway, if anyone might wish to know where I am coming from, then please check out this link...  Thank you....  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Eastern_Economic_Review

Now, defunct.

Same as me.

Too few great writers around, these days.

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

How do you know how old I, or any other members reading and tolerating your posts, are?

How do I know how old you are?

It's not magic, I assure you.

I just know, that's all.

My Dear Friends,

I guess that I am about your age, or maybe a bit older. 

Now that I am almost too old to continue living, no one can blame me for recalling the good old days of Asia. Very few of you will recollect flying over the hump. And, this was before my time, as well.

Yet, I recall so many other great things about my life in Asia, such as free premium cheese aboard Cathay Pacific, from Hong Kong to Beijing. I recall eating so much Stilton during that flight that, even to this day, I can still taste it.

I imagine that I am sort of like you. Probably you, too, have spent most of your life in Asia, one country or another, before decamping to Thailand.

I recall that, while waiting in the First-Class lounge of Marco Polo Club, more than 30 years ago, one of my fellow passengers pulled from his carry-on bag a large roll of Bung Fodder.  He told me that, where he was going, bung fodder was in very short supply.

If you are like me, and if you are also living in Thailand, then you will appreciate the very many comforts of life here, compared to elsewhere in Asia, that we are fortunate enough to enjoy. Thailand has always been a comfortable haven for many of us, both in the past and, also, now.

During these difficult times, sometimes we might become frustrated due to very minor inconveniences. And therefore, we must just keep our cool, and remain appreciative and thankful, still.

Because, in spite of very minor inconveniences, we are lucky to reside in one of the best places in Asia.

Kind people.

Adequate infrastructure.

Good housing.

And, so much more.

I have lived in many other places in Asia, and this place is the best.  Also, I am learning the language.

23 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

GammaGlobulin , You said a few days ago , you were retiring from

from posting on Aseannow ,and that would be your last post.....

what happened ,

regards Worgeordie

I do not know what happened.

I remain as nonplussed as you must be.

Regards

8 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Please don't encourage the OP with gems like this, otherwise he will ever end his waffle. 

Steinbeck, maybe.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Who?

You!

Best to you!

Take care my friend...

You are a good writer, too.

Any humor aside....

There are some really capable writers on this forum.

One does not need to be a good writer in order to recognize good writing.

And, one should always be willing to bow down before a good writer.

There are thousands of writers on this forum.

Out of these thousands, I have noticed only two instances of good writing.

Most other writing is just .....  so-so, yet still good enough for writing here, maybe.

But really, where is the land of great writing?

There is no single land of great writing.

There is IreLAND, and ScotLAND, and other lands.

Personally, I like Ireland.

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

What happened to you, OP? Can't sleep? Post all night?

 

This topic deserves a star. Not the Michelin star though...

Too much Gongbao Jiding, maybe, 宫保鸡丁.

Too many peanuts with my chicken, maybe.

One more thing, my friends:

Due to the virus, I know that you are not here, the place where you would dearly love to be, at this very moment.

Let me tell you, Being Here is just so great.

Someday soon, you will be here with me.

Until this day happens, my heart goes out to you.

Take care, my friends.

Take care!

You know, my friends....

I really do not understand why you might feel aggrieved at my true wish to compliment some of you, though not all of you, concerning your writing skills.

You and I are in the same boat. You and I are just third-class writers.

And, some of us know it.

However, I know that you have, just as I also have, read some words written by great writers.

For example, the "Far Eastern Economic Review".

The words written by those good authors were SPECTACULAR.  You cannot deny it.

Well, anyway, the great authors who once published on that spectacular rag are no more.

Maybe you should check out the history of the the rag, Far Eastern Economic Review, and just wonder why those writers were ....  so amazing.

By the way, I am sure that there are writers here who once wrote for FEER.  But, they will not post here, I guess.  The reason they do not post here is because they are so far superior to us.

The FEER was truly an amazing publication.  The reason it did not last is because.....it was just too good to be true.

Take care, my friends.

4 minutes ago, nkg said:

 

It must be galling to waste your undoubted genius on us dullards. Few here if any can rival your mastery of the florid monologue.

 

The only posters I can think of that are as prolific and inexorable as you would be the likes of BigStar and Jsixpack. To witness you exchanging words with those titans of wordsmithery would be glorious indeed.

 

 

Your profile photo reminds me of the most beloved person of my life.

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Fine writers I doubt need to post something then answer it three times in the next three posts

You are a good writer.  I have read some of your posts.

You are a good writer, but not a particularly great writer.

What a pity, because, no matter how much you might write, thousands of hours you might practice, you will never become a great writer.

It's like this, my friend, 10,000 hours will never make you great, at anything.

You will never become a Magic Johnson.

What I mean is:

We have lost very many bright lights, such as John Cheever, Belushi, and so many others, due to drugs.

Message to children:  Do NOT take drugs.

Because, too many great talents were lost due to drugs.

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Personally i find your opening posts too long so i don't bother reading them, try summarising

Sure.

My summary is this: Do NOT take drugs.

I'm so hungary.

Regarding Greek Life:

Too few of us know Greek script.

Here is the Greek, or, as some say, the Euclidean alphabet, which we should all know....

Α α, Β β, Γ γ, Δ δ, Ε ε, Ζ ζ, Η η, Θ θ, Ι ι, Κ κ, Λ λ, Μ μ, Ν ν, Ξ ξ, Ο ο, Π π, Ρ ρ, Σ σ/ς, Τ τ, Υ υ, Φ φ, Χ χ, Ψ ψ, and Ω ω

When I think of the Greek, then I think of John Belushi.