"The good guys always win"... Actually, "The hero always triumphs" and it's not always clear whether you are the hero, the comical relief or the amiable single-use character being set up for an emotional sacrifice.
These were the kind of thoughts running through my head 3am this morning, in the backseat of a taxi racing through the narrow streets of Hong Kong. Not only had my throat swollen up and my brain started melting with fever, but the taxi driver seemed to have been inspired by crazy driving movie Tokyo Drift, zigzagging through traffic and accelerating as he turned corners.
By the time we had reached the hospital I had come to peace with my life and my imminent death, but of course (making a long story really rather short), when I left the hospital a few hours later I only had to deal with a case of tonsillitis and holding a bag full of painkillers, antibiotics and anti-coughing syrup.
I feel unhappy about all the plans I have had to change, and there are many people who are alsoo unhappy with me changing those plans. I had a good bit of spying to do in Shanghai next week, and the week after that I am expected to report on my findings to a number of constituencies...
So, I'm wondering... am I really the hero of my life? Ok, I think we've established that I'm not set up for sacrifice. But am I possibly someone elses comical sidekick? Some kind of narrative ploy to introduce the real Dundee Expat, the one who didn't get tonsillitis?
Actually, since I am now feeling better after 16 hours of non-stop sleeping, I have come to the exciting conclusion that I am the hero, and what just happened here is that we are getting to know the Nemesis of the hero. Invincible in every other respect, health is the only thing standing between me and attainment of Life v3. Wasn't it health that stopped my round-the-world trip in January? Wasn't it health that ended "the happiest time of my life" just after my trip to Singapore this year? It is a most powerful foe.
This makes me feel good, because I really needed a nemesis to make this story emotionally engaging. At the moment i live for no higher goal, no ultimate purpose, so I'm not sure why I should care about me at all. However, with a Nemesis, i have gained the dramatic element of my life.
Well, having said that, it's not the most interesting Nemesis I could think of. Fighting poor health is filled with doctors appointments, dreary hospital corridors and fiddling with bags of medicines. Doesn't make interesting writing and even less interesting living.
What I really need is an upgrade of my Nemesis, a Nemesis v2. I don't think I am quite ready for a criminal mastermind, but a nice evil underground conspiracy would be nice. If you are part of such an organization and you are yourselves in need of a Hero to oppose you, get in touch: globister@dundeeExpat.com- this could be a win-win scenario for both of us!
Showing posts with label nemesis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nemesis. Show all posts
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Great achievements, a three week black hole and some parks
Today is a great day! I have achieved some mind-blowing milestones:
I don't think it's a secret that I have a romantic notion of the "nomad lifestyle". It comes at a cost. I pay through the nose for rooms that are smaller than my suitcase. My insistance on making every decision at the last moment means I get overcharged when travelling- and allways the coolest parties seem to happen yesterday... But, I'm quite happy to accept this: not many people can say they their entire life is contained within a suitcase, or that they could uproot themselves from where they are living and working in 15
The last three weeks been an exercise in enduring the arse end of this lifestyle. It started well. My friend came to visit from Thailand for one night only, and it all felt very jet-set and modern. One night! How crazy! I got a sense of the darkness that was to ensue on my way to meet him at the hotel though. A mild cough. Nevermind I thought. Nevermind that I don't have any immune system whatsoever and am known for being ill in all kinds of ways. Nevermind. Well, that was three weeks of my life down the drain, spent in bed coughing my lugns up with the worst case of bronchitis ever.
Next time I start coughing early during a night of boozing, I'll go home I think.
Of course, I would never have learned all those chinese characters if I hadn't had so much time in bed. Also, I watched the full first season of Desperate Housewifes. What genious!
I did force myself out last weekend- I was about to go mad in that little cupboard of a studio that I live in. I did a park day. Went to Hong Kong park, and to Hong Kong zoological and botanical garden. Hong Kong park is quite amazing, but in the wrong way. It's totally artificial- it's fascinating in a way because it is so unapoligetic. It is obvious that the park designers felt parks should be artificial and that natural ones are just behind the times. So the whole park is full of man-made caves and waterfalls, fountains and sections of grass in regular patterns. And all to the backdrop of the towering sky scrapers. I've attached a photo of what I mean. That's a park, by the way...
The Zoological garden was much more interesting and much more serene. Most of the park was closed off (due to the bird flu maybe?) so there were not so many people. They had some cool birds in big cages, and there was even a leopard there. A bit out of place, but cool nonetheless. I've attached a picture has the leopard in the background, sleeping. And that's me in the foreground. I think you can see I've felt better...
- I've learned the meaning and pronounciation of 780 chinese characters. That's 20 characters away from the official limit of 800 considered 'Intermediate' level. With the characters I know now I can read the comic books of Rin Tin Tin!
- I have fully achieved status of "in Asia". I now have 1) A hong kong ID card 2) a hong kong bank account with a rather useless debit card 3) a one year multiple entry visa to China. I'm, like, so "here".
- I have located a restaurant that serves proper frog here in Hong Kong. None of that brash, spicy stuff from sichuan, nor is the frog drowned in a rice soup. Just a really nice, pungent sauce and they serve the back as well, not just the legs.
I don't think it's a secret that I have a romantic notion of the "nomad lifestyle". It comes at a cost. I pay through the nose for rooms that are smaller than my suitcase. My insistance on making every decision at the last moment means I get overcharged when travelling- and allways the coolest parties seem to happen yesterday... But, I'm quite happy to accept this: not many people can say they their entire life is contained within a suitcase, or that they could uproot themselves from where they are living and working in 15
The last three weeks been an exercise in enduring the arse end of this lifestyle. It started well. My friend came to visit from Thailand for one night only, and it all felt very jet-set and modern. One night! How crazy! I got a sense of the darkness that was to ensue on my way to meet him at the hotel though. A mild cough. Nevermind I thought. Nevermind that I don't have any immune system whatsoever and am known for being ill in all kinds of ways. Nevermind. Well, that was three weeks of my life down the drain, spent in bed coughing my lugns up with the worst case of bronchitis ever.
Next time I start coughing early during a night of boozing, I'll go home I think.
Of course, I would never have learned all those chinese characters if I hadn't had so much time in bed. Also, I watched the full first season of Desperate Housewifes. What genious!
I did force myself out last weekend- I was about to go mad in that little cupboard of a studio that I live in. I did a park day. Went to Hong Kong park, and to Hong Kong zoological and botanical garden. Hong Kong park is quite amazing, but in the wrong way. It's totally artificial- it's fascinating in a way because it is so unapoligetic. It is obvious that the park designers felt parks should be artificial and that natural ones are just behind the times. So the whole park is full of man-made caves and waterfalls, fountains and sections of grass in regular patterns. And all to the backdrop of the towering sky scrapers. I've attached a photo of what I mean. That's a park, by the way...
The Zoological garden was much more interesting and much more serene. Most of the park was closed off (due to the bird flu maybe?) so there were not so many people. They had some cool birds in big cages, and there was even a leopard there. A bit out of place, but cool nonetheless. I've attached a picture has the leopard in the background, sleeping. And that's me in the foreground. I think you can see I've felt better...
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
yet another fever in thailand
Not again! That mountain climb really knocked me out. I had planned to get some serious clubbing going here in Bankok last night. It was not to be. I've developed a nasty cough and on the plane last night I developed a temperature. Once I got to the hotel room the lights went out at once. However, it has given me the time to do some admin stuff this morning before I catch a flight to the the ex-portugese colony of Macau.
So, on this trip I've been twice to Bankok and both times been unable to do anything but lie in my bed and shiver. Is this a sign?
Now I understand why no internet cafes can access the photos on my harddrive. Apparantly I need powered USB, which none of these cheapskates have. Bastards. So you are going to have to wait yet another day for photographic proof.
So, on this trip I've been twice to Bankok and both times been unable to do anything but lie in my bed and shiver. Is this a sign?
Now I understand why no internet cafes can access the photos on my harddrive. Apparantly I need powered USB, which none of these cheapskates have. Bastards. So you are going to have to wait yet another day for photographic proof.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Fever in Thailand
I've spent the last few days in pattaya with a temperature and mostly sleeping. New years party at Narciscus club in Bangkok. Just hung around until the countdown, then went back to the hotel for some more sleep. Not terribly exciting, but I am starting to relax now. i think I've managed to escape.
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