June 22nd
99 days here
I am awake at 6am, and galvanised by the thought of having breakfast out. Bye bye toast, blackberry jam and Lipton's bloody tea, I'm off to see the circus, well Common Grounds but close enough. Eggs Benedict and a large Flat White is, quite literally, the order of the day. Downstairs in Common Grounds I am the only customer, and I am very happy with that. It's why I got out so early.
Sitting here, in Siem Reap, I am desperately trying to remember the last interpersonal, face to actual face, conversation that I had. It must have been a few weeks ago, when I was considering renting an apartment. But that conversation was a bit stilted, guarded. Not a free flow of ideas and experiences. That was with 'C', at Jungle Burger. Other 'conversations' have been in broken English or textual, with all the confusion that brings to the process of human interaction.
Talking of human interaction, I have just been to the toilet and in my absence humanity has descended on the downstairs of Common Grounds in the persona of a family of five in the two seats next to the one I had sat in. I move to another table less filled with terrestrial bodies, and order another Flat White.
A diversion
In what the cafe calls a 'Restroom', though there is little room to rest there, the French philosopher Sartre (but more especially his existentialist novel 'Nausea') came to mind. My meandering thoughts were teasing out the connection, if any, between Buddhist thought and Existentialism. I find it interesting that both Existentialism and Buddhism have influenced modern psychology, and encroached upon social psychology and Social Work practice.
Leaving university with an okay degree in philosophy I couldn't, at that time, imagine the practical applications. I can't complain that those applications were not mentioned, for it was up to me to think more. There again, after my first stint at university I fell back into graphic design as a living, and part owning a shop as a pastime, with little thought about philosophy, psychology or sociology.
It wasn't until five years later, when I became a Mental Health Social Worker, that the connections to Existentialist thought became apparent. Reading more about Buddhism helped me reflect more upon C.J. Jung (his interest in Eastern philosophies and theologies - mandalas etc) and Carl Rogers' humanism, which seems heavily influenced by the Buddhist playbook. Many Western non-physical 'therapies' appear rooted in either or both Buddhism and Existentialism, with a soupcon of Western washed 'mindfulness' thrown into the mix.
99 days here
I am awake at 6am, and galvanised by the thought of having breakfast out. Bye bye toast, blackberry jam and Lipton's bloody tea, I'm off to see the circus, well Common Grounds but close enough. Eggs Benedict and a large Flat White is, quite literally, the order of the day. Downstairs in Common Grounds I am the only customer, and I am very happy with that. It's why I got out so early.
Sitting here, in Siem Reap, I am desperately trying to remember the last interpersonal, face to actual face, conversation that I had. It must have been a few weeks ago, when I was considering renting an apartment. But that conversation was a bit stilted, guarded. Not a free flow of ideas and experiences. That was with 'C', at Jungle Burger. Other 'conversations' have been in broken English or textual, with all the confusion that brings to the process of human interaction.
Talking of human interaction, I have just been to the toilet and in my absence humanity has descended on the downstairs of Common Grounds in the persona of a family of five in the two seats next to the one I had sat in. I move to another table less filled with terrestrial bodies, and order another Flat White.
A diversion
In what the cafe calls a 'Restroom', though there is little room to rest there, the French philosopher Sartre (but more especially his existentialist novel 'Nausea') came to mind. My meandering thoughts were teasing out the connection, if any, between Buddhist thought and Existentialism. I find it interesting that both Existentialism and Buddhism have influenced modern psychology, and encroached upon social psychology and Social Work practice.
Leaving university with an okay degree in philosophy I couldn't, at that time, imagine the practical applications. I can't complain that those applications were not mentioned, for it was up to me to think more. There again, after my first stint at university I fell back into graphic design as a living, and part owning a shop as a pastime, with little thought about philosophy, psychology or sociology.
It wasn't until five years later, when I became a Mental Health Social Worker, that the connections to Existentialist thought became apparent. Reading more about Buddhism helped me reflect more upon C.J. Jung (his interest in Eastern philosophies and theologies - mandalas etc) and Carl Rogers' humanism, which seems heavily influenced by the Buddhist playbook. Many Western non-physical 'therapies' appear rooted in either or both Buddhism and Existentialism, with a soupcon of Western washed 'mindfulness' thrown into the mix.
Oh well, it does look as though I have become Harry Haller. I can't wait to see the Magic Theatre. It is at this point some friend of mine might suggest magic mushrooms instead. Hmmm, maybe not. I struggle to gather enough intellect as it is, without impairing it more.
Why, oh why, oh why did I allow myself to get sucked into a ridiculous Facebook argument stemming from the statement that "Whites people are mostly racist". You just cannot win with people so entrenched in their thinking.
Class was interesting today. After half an hour talking about mixing paint for portraiture, we spent a little time talking and watching videos about Wyndam Lewis, Leonard Carrington and Dorothea Tanning.
6.25pm
I'm bored.
There is a long evening ahead, and I am bored to tears.
Today’s spend
Common Grounds….Eggs Benedict; Flat White (L) X2, $10.75
Thai Huot Market….Dasani Water; Coca Cola x2; Fresh Ginger; Mixed Vegetables; Lotus Tissue Paper; Westgold Butter….$8.75
Total spend $19.50
Common Grounds….Eggs Benedict; Flat White (L) X2, $10.75
Thai Huot Market….Dasani Water; Coca Cola x2; Fresh Ginger; Mixed Vegetables; Lotus Tissue Paper; Westgold Butter….$8.75
Total spend $19.50
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