Vita Magna Est

Yesterday – Thursday 17th – was a bit of an expensive day. But for all the good best reasons.

1. Found my place to live. It’s friggin’ awesome. Paid deposit $undisclosed,-
2. Arranged for my 1-year retirement visa; ready next week. $301,-
3. Lunch at New Corner (Sisowath). Much salad, not enough Nicoise. $7.65,-
4. Bought two nice short-sleeve shirts @ H&M. Euro-prices ! $40-ish.
5. Celebration splashing out @ Kinin with a delicious glazed duckbreast $10.75, two Hanuman draught beers $3.00, and a Negroni $6.00.

Once I finally secure this mythical visa extension, I will unlock the ultimate achievement: opening a local bank account. At that moment, my life will go from “confused tourist with sweaty cash” to “functioning adult who occasionally understands how money works.” Right now I get weird looks every time I pay with paper money or, worse, pull out an actual physical debit/credit card like some kind of medieval peasant slamming gold coins on the tavern bar. And then there’s Grab—my all-time favorite means-of-transportation-slash-everything app, which I revere with the kind of spiritual devotion other people reserve for organized religion. Once it’s directly connected to my bank account, the universe will finally make sense. No more fumbling with tragic fistfuls of Riels in a dark tuk-tuk, trying to do math while the wind blows my existential dread into my eyes. Just bip-bip-click—divine confirmation chime—transaction blessed, journey completed, soul slightly less chaotic.

Today, one additional tooth was lost, further compounding an already critical pattern of dental attrition. The current appearance may reasonably be compared to that of an individual who has recently and decisively lost an unsanctioned street altercation in the vicinity of a disreputable entertainment establishment. It should be noted for the record that this visual impression has arisen without any corroborating history of tobacco use or related high‑risk behavior. The ongoing degradation of dentition has now reached a stage that warrants immediate, structured intervention, including but not limited to the systematic identification and evaluation of an appropriate dental clinic capable of addressing a lifelong and persistently complex oral health situation.

BTW: The above-mentioned Kinin place is the best bar/resto I’ve so far visited. Correct & friendly service. Awesome open-jungle in/exterior. Excellent drinks & food, though I do prefer Peter’s Negroni (@Bar Tabac, Antwerp).

Finally fell asleep this morning. From 8-ish to 9:15 AM. Yay.
Still no smoke for the restless.