ya i wouldnt either, last thing i wanna do is get banned from that site

Night Train

It was in 1986 that Stand BY Me was released, a movie which features 4 close friends on a mission to find a dead body along a railway track What more could a 10 year old kid ask from a coming of age movie The bonding. The camaraderie. The existential implications of such a journey. The alluring freedom. The spiritual growth. Sign me up

Flying always felt somewhat like cheating : you jump in a plane, doze off for a few hours, get off, stamp your passport et voila!!! you magically find yourself in a completely different realm on the other side of the world Furthermore, you leap through seasons like a time traveller : in the morning, winter in Dawson ; afternoon, a lovely fall day in Vancouver ; next day, a tropical summer day in South East Asia Our bodies are not made for such prompt transitions. Neither are our minds.

Ground transportation (assuming it is a road trip) has always been somewhat of a mystical experience for me, as strange as that might sound... Slowing down movement indeed comes with a sense of peace... Every breathe - or a heartbeat - images of the scenery flowing by the window, as time slows down, almost within our grasp...




The train was comfortable (definitely more than in India ) despite the Vietnamese kid that woke me up 1001 times




Went to check out the Crowne Casino for a pokerz game ; unfortunately, we are now 0/2 as far as live poker venues goes...




Beach in da nang. Don't know how this is possible, but I find myself loving life in the cities here, as everything is so quiet, almost countryside peaceful, despite a population of 1 mil...




Bridge as seen from our 6th floor hotel room




Vietnam is the first time I made a mil, lost a few, and spent a couple on a single meal

Spoiler:

1 mil is about 50$

There are only a few places where I feel at home. Dawson City, where I spent on and off 15 years. Vancouver island where, despite having only spent a couple of months there, I could easily see myself settle down. Montreal. And Vietnam. How does one feel a sense of belonging when he cannot even speak the local language? To not let things get too complicated, lets just call it vibes Or similar frequency levels But alas!, we are off to Laos on a sleeper bus tomorrow.


Da Pokerz


Still in the midst of a massive upswing, yet these changes on Stars are distressing... How devastating will the trickle down effect be? How much more difficult will 100z become? Or 200z, that next coveted stake that I am planning to jump into in January...

The signs have been on the wall for some years now, but this is the most concerned I have been about the state of online poker. I couldn't give a rats ass about the SNE cancellation, as it will only effect the top 0.01% of poker elite - which, by all means, are already well off -, but the abolition of rakeback at 5-10+ will have some torrential effects, me thinks, all the way down to 100z

Daniel Negreneau gave a solid interview about these changes (despite the interviewer, seemingly following a premeditated plan, wanting to constantly disrupt him) :

http://www.pokerupdate.com/news/netw...stars-boycott/

In a different note, here is an interesting article on Phil Laak going broke and his subsequent comeback :

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker...ine&id=4381359


Run good all

Border Runs

Victoria B.C., October 2001. After dancing all night to a live reggae band at Steamer's Pub (and lighting up a few doobies inside, bombaclat yall ), jamming outside and making a few $$$ basking until the wee hours of the morning, I find myself on a church porch, drunk, high, dozing off here and there for a few minutes. At 6 am, the priest opens the church doors wide open, smiles at me, opens his arms to the world and proclaims

-"ah, what a beautiful day, isn't it!!!".

I stare at him, somewhat stunned, and answer back incredulously

-"yeah".

The priest gazes into the heart of the day, smiling, seeing something beyond the grey skies and the rain, something that it is out of my reach... I envy his acceptance. His peace. Not wanting to stay any longer in the doorsteps of the house of the Lord, I stand up, walk into the sinister morning, on a years-long-marathon-mission to find my own peace...


Originating from a French background and all, it wasn't until my early 20s that I heard about Murphy's Law Anyhow, Murphy fancied following us to Laos. Step by step, he engaged in our daily activities, down to the simplest of tasks It has been a hyper-tilting-journey, to tell you the truth, putting me on a TITANICK-MAJOR-MONKEY-APE-MONKEY-TILT. The spotty, 1 Mbs internet connection. The overpriced/horrible hotels. The sickening food (literally). And the list goes on, but worry not folks, as I will not expose you guys furthermore to an ever growing list of progressive tilting items (notice the high abuse of pleonasms ).

Sure, the backpacker area in Vientiane is located by the alluring Mekong River, offers a charming night market and a myriad of shops/restaurants to keep one entertained while on a Thai border run, yet when one is on tilt, it becomes impossible to slow down one's system and appreciate :




Numerous are the eye candy monuments/temples



The Sleeper bus to get here was quite comfortable. Unfortunately, we can only get a 3 months Vietnam visa by flying back to Hanoi, making it impossible to return to da nang by land




A tilting camarade Food has been good here, albeit more expensive then Vietnam and just missing out on taste and quality




[I]Within a week of plentiful of oddities, I was surprisingly on the good side of a bad beat : straight flush over quads
beat 1
beat 2
beat 3


We will be flying back to Hanoi this Sunday, spend a week there, go check out Halong Bay before getting back to da nang. Looking forward to it


Da Pokerz

Thankfully my life run bad has not transferred to the virtual tables, as my upswing is showing no signs of slowing down The next hand is about bet-calling river with no other reason then finding yourself at the top of your range, despite only holding a bluff-catcher.

100z FF

An MP reg opens to 3$, I defend in BB with KQ

Flop (6.50$)
3Q7

I check-call a bet of 4.63$.

Turn (15.76$)
3Q7 9

It goes check-check.

River (15.76$)
3Q7 9 2

I had been sizing my bluffs on the bigger side for the past few hours, so I decide to mimic this tendency, thus straying away from my standard - and more of a GTO, me thinks - half pot bet, for a more exploitative 12$ ; villain shoves for 57$ effective I tank for a bit, but finding myself at the top of my range, having used a non standard bet sizing and because villain's line makes no sense, I make the call

Run good all

Unwasted Echoes


Perhaps if the sole purpose of our journey to Laos revolved around backpacking the countryside, soak in the culture and engage in some sort of spiritual growth, then we might of appreciated our time spent here... Perhaps if specific needs weren't required for work (AKA a solid connection fast enough for video calls), then the trip would of been more casual... Perhaps... Whatever the case, we did not want to end up with a foul taste of our time spent here, hence our decision to spend our last day exploring :




What better way to revive one's soul then with succulent Asian food, yo




But of course, some of this also happens ; survival of the fittest yo




This one managed to survive and entertain a few of us


We found a quiet place by the Mekong River to meditate and simply chill ; if my first year of sobriety was full of boredom (a product of depression), I am quite happy to ease into the moment nowadays... the little things, you know, the little things...




Long behind was the money shorting, the small scams to depart farangs from their monies on their border run... Simplicity yo




Banks of the Mekong


Fortunately, we are back on Vietnamese soil, in Hanoi, to be precise, where we will spend the following week before heading south to Halong Bay. Booked a comfy hotel in Hanoi, it is great to be back here




Great value for hotel at 28$/night


Da Pokerz

I mean, I know that I am on a upswing and all, but with my sample size getting bigger and bigger (75k hands) and the fact that I am solely focusing on online (and studying more), is 10bbs+/100 at 100z sustainable in the long run... To be determined, I guess, as I will be putting in some solid volume on FF and SNAP in December... Anyhow, the next HH is from the 33$ Deepstack on Stars, which is easily my favorite MTT.


33$ Deepstack, blinds 1600-3200 (antes 150 most likely...), final table, 9 players left

Table has been passive enough to apply ICM pressure, despite being fourth in chips. I am on the button with 67 and 2 recs in the blinds (opening about 85% of my range here), so I happily min open to 6400 ; BB defends.

Flop (17280)
Q56

One of thing about MTTs, is even the regs don't try to protect their checking range (and thus cbet WAY too much). I decide to exploit this trend and go for light value by firing 6865 ; he calls.

Turn (31, 010)
Q56 K

No need to change my hand into a bluff, so when villain checks, I do the same.

River (31, 010)
Q56 K 10

Villain bets 22 017, a bet sizing and board texture that clearly polarizes his range. I make the call

Run good all

Urban soil

Being Canadian and all, I am not very familiar - nor comfortable - with the dynamics of big cities (hint : by big city, I mean more than 3 million peeps ), so it should not come as a surprise that the 7 million in Hanoi can feel intrusive, chlaustrophobic Nevertheless, Hanoi does have a certain charm to it, especially its French-inspired architecture :




Cathedral in the Old Quarter







Our hotel street

Understand this about the French dining mentality : exquisite pleasure can be had in pacing oneself during a meal. Hence the purpose of having a countless amount of courses . Or slowly sipping on a cafe, a book in hand. So it does feel comforting that much like Montreal or Paris, numerous cafes populate the street of Hanoi, making them the perfect hangout spot after the grind .




Vietnamese delight : spring rolls, pho and jelly fish salad (my turn yo, as you jelly fellows stung me often enough )


Of course, such recreational activities do require a certain amount of monies, a luxury that is not always permitted to the locals. If the hangout spots in the western world are largely focused around consumption (think bars, restaurants, gyms, malls etc.), the locals can be found loitering on the sidewalks, in small shops or in front of public quarters, a charm that has alas been lost in America (not sure about Europe...) :








I guess one can view these gathering as a sorta romantico-nostalgic-lost-magic in the west, or as a desperate way to escape the confined and depressing quarters of Vietnamese households...

We are off to Halong Bay this weekend, as proximity to the beach is sorely needed. Sure, strolling by the lake and hanging out in cafes has been a delight, but would you rather roam around the city at midnight, or go for a swim... I know my answer


Da Pokerz


Another great week at the tables as even the volume has seen some improvement

I open KQ to 3$ from MP ; BB, a tight reg (18/11/5), defends.

Flop (6.50$)
J510

After I bet 4.87$, villain check-raises to 15.83$. I do have an OE + 2 overs, but I still don't love life, as villain could have a better showdown draw then me (AQ or AK), so the last thing I want to do, is to get it in before showdown, leaving myself with no bluffing ammunition on the river I call.

Turn (38.16$)
J510 10

Interesting turn, and one that eliminates some of villain's made hands, so when he bets 18.08$, I am thinking more and more about the river ammo

River (74.34$)
J510 10 10

The most interesting card in the deck rolls up on the river, so when villain checks, I bet 28.16$ laying myself an astounding price on my bluff (and a similar fold equity as a bigger bet would), despite having about 75$ behind

Run good all

Tourist Traps

I am not one for organized tours, typical tourist destinations or fixed itineraries, thus making our stop in Halong Bay a slight annoyance along the way A bit like the backpacker area in Vientiane, Halong Bay sees a great influx of foreigners, a vector directly correlated to A), the locals jaded and rude attitude, and B), the sky-high-jacked-up prices Adding the Korean packaged tours to this equation, only made the inflation tilt me like a mother****er

I will say this though, if negotiating is intrinsic to the local culture, most Vietnamese cannot manage a poker face to save their life You can see the attempted hustle in their conspiring hesitation. The complicit look given to their fellow coworker. Their deceitful smiles. Or their conspicuous eyes. Making their bluff oh so transparent ; "I call" one can only say, as he walks out of the store, a smile on his face, fully entertained by the amateur's attempt to hustle him

Anyhow, we did not partake in any tours, as I can't bring myself to be thrown in with a ton of tourists and packaged away to some predetermined sites But we did chill out by the beach, despite the glacial weather :



Halong Bay is known for its numerous islands in the vicinity, not particularly for its beaches




One must stay serene in the face of tourist traps, once said a wise-fattened-Buddha


Architecture usually does not leave me fascinated or staring up in awe. Sure, like many I have visited the Maya/Inca temples in latin America, been to places like Tikal, Siem Reap, Copan Ruinas, Monte Alban and Palenque - to name a few -, yet the general "vibes" have left me more mesmerized then the structures themselves. Nonetheless, here I am, impressed, much like I was in France, by the widespread French colonial heritage of Vietnam :




The alluring curves of random houses have a distinct flavor to them


Da Pokerz

My roaring run good has come to a halt, as I took a few shots in the 200z that completely misfired





I guess that much like moving up to 100z, it might take me some time before moving all my action to 200z Nonetheless, I still booked a small win for the week, somewhat keeping my upswing alive

The Art of Floating

I open J9 3$ on the button, BB ; a tight fun player (19/6/0), defends.

Flop (6.50$)
2T6

Villain donks 4.87$, I make the call. Villain's range is obviously comprised of either a flush draw or a top pair sorta hand, making both scenarios easy to play perfectly against on future streets.

Turn (16.24$)
2T6 7

The added gutter is an equity sweetener, yet when villain continues his transparent story with a 8.12$ bet, it is my thieving tendencies that make me call

River (32.48$)
2T6 7 K

With a river card clearly reducing his value combos to sets or K10, I snap-raise his 16.24$ bet to 48.72$

Run good all

I remember when a 19/6 was likely to be the best player at the table, and somewhat likely to be a pro. How times have changed.

Indeed, I remember clicking buttons at the PLO 100z (mainly bet and raise) in 2006 and crushing it

We have finally made it back to da nang




view from our hotel rooftop


where it only took us 2 days to find an apartment :













Sweet garden outside





We are 5 minutes away from the beach


We will be here for 2 months+, depending on where my gf will find a job teaching English...

New place looks great. Do you mind sharing what your monthly rent is there?

Yeah, it is a sweet place that also comes with a bathtub (laundry machine and 2 televisions) which, while easier to come by in hotels in Vietnam, remains sparse in SEA 600 US$/month is the price tag. Don't know if you made it to Vietnam Rockchucker, but the value for hotels/apartments easily outclasses the neighboring SEAsian countries.

Any plans to hit the Casino for live poker in Da Nang?

Hey Hank, how are things!?!

I went to check out the Crowne, but there was no games that night. Not sure if there are specific nights for poker (our conversation was lost in translation ), but I would like to play live a few times a month, just to mix it up... It is on my list of things to do even if, alas!, I have spent the remaining of my US$

Doing well my younger brother is in Vietnam as we speak and says he may send me a Martin 107 bicycle which I for a $100 bicycle is the ultimate value buy. Been working part time delivering by bicycle for Jimmy John's which is a blast, helping out at the Bicycle House and generally taking good care of myself.

Been slightly hooked playing ACR's version of the spin-n-go, it's hard to extinguish the inner degen!

Part of Bicycle House's mission is to serve a hostel for bicycle tourists which really get's my wanderlust activated, here is picture of Oren from Israel who started in NYC and was passing through Tallahassee on his way to Alaska just like me he carries way too much stuff!

[IMG][/IMG]

Keep the pictures coming, Vietnam is a wonderful place to have a camera.
Took this one in Hue at one point these two were going at least 30 MPH

[IMG][/IMG]

Jeez man, that is quite the loaded bike Good to see you are doing well, Hank, and glad to hear from you again Was wondering about you and if things were alright...

Yeah, Vietnam cannot quite live up to colorful India in terms of potential photos for this here thread, yet perhaps the best thing that could of happened for this blog, was the slow-agonizing-and-painful-death of my ipod classic in the laundry machine , thus forcing my lazy ass into purchasing the latest 64 GB touch, equipped with a WAY better camera the one found on my cheap Asian smart phone I was never one for snap-stop-the-flow-of-life-while-I-take-a-photo-shot, but the luxury of posting our photos in socia-medias nowadays, does keep our travelling well documented.

We will be visiting Ho ann and a few other destinations within the next few weeks, so some more photos to come

Peace bro

Hey folks, I am bringing back the ole lady from the dead for 2016, making it a 100K challenge this time around :

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...016-a-1579002/

Hope you all tag along people, as it should be a fun ride - bumpiness, various and mini slumps of insanity not withstanding -, much like the last one! Brought her back from the underworld mainly to force my writing hand into more activity, as I want blog on a daily basis (or close to...) in 2016. What does it mean for this thread? Nothing much, as I will try to post on a weekly basis ITT, yet will do so with a decent amount of content, not by pure obligation.

New Tomorrow

Without much of a notice (at least in these parts, where Vietnamese New Year's will be held on Febuary 8, the day of my birth yo), 2016 has stumbled in. And with it, the obvious time for introspection, duh





2015 was a solid year, both on the felt and off of it. But a few things still need some doubling in effort, mainly physically :

Health : As far as meditation goes, I have maintained a steady schedule (about 90 minutes/day). On the more cardio side of things, despite playing tennis on a somewhat regular basis, I still have a few KGs to knock off, yo Because Vietnam does not offer a ton of tennis courts nor basketball hoops, I will be going to the gym 3 times/week, in order to shake off those undesirable extra pounds

I will be doing a deeper 20 + 10 day retreat some time in either 2016 or 2017, depending on desire/availability.


Pokerz : much of the same, as it is a steady uphill grind from here Not only is my game rapidly improving (for some inexplicable reason, as my studying is limited ), but I am managing to integrate the grind within a balanced lifestyle.

I do not think I will be playing much live poker in the upcoming year as, outside of the Dawson Canadian grind (where I only plan on being 4 weeks), and possibly 1 APT event and hopefully the WPT in Montreal (schedule permitting), online will be my main focus.


Travels : Moving into our new apartment tomorrow, I hope we can stay in da nang for the feasible future. Of course, my nomadic self becomes quite unpredictable when that antsy feeling kicks in

I remember this English doctor in phnom Penh (back 3 years ago, when I popped in for a HIV test ), that told me that I would eventually settle down. Funny thing is folks have been telling me this since the age of 19, yet, here I am, 38, and while I am WAY less of an extreme traveler then I was, I still have this urge to conquer the world

Thx for following guys,

Run good all

Sometimes I wonder if the people who say these thing are actually sometimes the people most jealous of the life you are living.

Also, your AQ no good against my AK 10 minutes ago.

Beat #1
Beat #2
Beat #3

Indulging in areas of life that are quite marginal to most (like meditation, poker and extensive itinerant travelling), I do get people talking about my life choices frequently. Most of the time - being at peace with myself and all - I simply brush off the comments (when they are derogative, of course!!!). But that doc did come on as being quite patronizing : there I was, sitting in the chair, getting blood tests done for a HIV test (a little embarrassing in itself) and there goes the doc, inspecting me, looking down and making an assertion on the outcome of my life while using his doctor-patient privilege Yeah, I do feel that the provocative nature of different life choices can lead others to be envious/judgmental (or self).

So what is your SN, Carnivore

Das Kapital

There is no morality in capitalism. You can navigate your way through certain regulations and restrictions and if the system fails, if the markets come crashing down, government interventions/tax payers monies will annihilate the possibility of an ensuing anarchist/socialist revolution. All hail the system!





Of course, none would be surprised that my youth was inspired by fellows like this one :





Having spent over a year in the Philippines and 4 months in Vietnam, a clear dichotomy can be established in between both economical systems. If the latter found its principles in an egalitarian socialism, the former draws its roots from a Spanish-American influence. Why is there a clear scission in between the homelessness in the Philippines :


A quarter of the population lives below the national poverty line (World Bank, 2012). It is estimated that around 44% of the urban population live in slums (UN Habitat, 2008). The capital, Manila, has the largest homeless population of any city in the world - 3.1 million. An estimated 1.2 million children in the Philippines sleep rough, with 70,000 in Manila (IBT, 2014). (homelessworldcup.org)


and a socialist country like Vietnam, where the outcast issue is more sparse and regulated by the State party.




Of course, gentrification is present everywhere







Kitch propaganda thrown your way : socialist kids are obviously happier and more innocent then capitalist kids


Following the ravages of WWII and an ensuing change in the landscape of the imperialistic nations, numerous developing countries turned to socialism/communism in the face of the weakened conquerors. Such was the fate of Vietnam, quite frankly fed up with the unconcealed arrogance of the French.

Socialism has worked in this part of the world, me says. But of course, one could turn their attention to Cambodia or North Korea to discredit Vietnam's example, or use South Korea and Japan as successful capitalist gems. Sure. It would still not take away the rare happy marriage of religion (Buddhism) and socialism in these parts. Nor the merger of social justice and politics.

Of course, I do not dwell on a set romantic notion of socialism, nor do I swiftly condemn capitalism, as the latter has deemed itself pragmatic : it simply works. Encourages success. A greater productivity. After all, we are intrinsically selfish, pursuing our personal happiness before the greater good or collective interest. Such is human nature. Much like myself, a moderately successful professionally poker player that happily indulges into first world luxuries, hence somewhat contradicting himself with the narrative of this post. Nevertheless, the absence of paradoxes can only result from the lack of broad-mindedness, me thinks (wholesomeness/sainthood not withstanding .


Run good all

Self Made





As a foreigner, it is easy to stand tall in this part of the world. Finding ourselves put on a pedestal by the locals coupled with a greater consumer power, can easily rub the ego. Massage it. Caress it until it reaches delusional highs.

In a country where a single dollar often sees its purchasing power twenty fold increased, a certain swagger might ensue. Arrogance. Top of the world baby!!! But of course, with the heights of grandeur, comes the inevitable vertigo crash.




Because my chosen path is one upon which I slowly let my ego eradicate itself, I try to remain lucid in the face of these seducing allures. But alas!, along this endless journey, plentiful are the pitfalls... Like a subtle sense of entitlement, for instance ; not only in the pokerz , but in life, where comfort at the material level has become a standard. Like a nice apartment. Exquisite food on a regular basis. Freedom to roam the world. Or even expected health and being able to wake up every morning. But lest not forget where we come from.

It would be easy - and so self-indulging - to attribute all our present level of success to individualistic qualities like perseverance, will power, intelligence or hard work. While these certainly remain pertinent and determining factors, more relevant dynamics precede our perceived prosperity. WE ARE THE PRODUCT OF COUNTLESS GENERATIONS. Of a heritage or systems, institutions, establishments that were in place well before our birth. And also - alas and a thousand times alas -, we are the offspring of oppression, slavery, injustices and inequality : our success comes at the detriment of others' labor. Being a white male from a first world country comes with a level of responsibility. And a heavy past.

This said, to conclude this post on a lighter side, a few pics of da nang :











[I


We are going to Hoi an next weekend, TR to come.


Run good all

follow every time topic. dubnjoy000 i can't pm to you. pls pm may be i can replay i have some Q for poker in vietnam
tks
GOODLUCK AND HOPE TO MEETS U

Thx for following I cannot pm you neither, as you have not posted enough on 2 + 2 yet (with another 5 + posts, your pm will be accessible).

As far as live pokerz in Vietnam goes, the scene is pretty dead, unfortunately. The APT on the Ho Tram Strip was cancelled in 2015 and none is planned for 2016. According to the latest hearsay, games are dead on the Strip, in HCMC and da nang is not the promised land, neither... House games seems to be the best option, assuming you can get someone to send you an invite...

Rise of the Machine



In the beginning, there was man. And all was good... And then came robots, as mankind wanted to crown itself the role of The Creator. And things were still good. For a while... Until the singularity moment brought down damnation upon mankind.

Singularity : "The technological singularity is a hypothetical event in which artificial general intelligence (constituting, for example, intelligent computers, computer networks, or robots) would be capable of recursive self-improvement (progressively redesigning itself), or of autonomously building ever smarter and more powerful machines than itself, up to the point of a runaway effect—an intelligence explosion[1][2]—that yields an intelligence surpassing all current human control or understanding. Because the capabilities of such a superintelligence may be impossible for a human to comprehend, the technological singularity is the point beyond which events may become unpredictable or even unfathomable to human intelligence" (wikipedia).





Of course, outside of some keen scientists, the when and how of this advent is not a commonly discussed subject. And one that perhaps might suddenly dawn upon us, take us by storm, only to leave us behind like fragments of the past...





But for folks like us, that if not completely immersed in the virtual realm, spend a good chunk of time in it, that moment is sadly already upon us. Overlooking our shadows. Creeping in for the taking.

When news hit the poker community last year about the Stars PLO midstakes bot crusher, the incident took us by storm.

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2015/0...tion-21860.htm

Considering that the alleged bot holds 1.5 million in winnings, the imminence of the singularity moment can no longer be considered as simple speculation. You still don't believe me? In this day and age, we are a google search click away from a myriad of sites offering MTT or cash bots. Thankfully though, Pokerstars and Partypoker have seriously engaged arms in fighting the mechanical invasion, banning a significant amount of bot rings in the process. Alas!, the same cannot be said about 888 (and Ipoker, rumor has it...) who despite an abundance of evidence handed over to them by vigilant players, refuse to take action :

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...-bots-1554591/

In fact, poker bot sites specifically cater to 888 players, knowing that the latter will have free latitude on the second biggest site in the world ; bots are roaming around at 100z and 200z, crushing like nobody's business and fully aware that not only their time has come, but tomorrow belongs to them ; how long will it be until a bot discrowns a WCGRider?

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2015/0...oker-21366.htm

I don't know, but my blankets and pillow are of no consolation at night - and sleep of no refuge - knowing that certain bots are already surpassing my win rate... And that a mechanic black hole is digging itself in the virtual pokerz economy, draining out the monies in the process.





The question is, can we do anything about this mechanic invasion? Or simply remain an observant while our world crumbles...

Natural Haven


May 2002, Montreal Greyhound Terminal. The script is taken str8 from a movie... Not from a blockbuster one, but an Indie film, one where the tone is controlled, meticulous ; the atmosphere charged with heavy emotions, significance ; the pace, slow and deliberate...

She makes her way into the greyhound bus, gazing right and left, somewhat bewildered, a petite woman trying to find her little humble path in this HUMONGOUS world... Or in this jammed pack bus. She spots the open seat beside me, finds her way and delicately sits by my side. A natural conversation ensues, as if we are lifelong acquaintances... or perhaps we were separated eons ago, a little bit after the dawn of times...

She is beautiful... Eloquent, a fragile soul heading towards Banff to find work and widen her spiritual boundaries... After spending 2 days side by side, I manage to convince her to drop her Albertan destination and join me towards the Yukon Trouble is, her bus route goes through Calgary, while mine gravitates northbound towards Edmonton... So the plan is for her to hop on a Calgary-Edmonton bus the next morning, join me north, toss my bus ticket in the garbage and finish the remaining 3-4 days hitchhiking...

It is only 3 weeks later that she lets her guard down : our clothes find the floor, opening up the gates for overdue luscious sensuality... She groans, moans, grasps for more and - I keed you not - but the ground shakes, the world comes to a halt, life itself on the verge of explosion, as if on the threshold of the original bing bang : empty, erupting, shaking, quivering and bringing convulsions to matter and antimatter combined in all possible realms We both reach climax. "I love you" she says, I say, she sighs, I pursue ; words that are carried in the wind, travel some distance for 2 years to come, before fading away like a broken echo...


Hoi an definitely has a romantic vibe to it, especially in the vicinity of the river or the lake :




Our bungalow was located in the quiet lake-swamps of Hoi an, conveniently close to the beach and the downtown core


Nonetheless, the purpose of the trip was meant less for romantic reasons, then to put some physical distance with my virtual B/E 2 month stretch. In order to do so, we went biking all day, trying by all means to shake off those bad vibes




Most hotels provide some bikes for tourists, so what ensues is a curious site : given that Hoi an is highly touristic, you can see a ton of older and, hummmmm, fatter folks just pedaling away



And who better than the Buddha to instill some peace into us




Cemetary


It felt good indeed to step back from da nang which, while still holding a charm of its own, remains an urban area. Next month, we will be moving away from the beach into a quieter neighborhood in the outskirt of the city by a river.


Da Pokerz


As detailed in my now dormant PG & C thread, it has been a tough 2 months for yours truly, that has seen me spew, tilt, and unfortunately let these negative emotions spill into my life This said, the past 3 weeks have seen me play some of my best poker, fall asleep at peace in the evening despite a run bad that didn't seem to want to come to an end... Thankfully, this past week has been solid Let's hope that this run good stays... Send some good vibes this way folks

Run good all

Hey man, enjoyed the thread I'm also living in danang at the moment with my girlfriend, also grinding lots, also downswinging Think I even play with you occasionally when you play the odd donkament. We're just behind ho nghinh, near a la carte hotel, really love it here. A sunny walk on the beach the perfect de-tilt!