I was doing a visa run to Phnom Penh years ago, 2001 or so.

I was at the hotel bar (Cafe California 2) having a coffee in the morning when this old geezer (he looked about 70 but was probably mid-50's...American) came down the stairs and coughed up half a lung it seemed.

Once he'd gotten over his coughing fit he felt obliged to introduce himself to me.

"Hi! My name is Bob and I own 3 bars in Pattaya" was his opening line. Then he ordered a beer at 9:00 AM.

I thought to myself......Well, I sure as hell know what I am NOT going to ever do in LOS....own a bar.

I also met a really nice American guy on Ko Chang that had a bar. He was a non-drinker, but he still wanted to get away from the bar business. It was driving him nuts as he & his wife couldn't trust the staff so one of them had to be there all the time to work the cash register.

I say good on ya guys for buckling down and doing whatever it took to get by.

Great story behind the moral to it as well.

There's a young Thai guy that works the 7-11 near where I live.

He works double shifts all the time. I see him in there at 10:00 PM and again at 8:00 AM. I have tremendous respect for this person.

Anybody with a good work ethic can prevail.

Regards,
Jay