Penguin Books Blog

MAD ABOUT KEP!
 
I have always suspected that the ways of our modern society, and all of us that exist within it, are clinically insane if not stark raving bonkers. The notion of a mad world that refuses to acknowledge it’s inner lunatic has permeated just about everything I have ever written. The problem is – people have always assumed I was joking – another one of the perils of being a deranged moth desperately circulating the glimmering light bulb of comic Nirvana. But believe it my friends, we are all insane and living a dire catch 22 existence of madmen in a world disguised as sane. Even Eckhart Tolle says so – and only an insane would dare argue with him.
 
My friends, i don’t want you to be alarmed but i have embraced my inner madman in the last week and i am feeling all the better for it. No more of this “‘author in repose making a sage note in his emerald notebook” business. Oh no, not me! From this point onward i am stir-fried crazy until conclusively proven otherwise. I challenge you to do the same – it’s a highly liberating exercise.
 
So I discovered my inner madness on the rooftop garden of our villa (ingeniously called La Villa) overlooking the tranquillity of mountains covered in jungle, and the turquoise waters of the gulf of Thailand below. Dotted before me amongst the jungle were the odd thatch and red -roofed backpacker hang outs and everywhere was the sound of birds, small creatures and hooting lizards. For the same price as a bog variety B&B in South Africa we lived like Lords over all we surveyed. Everything that seemed so precious over the last year, myself, and the new book, no longer seemed in any way important anymore. I was indeed small up there looking down on all that natural grandeur. You feel small being the only non-Cambodian around – perhaps it’s through utter anonymity that we find our true place in the world. Perhaps not?
 
It wasn’t all staring at the view and contemplating our naval however. Jules and I also achieved the following:
 
• Eating a kilogram of crab each at one sitting. (It only worked out to a fork full of meat in the end but the mess and devastation on our table was a joy to behold.
• Our Tuk tuk being driven off the road after being rammed by a Toyota Hilux.
• Adopting a giant one-foot-long lizard called Kap Ke. In return for his undying love and attention we merely had to switch on the kitchen light.
• Julia typically adopted a black cat which also shared our rooftop garden. We named her Nately’s Whore as a mark of respect to Joseph Heller
• I nearly died of asphyxiation after sampling green peppers at the Kampot Pepper Plantation. The guide thought my attack was hilarious.
• Attempted to cast our vote but were thwarted by the Khymer New Year which runs through the entire week. All government departments are closed until further notice, so i didn’t get a chance to spoil my ballot as a protest against all politicians and how badly they lead us – yes that even means you Mr Obama!
I have just read an email from my publishers to say that Spud Learning To Fly went to print yesterday. It seems strange to contemplate this possibility from across the world – like everything this week, let’s call it surreal. I wish my little lad well as he becomes more than just the mere sum of his parts, and ventures out into the world as another little voice in the wilderness. Just like us.
 
I wish you all good spirits as you contemplate your insanity and that of the world you inhabit.
Big Cambodian love as always
 
Johnny

Related posts:

1. John van de Ruit – Journal Entry- April 7th
2. John van de Ruit- Journal Entry April 21st
3. John van de Ruit – Journal Entry – April 1
4. John van de Ruit- Journal Entry May 13th
5. John van de Ruit- Journal Entry 22nd May

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