A scene from Swimming to Cambodia 1987
Spalding Gray

What a fantastic land it was, how it was Shangri-La before it was colonized... Thailand was a Nordic country compared to Cambodia, and they're right next to each other. And he said 90% of the land was owned by the people; it was earth, it was dirt, but it was THEIRS, and it was good. And-and they knew how to have a good time. They knew how to have a good time. They knew how to have a good time getting born, a good time growing up, a good time going through puberty, a good time falling in love, a good time staying in love, a good time getting married, a good time staying married, a good time having children, a good time raising children, a good time growing old, a good time dying... they even knew how to have a good time on NEW YEAR'S EVE! I couldn't believe it!

More from Swimming to Cambodia

Swimming to Cambodia (1987) poster
Swimming to Cambodia 1987 · 9 quotes · 1 character All Swimming to Cambodia quotes →
All Swimming to Cambodia quotes →