It seems like ages ago now when I was first in Bangkok. At the time, it was definitely a blur. I had just landed from Canada and in the process of trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was in Thailand. Do you know that feeling when you get to a new place by plane and realize that just the day before you were walking the streets of where you came from, likely a point a fair distance across the map from where you stand now? To regain my bearings, I usually try to lay low, just wandering the local streets trying to figure out where a good place to eat is.
I had a few friends in Bangkok that I met up with over the week I spent there, which is always good for me because they tend to have a list of things they want to do or see and I can just accompany with a smile. I left Bangkok in the same fashion, I had one friend, Alex, up there already for Loy Krathong, and another, Donovan, wanting to go up for work and to also catch Loy Krathong. When the latter asked me for the second time if I wanted to take the 12 hr train (turned into about 14 hrs) to catch the lantern festival (Loy Krathong), I decided to go on this journey.
So I ended up staying then in Bangkok for about 5 days. I wandered many streets and thoroughly enjoyed Chinatown. Such a busy area with vibrant storefronts and markets that I could walk through. I did a whole bunch of street photography with Donovan, since that’s his style of choice, which you’ll see soon in a photoblog of its own. Often, I’d find myself just wandering, wandering, wandering and running straight into a marvelously decorated temple or busy market. Each night, my sandals would come off, my dirty feet would be washed, and I’d collapse into my bed wondering how I’d get some relief from the humid and warm temperature I don’t think anybody ever can quite adjust to.
I resisted leaving because I didn’t feel I had explored the city as I had hoped. I think I’m learning that I never really feel like I’ve explored any place I’m at fully, and I think I’m ok with this. I think this is a great outlook for life to be on an adventure even in one’s own backyard.
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
