Trip of a Lifetime

Au Revoir Thailand

Well, this is it. My last post in Thailand, assuming I don't miss my plane :) It's been quite a run here. Two and a half months or so, and it ends tomorrow. I'm at once sad, but excited and anxious of what awaits me in Australia. I've been thinking about what I wanted to put in this post, and was having a difficult time summing things up - until today. I was walking back from the post office, when I was approached by a news crew from some random European country (I can only tell you that because of their accents), and they asked me if I'd answer a few questions for them. Well, you know me - any time in front of a camera is good! I said yes, and they started asking me questions about my time in Thailand. "What do I like about Bangkok" - Well... It's so big and busy I haven't really gotten a handle on it yet, despite being here for over a week throughout my travels... I definitely like shopping here, everything's cheap...The smog sucks, but what can you do? "Where have you traveled in Thailand" - Jeez, let me think... Pretty much everywhere! Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Khong, Nong Khai, Khorat, Phnom Rung, Aranya, Surat Thani, Ko Pha Ngan, Krabi, Ranong, Rai ley, Ao Nang, Ko Phi Phi... I guess that's about it. "Wow, that's quite a bit of traveling you've done... What was your favorite part?" without even hesitating, or thinking that he must have meant "what was my favorite place", I answered "The people". And that was the truth. The people are the best part of Thailand. Odd that it took a news crew for me to realize this, but nonetheless it rings true. Even besides the people, I can think of so many things that I loved about Thailand, and the rest of Southeast Asia that I've visited. The food - Green curry, Massaman Curry, Pad Thai, Sweet sticky rice, Amok, cheap fresh fruit... Never have I had such amazing, healthy, cheap food in my life. The temples - my favorites being Phnom Rung http://www.geocities.com/spiker43911/P1010076.JPG , The Emerald Buddha http://www.geocities.com/spiker4391/P1011412.JPG , And, of course, the unforgettable Angkor Wat http://www.geocities.com/spiker43917/P1010153.JPG . My favorite places include Chiang Mai (by the way, take a look at how much I've changed since this picture... Scary) http://www.geocities.com/spiker4393/P1011509.JPG , Ko Phi Phi http://www.geocities.com/spiker43926/IMG_1265.JPG , Ko Pha Ngan http://www.geocities.com/spiker43921/P1011446.JPG , and Rai Lei beach http://www.geocities.com/spiker43923/IMG_1044.JPG . I've had some absolutely unforgettable experiences, including, to name a few, my pickup truck ride from Poipet to Siem Reap http://www.geocities.com/spiker43913/P1010115.JPG , Riding Elephants in Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai http://www.geocities.com/spiker4393/P1011513.JPG , and seeing Bangkok for the first time, in all it's multicultural, fervently busy, breathtaking glory. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4391/P1011425.JPG But the smog still sucks :) Thailand hasn't been perfect - there are a few things I miss from home, like my family, my friends, the ability to drink tap water, Kraft Dinner, Doritos, and my own comfy bed. There are things about Thailand that I won't have any problem forgetting about - The Bubonic Plague, the tuk tuk drivers in Bangkok, the people trying to sell you silk suits at EVERY corner (Hallo missa! What yo name? Whea you flom? You buy suit missa? ... No -.-), the language barrier, which was at times uncomfortable and loathsome, and the unbelievably hot nights. All in all, however, these few insecurities and challenges were overwhelmed by the sheer beauty, the cultural brilliance, and the supremely fantastic people of Thailand. I will never forget this place, the time I've spent here. The sadness I feel upon leaving Thailand is of the same nature as that which you feel at the departure of an old friend - I will miss this place until it returns, or rather, until I do :) Now, my sights are set on Australia. So much to explore there, so much to see, so many people to meet - I can't wait! I wish I was there already, but my flight leaves in about 24 hours - not soon enough by any stretch of the imagination. And so, I bid farewell to my good friend Thailand, and soon I shake hands with new, exciting Australia. By the way, you people still need to give me some ideas for books to read :) Spiker

posted by Spiker @ 1:40 am