Thailand

Just want to get out my thoughts about Thailand while they are still fresh.

Tokyo---> Shanghai---> Bangkok--> Krabi--> Lanta.
Lanta--> Krabi--> Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai--> Sukhothai.
Suhkothai--> Phitsanulok--> Bangkok.
Bangkok--> Shanghai--> Tokyo.


Oppressive heat. Throw away toilet paper instead of flushing. Insects everywhere, everywhere. And lizards and cats and dogs. Don't drink the tap water.

The warmest ocean water. Absolutely gorgeous jungles of winding looping vines and tall tall trees and spiky trees and fruits and flowers. Bougainvillea, plumeria, yellow wisteria, hibiscus. Banana flower. Gibbons and other monkeys and monitor lizards and spiders and birds. Heat. Coconut shake, mango shake, watermelon shake. Fruit. Skewers. Street food. Swimming in the ocean, jumping up with the waves, riding the waves in and out, while you watch the sunset. Markets markets. "Sawadee ka!" "Khop kun ka!" Temples. Roads with cars and songthaews and tuk-tuks and motorbikes. Oppressive humidity, dry smoggy haze, torrential flood-like rain.


The kindness of almost everyone. People who want money and will, even in their kindness, always do things for money, but it's not rude, it's life, it's survival. Everything is a matter of comfort zone. Everything is a matter of lifestyle and habit. The lax flow of Lanta, the rushed energy of Chiang Mai.

The importance of Buddhism and temples and the way people pray. Kneel with your legs to one side, don't point your feet at Buddha, and make your head lower than his. Monks are respected above all. It's more religious in nature than the pseudoreligious Japanese Shinto-Buddhism combination. (Honestly though I know next to nothing about religion, it's a big black hole in my knowledge bank.)

We did not ride an elephant, take a longtail boat, see a cultural dance/performance show or visit the hill tribes. We only saw Ladyboys once. But I couldn't care less.

Very relaxed and laid-back, the poorness was not as bad as I imagined both in degree and in my comfort level during the trip, although small, Thailand seems big and many people are working very hard to make many things happen, just like in every country. They are proud and protecting their traditions and fighting for their families, friends and themselves. Just like in every country.