Musing about Thailand
It will be that time again in about 7 weeks. Then I leave from Düsseldorf to my beloved Thailand. Until then I have to make do with my memories or the imagining of what it will be like this time.
The moment I step off the plane in Bangkok, I experience a feeling of coming home. Back in the land that feels so familiar. Nevertheless, you immediately realize that you have entered a completely different world. Everything is different, the smells, the colors, the climate and the people. The sweltering heat and the sounds that sound like music to my ears. Even the crackling of a Tuk-Tuk sounds pleasant.
My last trip was already seven months ago and it was much too short. The memories fade and the feeling fades away. In the meantime I have to do with filling and maintaining Thailandblog. I still do that with as much pleasure as when I started.
The many e-mails I receive about this from loyal readers are always heartwarming. I received one of these this week and I thought it was very special. I want to share the reaction with you. A lady emailed me the following:
“My husband and I have traveled SE Asia for years. Preferably on your own and that was great. Thailand was always on our list. We felt at home there and over the years have traveled all over the country by public transport. Our first travel to Thailand was in 1986 and our last in 2003. 6 weeks after that my husband passed away. Now I have to make do with all the good memories and your weblog also helps with that. I hope to read it for a long time.”
A wonderful response and that makes you silent for a moment… Not only a compliment to me, but to everyone who is committed to Thailandblog and regularly writes pieces. Almost every week I receive several e-mails from complete strangers, who thank me (us) for the nice stories on Thailandblog. Very motivating to read all those comments!
The program for the upcoming trip to Thailand is already more or less fixed. A few days in Bangkok, then to Hua Hin. From Hua Hin to Pattaya (by boat?). Strolling around in Pattaya, then back to Bangkok to catch the night train to Isaan. The last time I took pictures in Isaan was after the rainy season, everything was beautifully green. That will be different in mid-May, dry and dry I'm afraid.
After a few days Isan back to Bangkok and then by plane to Chiang Mai. The trip ends in Chiang Mai. Back to Bangkok with the night train and the last night near the airport. That's how we get the 21 days full. Again a busy schedule, but traveling in Thailand is no punishment either. I especially like traveling by train. And preferably the night train, I can recommend it to everyone.
I look forward to meeting my friends and acquaintances in Thailand again. I am then inundated with special stories. The experiences of the expats are always nice to hear. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and often amazing. These stories usually form the basis for the pieces that I write later. Although I never stop talking about Thailand and never write out, a visit still provides new inspiration. With everything I see, hear and experience, ideas for subsequent stories are already whirling through my head.
On this trip I will also meet some people I only know from the comments on the blog or the articles they write. In the meantime I count down the days and muse some more…
Have a good holiday.
Jealous of you again.
Jealous? I think you follow a few days after Peter…..
Happy Holidays!!
I have to wait another 3,5 months. But I am busy with Thailand every day.
I'm already planning my next Thailand trip.
Hallo,
Rejoice. We now have internet in the hotel, so to Thailandblog. This email is sent from a beautiful resort in Jomtien. We stay here for about 4 days. Once we were in Sattahip and then we only saw south Pattaya. Tomorrow the visit to Pattaya starts and we'll see what we're going to see there. The list that once appeared on the blog (Gringo I think) is consulted.
@Nice Ton. Have fun in Pattaya!
I know that feeling of yours. Before I lived in Asia I came here regularly for work. The smells, the colours, the bustle, the food, the nightlife, the life on the street… even a city like Singapore, which is relatively boring by Asian standards, has that appeal. Someone once said 'in cities in Asia every night feels like Saturday night' and there is some truth to that.
I don't know if this also applies to others, but the few times I come to Europe or the USA I find it dead boring and I don't know how quickly I have to leave for Asia again. I think all those impressions from the past have now become the norm, and I unconsciously miss all of that when I'm not in Asia. A kind of Asian addiction, so to speak. 😉
When I'm in Thailand, every day feels like a holiday to me, unfortunately I only found out when I was 45.