13 days

There is not much that’s tougher than trying to start a short scribble on a 13 day trip that you have just completed. Especially if you’re trying to fit it into a little capsule, painful as it may be to attempt a summary. But it’s what must serve as the appetizer.
Which reminds me, it might not be amiss to start by saying that the food in Thailand, true to reputation, was almost uniformly scrumptious. Its what holidays/trips can centre themselves around, so good meals to look forward serve as a cornerstone to good travels. In between bites of divine pineapple and tangy mango, happily familiar street noodles, curries in green , red and yellow, rice, Chang beer and merciless but rewarding chilly were glimpses into a Thailand that could be hectic, but only despite itself- more often, it was laid back to the extent of being nonchalant.

Wats (temples) that were oases of calm and peace whether we sought them or they called out to us. Bright orange robes, and the monks draped in them, lending charm to the most dull of city colours. Smiles that condemned rat races but rarely defied them. Characters adorning days- and nights- with their warmth, wit, cheer or even plain inexplicability. Stunning beauty that could not be escaped, that gathered us in its gentle folds and drowned us with fascinating nothingness; much the same way apparent nothings sent out vibes that crept up almost unnoticed till we were loathe for them to leave.

We found new experiences and sought out, most gladly, to relive old ones in new contexts. Cheap beer, mostly cheap food, cheap stuff to buy- all so cheap, ironically, that we went way over-budget! The only thing that wasn’t cheap was the experience- we’re still reeling from it, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Here’s to Thailand.

Chok Dee!