I, Sucker

I said once how I would write stuff to commemorate and share my wonderful trip to Thailand. And here we are, only 1 post about the temples produced. Sometimes I think my brain is similar with that of a 3-yo. Uuwwww, bubble wraps! Oh my, fake plastic Patrick!! HOLY SHIT, SPONGEBOB IS ON!!!

That went in the span of 5 seconds.

But lets look at the broader time frame and geographical movement now. I am back in Rotterdam, ja ik ben terug, unfortunately. Summer was immensely incredible, the best one I've ever had. It was an opportunity(/tragedy) to become a jell-o for 2 whole wonderful months.

At the end of Summer, that life was the only life I know. The only reason for my daily existence being waking up noontime, going to my parents' office to (sometimes) help out and (mostly) read books, lunch at mouth-watering restaurants, sit in the traffic all the way home, dinner without having to move a muscle preparing it, lounging at lil bro's with big sis and nightime sleep tucked in my ever fluffy bedsheet.

Life as a jell-o was a good one to say the least. It's like you want to wriggle right, left, right, and left again now to do the victory dance. Oh yeah. Party, jell-o style. *Jell-o 90s party themesong at the back*

So that I think explains in a pretty musical way why I feel pretty sad to be back here once more.

Although I have to admit I like being back in school, to actually make use of my ever diminishing brain cells. I've got my hands full with extra courses this block, so I am on my knees wishing that my jell-o days would solidify. Anytime soon now, I hope. It's also nice to see some freaks I havent met for 2 months. I forgot just how retarded they are.

And me alike. My thighs do not appreciate being back biking. I used to bike all the way to school for 30 minutes. Now, 10 minutes and I am panting like a fat kid in gym class who just recently declared chips as the only food worthy to eat. Good for your self satisfaction, not so on having to run the never ending track. Sometimes in moments of revelation I can listen to my thighs telling me one more pedal-ing and I swear I will make you so miserable in the morning that you'll be sorry you've ever been born. I'm scared if those kind of honest conversation will come true.

I began this post by comparing my brain with that of a 3-yo. And like that cuddly toddler, I am missing my parents because when I look up and out of the room, they're not there. They are far, far away. When it's bad, it feels like someone grabbed and squeezed my stomach. It feels uncomfortable, it makes you anxious and panicky. And the worst of all, it makes you feel like there's nothing you can do about it.

And sometimes you wish that if you wish hard enough, you can come out of your room into the next room to just no nothing but make fun of each other with your siblings. Or down for a chit-chat with your parents.

But the shortness of time, of being with them for no other agenda but to just be with them, makes you feel how special every moment is. It even makes you grateful of being back here again, to acknowledge with the every flutter of your eyelashes the preciousness of a family. It's far from perfect, but its every imperfections are what made me long for the next time I board that God-awful long-haul flight straight to a jell-o period.

I boarded my flight home at the beginning of the Summer with the hope of finding a new perspective. And now nearing the end of Summer, I think I have it. Sometimes you just need to look at something in a different light to see how beautiful it is. And how happy you are to be able to change the bulbs to see that wonder.


You are in my thoughts: pa, ma, ca and Manggis.

*90s Jell-o party soundtrack playing*

Thai Temples...

...are amazing. I love the colors, the authentic infrastructure, the grandness. Wat Phra Kaew is something to see alright. Do remember to dress accordingly if you have any types of temples in your itinerary. They require you to wear appropriate clothing which means that your arms and ankles must be covered. I didnt bring anything that long, so I had to stand in the line for an hour to borrow a coverup. It was not pleasant, if you imagine Bangkok's highly hot climate.

Also, the complex is HUMONGOUS. And surprise, surprise, there aint no automatic means of transport to sightsee through it. You have to use your God-given pair of legs. I was dehydrated, exhausted and famished halfway already that we (my sister and I) went out for food and ditched the temples. We went shopping. But trust me, it wasnt the temples' fault. If it has a label on it, it would read: INGRIDIENTS, Denica's fault 99.5%.




I also love the shrines. We visited some on our day excursion to Ayuthaya. What struck me the most was the peaceful ambience. Like a sheltered bubble, all beings coexisting regardless of their differences. Animals, humans, trees, statues. I liked it. I liked it alot.



Thai people is exceptionally polite, all smiles and very open to share their culture with nothing less but complete pride. I liked that. Peacefulness literally radiated throughout the whole country. Thai people love, adore and worship their King. A friend whom I met there told me once how the whole nation wore yellow during the period of which the King fell ill. Yellow, because it is the color of the day he was born, Monday I think. The look on her face when she told this to me, smiling so proud, like a mother sharing a piece of charming trivia about her children.

It was like a fashion that time, she said. Everyone just wore yellow. Because we believe it would ease the King's sickness.

Sawadeeka

Hello internet. It is true. I am alive. I have been majorly occupied these past few weeks that I have gone completely oblivious of what I do, and should do. If you remember a post from the middle ages about my knee infection, and are still praying for it to heal, then consider yourself released from that obligation because... IT IS HEALED, FELLOW EARTHLINGS! Believe me, need not to be ashamed with your utter happiness from this piece of news. It happens to the best of us.

And you guessed right, I did went to Thailand. A glorious 2 weeks vacation, an amazing experience to say the least.

Let’s get one thing straight first of all: Denica loves Thailand. It was one hell of a trip. It was I think my first trip to another developing Asian nation by myself, and that adds so much more to the experience. No tours, no parents to set the schedule. Just my excursions, what I want to do, what I want to see first hand and was ultimately immensely delighted by their rich and peaceful culture.

I set out with only one particular goal in mind: to experience Thailand. I don’t do 3-days-tourist-trips to see tourist infested spots in a country; I want to enjoy what locals proudly enjoy, eat what they gloriously devour, listen to testimonies of their lives.

And my little Thailand trip has provided me that. We did everything, ranging from eating from the side of the street for as little as BHT70 (EUR 1.5) for a bowl of deliciously warm kwey tiaw soup, McDonalds when we rushed to the Lumpinee boxing stadium because our Thai massage took longer than we thought, cooled down with Thai fine dining on the side of the river accompanied by complex yet beautiful Thai dance. I had the benefit of knowing some locals, allowing me to experience their local favorites that aren’t to be found in my little Lonely Planet guide to Bangkok.

It was also my first time to experience the differential treatment posed by locals to foreign tourists. I know how in Bali they always have 2 prices: local and Bule prices. Being a local, I never really paid attention to this issue. Being an Asian myself, I could really pass as a Thai. But the minute I open my mouth it's like they had an epiphany. It was actually an interesting thing to see though, some resent me being their foreign customer, some adores my visit because they know they can skrew me.

Yes, Thailand is a highly intriguing country and was a remarkable experience indeed.

So these coming few days, I am going to finally write and post pretty pictures of Thailand, the way I felt it.