Vacation Diaries - Part VII: Khob Khun Kha (Thank you)

“.. and now the end is near

I’ve travelled each and every highway

But more, much more than this

I did it my way...”

That’s the kind of the feeling that is going through my head as the Thailand experience draws to an end. And so it’s time to leave foreign shores and return home, back to the life that I’ve known, back to the grind.

Adventure I’ve had many, experiences plenty, to hold on to for a lifetime, that I will keep close to my heart and treasure forever. 

Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, thank you for the experience, thank you for the memories. Thank you for the sights and monuments that left us in awe, that we couldn’t stop marvelling at, not to forget the beautiful beaches, the feeling of serenity, the feeling of bliss. Thank you for your hospitality. We came, we saw, we marvelled, we felt, we tasted, we enjoyed. 

And so as we say farewell, there’s this bitter sweet feeling. Sweet cause your returning back to a place you are familiar, you love, you call Home. Bitter cause it’s the end of your vacation and back to the daily grind.

So till then thank you Thailand for the experience. So long, farewell.... Khob Khun Kha.

Vacation Diaries - Part VI: The Tourist

Be a tourist, and that will be the best way you will see the city. Since coming to Thailand I have run on the beach of Patong and the promenade of Jomtein, did snorkelled in the waters of Phi Phi, island hopped, rode tuk-tuks, shopped at Weekend markets, stayed in a Hostel, but never truly became a tourist and seen the sights the city has to offer. 

All that changed on the last day at Bangkok. Though I still managed to get in a run (actually done one run in each of the cities which we stayed), and on a whim joined my friend in taking in the sights of the city. And to think of it, I am glad I decided to that, cause what we saw took out breath away, left us awed and made use marvel.

We visited the Wat Arun temple, or the Temple of Dawn, rode the ferry on the Chao Phraya river, visited the Grand Palace, saw the sleeping Buddha at Wat Pho, again took a ferry all the way to Asiatique (thanks to the suggestion of my Parag and Ajit), had pizza and beer (my first in almost a decade), and rode the Ferris wheel.

Each location, each place, each sight, was so beautiful that words wouldn’t do justice to what the eyes saw. The architectures, the colours, the paintings, the statues, the sights, were so beautiful, so gorgeous, left you marvelling at the details that went into making them, putting it together, left you wondering how was this possible. Also full credit goes to the people who maintain it, the golds, the reds, the greens, the marble, shone radiantly even after all these years in the sun. Inspite of all this you have the feeling of peace especially in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, at the Grand Palace, it was so beautiful and serene, surrounded by walls and ceilings of paintings. We even got blessed at Wat Pho from a monk who clearing enjoying blessing people with a wet broom, as much as the people who were getting blessed.

On a fun part, although I wore acceptable jeans, for the heck of it picked up, what I call harem pants, and changed in public and wore it. So although it clashed with my shirt, it was awesome and airy.

Riding the river was an experience in itself.  Seeing the other boats speed by and the architecture on either banks of the river, and then getting to see the beautiful setting sun, was something I am going to take with me for the rest of my life.

They say you come to Bangkok to party, to get laid, but then these are things you can do in Mumbai itself (although I admit that I am not comfortable and never like parties), but taking the sights and experiences that the city has to offer is different thing altogether.

So as I wind up my Thailand trip, and return to my mundane life, I will take with me an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Vacation Diaries - Part V: The Hostel Experience and Chatuchak Market

Being a Boarder Boy, the word ‘Hostel’ always related to me to my boarding school. Later during my college days I had a couple of friends, from different cities, who stayed in a hostel. And then through friends and the movie Queen learned about the concept of Hostels in countries which you can use for budgeted travels.

A last minute change in plans lead us to search for places in Bangkok where we could find a place to keep our bags, and if required, sleep for the night. So keeping in mind that most of us were on a tight budget, we booked ourselves into an hostel.

The Hostel Experience way exceeded our expectations. In many way it is way better than living in a hotel room. You can cook your own food and you get an unlimited supply of tea and coffee (yipeee). It was neat, clean and really friendly and warm. And did I mentioned we had bunk beds? I always wanted to sleep in bunk beds as a child, so this was my big chance to fulfil that experience. 

The hostel is a melting pot of people of various nationalities and genders and ages and preferences. You felt one with each either. The ambience in fact matched this theme (and provided us with so many photo-ops, which we just couldn’t resist). I can say, hands down that these few moments I spent in the Hostel have been the best part of the Thailand trip. Though it was also a bit bitter sweet (that’s a different story altogether).

And then you have Chatuchak Weekend Market, a Market that’s only open on the weekend, a Market that’s sells everything beside electronics (or didn’t see any). You name it and the place had it, clothes, accessories, shoes, tops, dresses, souvenirs, food. But the biggest thing that this place had was crowd. You were part of a melting pot of people who were bargaining and haggling (like we Indians love to do) and selling and buying and just taking in the market.

Having to buy things for friends and family, actually got separated from my group. Initially was a bit nervous about being alone, took a deep breath and commanded myself to be bold and go out there and experience the market and buy what I had to.

The market in many ways felt so much like home, like some of the markets that I have been to in India, more specifically in Mumbai. Or maybe it was all the Indian people that you run into. But yes if you want to buy things at reasonable prices and have the time and the patient to shop and haggle all day then this is the place for you and if you are in Bangkok over the weekend.

In the end also had my first experience of riding the underground metro on the way back to the hostel. So all in all this just added to the entire vacation experience.

Vacation Diaries - Part IV: An Adventure waiting to happen

The best way to have an adventure is to go out and have an adventure and not just wait to have an adventure. Go out there and explore, explore what the city has to offer, what the city has in store for you, cause there’s so much to see and discover, if you are only willing to open yourself to new things and let the city take you on a journey.

Pattaya, at first sight, may seem unassuming and quite, or maybe it was just because we arrived here at night and shops and streets bore quite a deserted look. But all this change the next morning.

After squeezing a run, or finally managing to drag my lazy butt from my comfy bed. It was pleasant surprise to see quite a bit of runners out, wearing various running tees from different events. Running on Jomtien Beach promenade made you feel one with the Road and the deep blue sea, which beautifully had different shades of blues and greens, right from the horizon to the shore. Seeing Runners yet running after 8, in the sun left me in awe, wondering how he he’ll were they managing to run in the sun. Walking bare feet in the clear sea water was an awesome feeling.

After lunch, me and my roomy, decided to go to the floating market, to break away from the group and do some touristy stuff, and in the bargain got an adventure of a lifetime.

Getting tuk-tuks, changing tuk-tuks, riding one, is an experience that one needs to have. Hanging from it reminded me of riding the Mumbai locals (which I swear I have missed in these pass couple of days). But yes you are one with your fellow travellers. It all enhanced the Thailand experience.

So just using public transportation and Google Maps we covered Pattaya Floating Market, some night street market, Outlet Mall (where I very much was temped to pick up running gear) and Pattaya Walking Street. Each had their own charm, their own crowd and smell and senses. From the clothes, the food, ambience, frying fishes and pineapple juices (and other juices), the water and the boats (of the floating market) everything gave you a unique experience. You were one with the crowd and the city, at times too in your face. 

A special mention to this awesome halal place were we took all are meals for the day (don’t really know the name), breakfast-lunch-dinner. The food was amazing (though I bit into quite a few chillies and had to eat ice chips and ice creams) and the services homely. Do go ahead and try it.

So in the end Pattaya gave us memories to last a lifetime that will remain with remain with us long after leave the Thailand. 

Vacation Diaries - Part III: A Bouncy Boat Ride And Swimming with the Fishes

“I’m moving, I’m coming, 

can you hear what I hear, 

it’s calling to you my dear, 

out of reach, take me to your beach

I can hear it calling out to you

I am coming, not drowning

swimming closer to you”

Somehow had this All Saints song on repeat in my head ever since the plan to vacation in Thailand was hatched. Like a ear worm, the song lodged itself firmly in my head and couldn’t get it out off my head, even if I wanted to (not that I wanted to).

And to get here you had take a very bouncy speedboat ride across the emerald sea. The boat bounced so much, as it sped across the sea that if a woman was pregnant, she would delivered her baby there itself (as put by our awesome guide Annisia). So bouncing we went trough the sea, with the wind in our face and the sun beating down on us, with the occasional spray of sea water.

The islands were beautiful and crowded. Everywhere you could see people of various nationalities and races and gender, as much as you could see water (ok I am a bit over exaggerating here). That said the view was something to marvel at (yes and the bikini clad ladies and men’s with washboard abs, even the Indian women couldn’t resist and don some beach attire).

The Flora and fauna of the island was remarkable, as was the the crystal clear sea. But at the same time you could also see sign of the preparedness after the country felt the wrath of the tsunami thirteen years ago.

Then you had the fishes, the corals and the sharks, not the great white ones, not that I wanted to see one. Snorkling in the sea can be rather disorienting at first, but once you get used to it can be real beautiful experience. Actually panicked when I first saw the depth that I was in (assumed we would be swimming in shallow water) after all I am distress swimmer (as my buddy Viv puts it), neither a crocodile or a chicken swimmer, as Annisia tried to describe it to us. Life under the sea is truly beautiful, as Sebastian the crab put it, the school of fishes, the corrals, the bloody legs of people you kept bumping into. Even tried to touch a fishy but it swam away fro me and I was too afraid to swim after it, even though I had my life vest on. 

So once you get used to breathing with the snorkelling gear everything is just a piece of cake (which unfortunately seemed to take me ages). Seeing the fishes and the legs of people is an experience (not that I wanted to see the legs of people).

So in the end phi phi island was one beautiful destination. A tad bit overcrowded, (who littered the place, but not as much as we Indians do). But on a whole an experience of breathtaking beauty. 

A short note, you got go with our guide Annisia and Unseen Andaman Island tour, she was the major reason those bumpy, bouncy and long boat rides weren’t so boring  and in fact was so hilarious.

Vacation Diaries - Part II: Running on Patong Beach

After last night’s sensory overload, it was nice to be once again at the beach for a run. I am no holier than thou, nor am I any “Doodh ka dula hua”, but somehow Bangla Street seemed to have shaken me. Not knowing where to look and what to look at, it took the beach to help me calm down my nerves (and no... this was not a cultural shock). So it felt right running on the beach once again.

Running against the emerald green sea, the blue skies with its swirling clouds, with the misty mountains in the background, and on clean beaches, it had everything a Runner could ask for.

The people on the beach had no care for the surrounding... they were in their bikini tops, speedos, neon tops and shoes, bear chested and string bikinis, they just didn’t care (by now in india they would have attracted a crowd of oglers and would have been booked for indecency). They were just busy doing their stuff, running, heading into the se, clicking photograph.

Running felt good and liberating, letting go of the pain, indecisiveness, overthinking, behind.

And so it begins the start of day two of the vacation.