Sweet!
When I woke up on my last day in Bangkok, I didn’t have any plans at all. In fact, I had no idea what I would do since my flight back to Chicago was at 6 pm, and I had to check out at noon. I really didn’t want to be out all day and return to the hotel just to pick up my luggage. I wanted time to shower again and just relax a bit before heading to the airport, and I even considered just lounging around the pool area. I worked out and decided to have a leisurely breakfast, and I was so lucky that my hotel had outdoor seating by the river to take in views. When I went up to get my food, an Indian-looking man with an Australian accent started a conversation. He invited me to join him and his Italian friend at their table, and because I felt lost that day not knowing what I would do, I happily joined them. The two men were traveling together, and Bangkok was their stop for a few days before heading off to Sri Lanka. Because it was their first day there, they didn’t have any plans, either. Somehow we all decided to go to the Jim Thompson house together. I love talking and meeting new people when traveling, and this experience made me really, really happy because it was so spontaneous. So we took a tuk tuk together in the heat, and we smiled and laughed as we took a selfie with my selfie stick.
Although the tour of the Thompson house was relaxing and nice, the best thing about the day was the lunch we shared. We sat by the koi pond which spanned the length of the restaurant, and as we started by having cold, delicious drinks in the tropical weather, this memory, this spontaneous delight and pleasure, would stay with me for a long, long time. The lunch was a spectacular assortment of spring rolls, a spicy fried chicken, and another dish with some kind of black rice and prawns. RIDICULOUS! We finished by having a fresh coconut with fresh coconut ice cream. I could never have another coconut ice cream ever again for this one was out of this freaking world! Oh, and we devoured another dessert…a fresh mango with sweet rice in the shape of a heart. It was one of the most memorable meals shared with strangers that I just met. I couldn’t have asked for a better last day in Bangkok. When it was time for me to head back to my hotel to grab my luggage, I wished I was staying with my two new friends to continue being tourists. Goodbyes are hard even for new friends.
I didn’t know what I did to deserve the good fortune of that day. But just like the time when I was allowed into the mosque in Casablanca, or my first trip to Turkey where my wanderlust started, there are way too many good things that happen to me when I travel. As a small part of me hopes that this travel addiction of mine would wane (it’s costing me a fortune!), I have no doubt in my heart and mind that more amazing things will continue to happen while I travel the world. WanderLust never lets me down, and that is why, truly, it will be my lifelong affair.
A smile and a selfie in a tuk tuk!
A toast to Life!
Fresh mango and sweet rice in the shape of a heart.
A pretty koi pond
