Thailand was a large part of my motivation for coming to Asia and for starting to dream up this crazy trip in the first place. Ever since I came back from South America a few years ago Thailand has been calling my name and I am so happy that I am finally heeding the call!
As luck has it, Thailand not only has itself to offer but also is home to one of my dearest friends from UGA, Ms. Lauren Peanut Wilson. Lauren and I roomed together freshman year and have been best buddies ever since. After somehow surviving all our shenanigans and having the time of our lives, we managed to graduate and go our separate ways. Who would've thought that the next time we'd see each other would be in Thailand a year after graduating? How great! She and her older brother have graciously offered their apartment as our home base in Bangkok and it has been wonderful being here. And here we are below, ready to go out for a night on the town :)
Little did Peanut know, she was receiving 2 weary, worn out and practically war-torn travelers when she offered for us to stay with her in Bangkok... Vasae and I arrived pooped out and in need of a slow down after India. Lauren provided a luxurious retreat (AC, access to a laptop, a real shower!, a sofa) and we took a much needed break once we got to Bangkok. And what a world away Thailand is from India! I don't think I could blink and/or react when we first arrived. I was without a doubt overwhelmed and taken back by the ginormous metropolis that is Bangkok. A fully functioning city equipped with a metro, actual taxi cabs, modern advertisements, seven-elevens, people who wait in lines, things that run on time, fixed prices... where were we?! This was not the Asia we were acquainted with.
After adjusting and resting a bit we headed out to see some of the city. Besides discovering that Thai food is out-of-control delicious, we went to the Royal Palace and saw a few huge and rather elaborate temples. The shot below is of a garden area in the Royal Palace.
Now back to the important stuff... food. There are these little street stalls (like this one below) everywhere in Bangkok and they all serve up incredibly simple, incredibly scrumptious food. One of our favorites so far is chicken, grilled and fried, over white rice with cilantro and lime, yum.
From here we're heading up the country by train to check out Thailand's countryside, a couple historic towns with tons of temples and the mountains in the north.
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