Thailand

I visited Thailand for two weeks in January 2020 with Mizzou's Office of Service Learning. It was the trip of a lifetime! We visited the province of Nan in Northern Thailand and spent time in an area called Bo Kluea. We worked with a group of about twenty Thai college students on service projects throughout the village. Before going to Nan, my classmates and I spent a few days in Bangkok to learn about Thai culture and get accustomed to the 13-hour time difference.

Siam Shopping District - December 31, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand

Day 1: Exploring Bangkok solo

In an effort to save money, I booked a flight that arrived a day and a half before my classmates. I spent the first day of the trip exploring Bangkok solo. To determine where I'd go first, I looked for the biggest patch of green on Google Maps. This method brought me to Lumphini Park. From there, I wandered through the malls and street markets in Siam, tried spicy ramen, and rang in the new year by drinking a beer and reading a book on the balcony of my hostel overlooking the sprawling city below.

A lot to take in - December 31, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand || From my field notebook: "Bangkok just has A LOT going on - traffic, crumbling/bumpy sidewalks filled with pedestrians, the sky train zooming up above, lush green foliage poking out from every corner, the ritziest buildings next to trash-littered alleys. It's just a lot to take in!"

December 31, 2019 - Lumphini Park, Bangkok, Thailand || This guy crept up on me as I was sitting in the grass writing in Lumphini Park. Seeing him was a crazy reminder that I was in a totally different place, with totally different animals. Wild! Seeing him and photographing him made my day.

December 31, 2019 - Lumphini Park, Bangkok, Thailand || A bird scans the water for fish in Lumphini Park. These birds were a common sight in Thailand, yet were totally new to me, so I loved photographing them. That's one of my favorite things about being in a new place - seeing that area's "normal," which are sometimes totally different from my own.

December 31, 2019 - Lumphini Park, Bangkok, Thailand

Erawan Shrine - December 31, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand || People crowd around the Erawan Shrine to leave flowers and pray. One of the things I found so fascinating about Bangkok was the way religion and hectic city life intertwined everywhere. On a bustling street like this one, it was common to find a temple or shrine where, within the gates, you’d find quiet peace and serenity in the middle of the chaos.

People peruse a street food market - December 31, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand

Trying street food for the first time:

I stood back and watched for a few minutes to see how it worked. After a bit of observation, I realized you’re supposed to grab a basket and select which ingredients you want from the sprawl of fresh seafood and veggies laid out on the table, then place your basket in a queue to be prepared by the cook. Having no clue what half the stuff was, I picked whatever looked appetizing and decided to hope for the best. When my turn came around the woman cooked my ingredients and mixed them in a bowl. I asked for it to be spicy, partially because I figured I could take the heat and partially because the language barrier prevented me from asking “Just how spicy is spicy?” or “Can I have just a little bit of spice?”

A woman prepares my ramen bowl - December 31, 2019 - a street food market in Bangkok, Thailand

Mixing the ingredients - December 31, 2019 - a street food market in Bangkok, Thailand

Freshly made ramen in hand, I walked down the street and found a place to sit. The first few bites were euphoric! The flavors exploded in my mouth and I loved trying the anonymous seafoods. But after those first few bites my mouth was on fire in a way that I’ve TRULY never experienced before (Context: I love spicy food! In the U.S. I can take the heat, but in Thailand - not a chance). I scrambled to buy a water bottle to relieve the pain but it made little difference. The only thing that helped was time. When I finally recovered, I realized I couldn’t take another bite of the delicious ramen. I forfeited it to the trash, but I still dream about the tastes and textures from before the heat took over.

Freshly prepared ramen - December 31, 2019 - a street food market in Bangkok, Thailand || Though delicious, it was so spicy that I could only eat a few bites before having to buy water and throw it away.

Ringing in the new year

Leading up to this trip, I remember telling people "Yeah, spending New Years in Bangkok is going to be soooo cool!" Little did I know I'd be so jet-lagged that I'd give in to sleep by 8 p.m. ... how's that for a crazy night? But I've learned one of the keys to successful travel is being able to adjust your expectations. I had a great day exploring the city but there came a point where I no longer wanted to fight the exhaustion. I went back to my hostel and enjoyed golden hour on the beautiful orange patio overlooking the city. After I took photos of that I bought a beer at the corner convenient store, which I drank while reading a book on the patio before heading off to sleep.

New Year's Eve - December 31, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand

Self-portrait during the golden hour on the last evening of the 2010's - December 31, 2019 - Express Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand

Who knew laundry could look so glorious? Leave it to the golden hour. - December 31, 2019 - Express Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand

Peacin' out of the 2010's - December 31, 2019 - Express Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand || Hiking pants are also mine.

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