Thailand: What the hell have I gotten myself into?

by Sean Wilson (Canada)

A leap into the unknown Thailand

I was disoriented, intimidated, anxious… Maybe even a little scared. Of all the thoughts going through my head at that moment loudest among them was “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” Standing there, on the side of Khaosan Road in Bangkok, I had my first real taste of Thailand. I had just embarked on a solo-trip, halfway across the world with, no local contacts and, most alarmingly at the moment, only a tenuous grasp of the language. Little did I know that by the end of this trip I would be absolutely in love with this beautiful country. What was at first an alarming wake-up call that I might have been in over my head, gradually became an amazing introduction to the country I’d be exploring over the next few weeks. I found my feet at a craft beer bar only a few doors down from my guest house; this afforded me a taste of home that put me at ease. From there I was able to plan my adventures to all the most stunning sites that Bangkok has to offer including the Reclining Buddha and gorgeous architecture of Wat Pho, breathtaking views from Wat Saket (Golden Mount), and eventually the serene country side viewed from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) from Thon Buri station to Nam Tok, Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi made its mark on the map as being home to the Bridge Over The River Kwai, and to what is known as the Death Railway. While I was attracted to this location based on its history I was deeply disappointed by the hundreds of tourists streaming from their busses, to the bridge, and inevitable to the “famous”’ Floating Raft restaurant nearby. The only redeeming factor locally was a lively night market, however I was glad to be on my way to my next destination, Ayutthaya. My visit to Ayutthaya offered a new glimpse into Thai life, a UNESCO world heritage site and second historic capital of Thailand. While English was a commonly spoken language so far in my trip this was my first experience having to rely on what I’d learned and prepared in Thai, with mixed results. Thankfully my experiences visiting the beautiful historic buildings, specifically Wat Phra Mahatat and the beautiful Teak wood buildings throughout the city, as well as another bustling night market left me with fond memories. All throughout central Thailand whenever I told a local I’d be heading north to Chiang Mai they’d respond with how cold it is up there, it can even go down to 20 degrees Celsius at night! Having left Toronto in -40 degree weather, after the winter’s largest blizzard, I figured I’d survive. What no one mentioned though was the extreme air conditioning I’d encounter on the ten hour 1st class train coach. After surviving the refrigerator-on-wheels that was the SRT from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai I arrived in the city that would eventually take my heart and forever bind me to Thailand. The second most populous city in the country, Chiang Mai, offered a stark comparison to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. You have your choice of excursions to the numerous national parks located in the vicinity, the amazing temples and other architectural sites dotted throughout the city, and/or a night life to rival Patpong! I spent the majority of my time in Chiang Mai soaking in the local culture, food scene, viewing the sites and taking in the more relaxed pace of northern culture. A three-day trek to the peak of Doi Inthanon not only endeared me to the amazing landscape on display in this region, but also the lifestyle of the indigenous hill tribes and their endless hospitality. It was only with great effort that I could force myself to leave this place, and new found friends, for home. My flight was not scheduled to leave for several hours so I took the chance to sit and reflect on the amazing experiences over the past few weeks: the sights, foods, and people, and appreciate how lucky I am. As they called for boarding, my last thought before I left was “I hope it’s not still -40 degrees Celsius in Toronto.”