My time in Bangkok has been a super quick, adrenaline-fuelled roller coaster ride. Scary and slow to start with, but too quick and intoxicatingly fun once initial feelings of nervousness began to fade away. Now the end is approaching, and I’m that whiny, crying, annoying kid that doesn’t want to hop off. I could easily go around for two or three more rounds, and have my known world violently shaken and turned upside down. Unfortunately though, it’s time to face reality and finish (hopefully) the last year of my degree.
It’s absolutely bizarre that I ended up in Bangkok this summer. If you asked me 6 months ago to write a list of the top 10 countries I wanted to go to, Thailand wouldn’t have made it on the list. Apart from being into Muay Thai, I didn’t know much about the country, and had zero connections nor did I know anyone there. Now it happily ranks the no 1 country I want to revisit, and even possibly live in when I graduate.
Despite it not being the smoothest ride, I’m proud of myself. I left the familiar behind and immersed myself in a new city, a new culture and a new environment. I put myself out there and met some wonderful humans who will be lifelong friends. I worked hard. I trained even harder, running every morning and training every night after work – only to bid farewell to my fitness in the post-fight week binge – but managed to tick off fighting and winning in Thailand from my bucket list. I tried all sorts of Thai dishes without hesitation, and didn’t eat a single western meal (apart from drunken Sunrise Taco one night lol.) I filled my weekends with trips to temples and national parks, and didn’t waste it away sitting in my apartment. My flatmates will happily go on about how much of a nightmare I am at sorting out my life – but I somehow managed to live by myself for three months – and yes my washing was done and my bed was made more often than not: and thank God no one can actually be a witness to that highly unlikely self-proclaimed statement. And surprisingly, I didn’t get lonely. I didn’t have time to be lonely. My Thai is limited but hey, I know how to order my favorite foods.
I can happily say that I literally gave everything a go – the language, the food, a bloody Muay Thai fight in the land of Muay Thai, ping pong shows, other outrageous nightlife experiences, dodgy tuk tuk rides, yoga, meditation, the gay scene, slow Thai opera, solo-bar going, first ever tinder date (!!), Thai karaoke, questionable food and beverages, questionable substances (which turned out to be super strong Nicotine, DW!), got my nose pierced, tried out blogging, went 3 months without a single TV show, and the list goes on. I leave with zero regrets; save for some blurry nights I partially regret, but in hindsight I know will make up some of my better yarns.
What I love about Bangkok
I love Bangkok and all its contradictions. Like how restaurants are three times the amount of street-food, but street-food is a 1000 times better and surprisingly cleaner and healthier. My dinner is 40 THB ($1.50) but my beer costs 150 THB ($5) and my coffee is more than my dinner!
The Skytrain – I don’t even get public transport in New Zealand, so I’ll miss being able to hop around the city at the speed of light.
Despite serious safety concerns, I’ll miss the dodgy motorbike taxis. After all, it was cheap thrills and free adrenaline.
I’ll miss grabbing a whole fresh coconut on the way to work and on the way back. I seriously became addicted!
Even though I hated it most mornings, I’ll miss the nosy old man who greets me “Nihao!” in Chinese every morning as I walk to work. (Trust me, I’ve thought multiple times about replying “Konnichiwa!” but I just let him live.)
Oh, and cheap AF Thai massages. Night markets. The sheer amount of dogs in a park waiting to play with me. My work, surprisingly.
But above all – more than any of these tangible commodities or experiences – I’ll miss the people. One of the perks of Bangkok being such an international hub is that it accommodates an unbelievably culturally diverse crowd. Before I arrived, as many of you would be aware, I could be stubborn and opinionated, and pretty set in my way of thinking. Meeting people that change your values, your outlook on life and opinion on anything from politics to TV shows, is something truly precious that money can’t buy. It’s good to have your own opinion, but it’s equally important to be adaptable and accepting as well.
I’m writing this on a plane somewhere in between Bangkok and Sydney, quietly sobbing and shamelessly flicking through photos and reminiscing my time in Bangkok. Just before I boarded on this plane, I got super hungry and was overwhelmed with this mad craving for the noodle soup stall next to my apartment that makes the best pork noodle soup I’ve ever eaten. Then I began to tear up – not entirely because I’m a hungus bitch that can’t control her hunger – but the thought that I might never eat there again made me super emotional. It triggered memories of all the other things that I may not get to see, do or eat again – all the places I’d like to revisit again, all the people who I wanted to spend more time with, and recalling the taste of all the delicious foods I’d eaten in my time – it made me feel sentimental. It felt like I was killing it in the school production then some bastard very abruptly hit the lights and cut my soliloquy short. Damn Daniel, I was just getting to the good bit!
But hey, I leave with important life lessons, lifelong friends, and sadly a rather concerning and embarrassing double digit bank account…but also with invaluable memories that make that seem irrelevant. I can always come back, and I have no doubt I’ll be back. This is just the beginning, and I’m hoping that I’ll get the chance to reuse this space again – whether it be Thailand again or not – for my next adventure(s.)
Thank you so much Bangkok! And thanks everyone for reading! And a huge THANK YOU to the wonderful people I’ve met, that made my time rather enjoyable but very hard to leave. I am genuinely excited to settle back into New Zealand too, and spend time with my flat family again. Being in the concrete jungle has made me appreciate good old New Zealand, and I often found myself starting off complaining about wanting to leave this small country, then somehow ending up boasting about all the sights I recommend everyone should see. (Oh yes, go to Matamata, you can’t miss Queenstown and please come visit me in Wellington! It’s the most beautiful country!) So New Zealand friends, let’s catch up. And Bangkok & overseas friends, come visit this side of the world please! 🙂
So khop kun ka, and bi bi ka Bangkok!! Until next time! xxx
Lost in Gustation 
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