The wonderful city of Bangkok. So hot, noisy, crowded and uninterested.
A three day stop-over on the way to Australia gave me the most tantalising glimpse of a city that was so busy you could become forever lost in seconds. There was a feeling of detachment; as if it did not have time to humour those from the far flung corners of the world who block the streets with their maps and cameras and confused words. There could not be a more charming quality for a foreign land.
I had never visited Asia before (although I believe that three days cannot reasonably be called a visit - maybe more of a scavengers hunt to seek the best treasures in the shortest amount of time) but my imagination would run wild with beauty, creativity and inspiration whenever I mused over what it would be like. I carried out my research and decided that the Reclining Buddha and Palace were sights that could not be side-stepped in a bid to avoid the stereotypical travellers visit, and they did not disappoint. The mother-of-pearl designs that swirled around the base of the Reclining Buddha’s feet lifted the awesome majesty of the statue as the sheer size alone of the figure was incredible.
But by my last day curiosity had led me to the Nonthaburi market in the north of the city where tales were told of a snake of never-ending stalls selling every type of edible sea animal would wind itself along the side of the road. The sight of tortoises in buckets and eels flapping on trays damped my positive feelings slightly after seeing the staggering quantity of saliva-inducing food stands to be discovered. But I was mainly shocked by the demographics of the area; as I had travelled further up the river on the boat the number of foreign travellers on aboard depleted steadily until at the final stop I was the only non-Asian disembarking to try to work out the identity of all the delectable mysteries. I quickly became lost moving between roads overflowing with vehicles to the quieter side streets; the home of plumb stray dogs. Becoming momentarily lost in a foreign country is a thrill and has the feel of an achievement of sorts as it proves you've left the well-trodden path and can call yourself a traveller in the old-world sense, not a tourist armed with an attraction map and a selfie-stick.
This is just one small example, but since I can remember I have been taught to look up and around - it's the only way to experience the world and notice all the beautifully wonderful details etched into every inch off what you can see. If you live by this rule you will see so much more when you're travelling the world than those with their eyes attached to their phones or just staring at only the ground in front of their feet.
Bangkok is a city of wonders but the best way to see beyond the usual is to become lost in the crowd.
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