Today was my last day in Thailand. A day I wish did not have to come. I have fallen in love with Thailand and its people. If this place had waves I would move here in a heartbeat.
It is funny to think that while I was in Sri Lanka, I was originally planning to stay in Thailand for a week tops. 16 days later I am still here and I do not really want to leave. You became enchanted with the beauty of this country. I think Thailand has that effect on people. Once you come here you never want to leave.
Yes there are too many tourists here and most of them are annoying and rude. Yes many parts of Thailand are touristy and built-up. But there are those little nooks and crannies that let you into the true Thailand. Places like Ton Sai, or the places Nott and his family took me in Phuket. These places are the true Thailand. It is the Thailand I have grown to love.
The main reason why I enjoyed my time in Thailand was because of Nott and his family. Without them, my time in Thailand would not have been nearly as fun. They took me to places that I would have never seen had I not met them. They were such gracious hosts, and I am eternally grateful for it. I am in their debt.
I have been away from home for a little over a month now. I did not really miss home until Nott’s family showed me a slideshow of Nott’s time as an exchange student in America. Watching the slideshow made me a little homesick. When I say homesick, I do not really miss my house. Sorry mom and dad. It’s more like I miss my bed, I miss my routine. The certain things that made life dull at home I sort of miss. I miss seeing the familiar faces and doing familiar things. I also miss the people I have met on this journey of mine. I miss my Galaxy Lounge crew from Sri Lanka of Hannes, Chris, Alex, Sara, Saffa Dave, Angy, and P. Ahaha and Hannes with his sandwiches! Just hanging out with all of them, going surfing, hanging out at the beach, and going on adventures together. In Thailand I am going to miss hanging out with Nott, his family, and his friends. I am going to miss Tommy P, Miranda and all those amazing people we hung out with and met in Ton Sai for that week. My week in Ton Sai is the highlight of my trip so far. Not to take anything away from the things I have done and the people I have meet prior. But my time in Ton Sai was simply all-time. Nothing can beat it. All these memories I have I will keep forever. I have made new friends and connections here that I will keep for a long time.
Looking back at my month away from home, it is amazing to see how things played out. Everything happened for a reason, both the good and the bad. All the chance encounters and lucky breaks. I would have done it any other way. It is simpler to just let things play out naturally. If it was meant to be, then so be it. Forcing things in the short run will not work in the long run.
I cannot believe how fast this trip is flying by. I am already 2/3 of the way through, with Bali being the last leg before I return home. This will be the fastest two months of my life. I would like to stay longer, but life at home is calling me back. Two weeks after I get back I will be walking at my college commencement ceremony. A month after I get back I take the GMAT exam and find out whether or not I get into graduate school. I really wish I had done better on that damn test before I left. That way I wouldn’t have to deal with that burden in the back of my mind. Graduate school and the GMAT hadn’t really been on my mind until since I started traveling. But recently it has been creeping back into my conscious. I do not have a solid Plan B if I do not get into grad school, so my life up until that test is pretty much a blank slate, which makes me a little nervous.
This trip has opened my eyes to so many different cultures, rituals, lifestyles, and people. I feel funny saying this, but I feel more worldly now compared to before I left. The person I was before I left does not exist anymore. If you were to look at me now, you probably wouldn’t see anything different about me. But I feel different.
Here’s to a fun 3 weeks in Bali! Thailand topped Sri Lanka, just barely. I hope Bali can top Thailand. Can’t wait!
Very cool indeed!
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