Last week in Thailand

I cannot believe it. It does not seem real. This is our last week in Thailand. I almost don’t want to say anything, every time we leave Bangkok we say this is the last time we will be here on this trip. And yet here we are again, in the air-con heaven that is Siam Paragon- shopping utopia.  We originally only intended to spend one month in Thailand. That month has quickly become three, we have welcomed in the New Year (both Gregorian and Chinese), met some of the most incredible people at Isara in Nong Khai and strangely I feel that I am better at navigating my way around Bangkok than Birmingham. Having been here so long, there are certain things that no longer seem odd or strange to me, here are a few that Matt and I were thinking about yesterday as we found some shade in the beautiful Lampuni park (for all you Brits reading, its 33* and sunny all the way here!)

Random dogs, often with missing limbs… everywhere.

The legend of the hot shower. Hot water in a shower is a privilege; water pressure is something I vaguely recall from my youth. Oh yeah and 9 times out of 10, the toilet is going to be in the shower. Great for those early morning showers where you’re not quite ready to stand. Not so good if you forget to remove the toilet paper.

Food being available 24/7, any cuisine, very cheap.

Going to an ATM and withdrawing thousands of Baht and feeling like Richie Rich.

Driving down a road, and a group of people are moving a marquee, do they stop and move out of the way? Hell no, they lift it higher and continue to walk up the freeway so the cars can drive through it!

A motorbike with less than three passengers and a dog on it is a waste. 

If I have to wait longer than 5 minutes for my train, it is a national outrage.

Electrics, if it doesn’t visibly and audibly spark when you plug something in, do it again, it must be broke.

Massive lizards everywhere!!

Anyone that has been to Bangkok has mastered their own 7-11 dash, the quickest way from the MRT to your apartment via as many air-con soothing 7-11s as possible!

Too hot? Go inside. Too cold? Go outside.

Not understanding any billboards or television programs. Ever.

Asian pop music, strangely the songs will get in your head and you start to think that liking Girls Generation is acceptable!

The daily assault course that is the sidewalk. Vats of boiling oil, holes in the ground and low lying electrics. Walking in the road is actually safer.

So Thailand, we are going to miss you and your ways. It will be strange no longer sawadee ka-ing' and 'kop kun ka-ing' people. But for now I better finish my coffee and enjoy my last Bangkok food court. Tomorrow we head to Hong Kong. And we all know what that means… Disney Land Hong Kong!