To Bangkok, Love Andrea
About two months ago, I walked out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, overwhelmed by the humidity and a tidal wave of joy. I had been dreaming of that moment for months. When the stresses of work and life responsibilities threatened to shove me headfirst into burnout, I fought back by imagining myself sipping on Thai iced tea while wandering the shops in Chatuchak Market. When I was on the brink of catching hypothermia waiting for a severely delayed bus, scrolling through my Thailand 2023 photo album warmed my fingers and calmed my annoyance. Everything would be better in Bangkok and finally, I had arrived.
Thailand had never been on my travel bucket list. Beyond grabbing dinner from a Thai restaurant a few times, I had minimal interactions with Thai culture. But in an uncharacteristic burst of spontaneity, my parents decided to visit Bangkok with my aunt and uncle in 2022. Their glowing reviews gave me no choice but to join their trip the following year. During the 50-minute drive from the airport to our hotel, I felt comfortable and at ease. It was as if I had arrived to a place I was destined to visit. Before the end of that trip, we had already started making plans to return the following year.
It’s not just people that are soulmates. Sometimes the energy of a place fits so naturally with a person’s temperament that the only appropriate way to describe their connection is to call them soulmates. The city of your birth is chosen for you. Your place of residence is often a matter of practicality or responsibility. But the place that is your soulmate exists in the sweet spot between free will and destiny. A place where the truest parts of ourselves shine. That is what Bangkok is for me; a city that feels right.
“It’s not just people that are soul-mates. Sometimes the energy of a place fits so naturally with a person’s temperament that the only appropriate way to describe their connection is to call them soulmates.”
Bangkok is a city of movement—masses of people dodging traffic and zipping by on motorbikes as if in a coordinated dance. Scents, sounds and sights fight for attention. Ornate gold temples are interspersed with small business owners hustling from dusk to dawn. Despite the intensity, there is a sense of calm. People move but they don’t rush. Traffic is chaotic without the rage and impatience that so often accompanies it. Like any city, Bangkok has its problems but the privilege of being a tourist has disconnected me from the hardships of daily life in the city. Some may question the authenticity of my love for Bangkok because of my privilege. “Live there for a few years and then we’ll see how much you love it”, they may say. My response: Send me the money to move and I’ll do it in a heartbeat.
As an amateur traveller, I’ve visited a few cities around the world. None have struck me as deeply as Bangkok. I love hunting down beautiful cafes and rewarding myself for surviving the heat with an iced es yen coffee. I love people-watching while stuck in traffic and browsing the intricately made fabrics and accessories in the markets. I love the greeting of hands pressed together as if offering a prayer of gratitude for the other person’s presence. I love the vibrant flowers and tropical plants growing between power lines and iron-barred buildings. But above all of these things, I love Bangkok because it is the place that inspired me to re-evaluate how I live my life.
2023 was a challenging year. I was stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. I felt like I was failing to meet every expectation of me and I was running out of energy to try harder. It was as though every day was overcast with a dull greyness settled over my mood. My diet was terrible, I hardly moved my body and spent most nights scrolling on Instagram comparing myself to everyone else who seemed to have their life together. But I didn’t realise how much I was struggling until I went to Bangkok. The trip allowed me to pause and reflect on the habits and patterns that had contributed to the low points of the year. I took a break from my phone and slept deeply every night. I ate food that nourished my body and spent time in the company of people who nourished my soul. Bangkok reminded me of my capacity to intentionally pursue joy. It reminded me that while life can be hard it can also be good.
While my first trip to Bangkok was marked by reflection, the second was marked by gratitude. I went back to my soulmate city to say thank you for the gifts she had given me when we first met and to show off the new and improved Andrea. She responded with another dose of rest, nourishment and beauty. I don’t know when I’ll return, but Bangkok will always have a piece of my heart.
To Bangkok, Love Andrea
