It is so easy for me to unplug away from home. Which is why, I suppose, I like to travel. All I need to do is be the passenger in a car for a weekend roadtrip and I can be asleep before we leave the Seattle city limits.
Erawan Shrine – The local spirit house worshiped by locals.
I have been in Bangkok for about 24 hours (literally handwriting this entry in the bathroom at 2am so as not to disturb Jon) and have no desire to check email, log on to the internet, listen to NPR or be connected to the real world. This IS the real world, jetlag and all.
Whatever it is that chocolate does for other women, travel does for me. My senses are elevated, my mood uplifted and all is right in my tiny little world.
Over the next couple of weeks, I suspect I will be challenged by the demands of leading (I hesitate to use this word as we will have an expert guide in Bhutan) a group of 12, some of whom I already know while others are soon-to-be-friends. However, I expect far more highs than lows. And while I recognize that visiting Bhutan is a privilege (only 18,000 people visited in all of 2006), I admit that is was hardly on my radar prior to a year ago when my friend Scott asked if I wanted to bring a group to the country through his company, Wild Card Adventures.
I now find myself in Bangkok, exited to be in this city again (after 16 years) and eager to explore all it has to offer in the few short days we are here. At the same time I am fantasizing about Bhutan where Gross National Happiness is the order of the day.
What possibly could this tiny Himalayan country teach me about myself, others and the realworld? I can’t want to find out.
In the meantime, I will explore my more than One Night in Bangkok.
Travel Well!
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Myscha says
We LOVE Bangkok! It was so cool to get off the plane there and hit the temple tours, cheap massages, pad Thai and Singha. Thailand is one of our favorite places.
laradunston says
Like you, I all too easily fall asleep in the car and we spend a lot of time on the road, so I spend a lot of time prying my eyes open. I’m with you on the chocolate thing too – travel is my high, my comfort, my inspiration, my biggest fascination. I love Bangkok too – was there on an assignment last October – looking forward to reading more about Bangkok and Bhutan – one place I haven’t been.
Myscha says
Well hey, Lara. I’m running into you all over the internet place. Nice to “see” you. If you haven’t poked around Beth’s site yet, you’ll find some fun stuff here, for sure.