6 Years Anniversary

It was Dec 31 2003 when I first left the States for Thailand. I pretty much celebrated the New Year on the plane and was excited about my new journey in this unfamiliar country. I got to Bangkok a little after midnight and I still remember the heat and polluted air I breath in the first thing I got to the carpark

I was all excited with the new experience but I was also suffering from not being able to understand a single Thai and not able to communicate with others. I'd go to the same place ordered the same food over and over just because I did not know what else they have. Not staying in the city nor close to any train station made it worse for me to get around.

It was the AUA that brought me to know some friends and learn some Thai, and getting a job in Kimberly Clark certainly helped me adapting to this place and feel attached. After I moved to the city, getting around wasn't any problem and English is commonly spoken in the city. I started exploring Bangkok more and found that I've love the cultures here and have adapted well in this beautiful land of smile. Sometimes we forget or do not appreciate things happen around us. The locals might not see any beauties in the everyday lives or the street vendors, the market sellers, monks and all.. Just like I never appreciate how beautiful Penang is when I stayed there until I went back many years after as a 'tourist'. It's important to change the view or role once in a while in our life to see things differently and feel differently of a certain thing.

I've started exploring Bangkok and other part of the cities after I've gotten my SLR camera, though I wish I've had more trips to the North or nearby cities. There are endless things to shoot and the pictures are almost certain to turn out nicely. The colors and activities along the streets, the wats and buildings with modern and antique architecture, delicious and eye catching food and ingredients and the list goes on...

I consider Thailand as one of the best places to stay in and definitely a place to retire. I've once considered Thailand as my home and even I have to leave, I'll still come back very often.