As I sit here now at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, *shockingly* still alive, the Thailand chapter is coming to a close. Here are some of my thoughts and insights from the past eight months that I’ll take with me as the journey continues.
Category: Stories
KL exists in the context of Malaysia’s big, traditional, rugged, chaotic, and complicated melting pot. Against this backdrop, the city stands out as a singular, epic unifying pillar of modernization. It’s the kind of city that all metropolises in SEA could aspire to become more like. It’s clean, comfortable, well-connected, modern, and futuristic, yet it still retains chaotic, fast-paced, and multicultural flavors. A truly fascinating place.
Penang’s buildings are colorful and stately, and the city has an incredibly European feel to it. Among the arches and walkways, however, one finds uniquely Asian, Malay, and Penangite flairs. All the text is in Bahasa Malay or occasionally Chinese, tiny shops sell knock-off goods at tiny prices, restaurants sling noodles, strong coffee, and fish, and here and there you pass an ornate mosque rather than a church.
With all the rotating exhibitions and continuous construction of increasingly tall skyscrapers, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Singapore is in a constant state of flux and development — an endless one-upmanship with ever nicer, more beautiful experiences repeatedly being built and discovered anew.
Something about these empty, pristine beaches drops me headfirst into a trance, and I remain in a state of awe, completely mesmerized by their beauty. I sat in the sand a little longer and calmly watched the gentle waves roll in before moving on to the next beach, slowly making my way back towards town.
“Burning season” comes to Chiang Mai around February, March, and April every year. This year has been a freak anomaly with a relatively clear sky. Some days, you can even see Doi Suthep mountain from downtown — while this is perfectly normal in January, it is practically unheard of during March and April.
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, has a reputation for craftsmanship, artistry, hospitality, and of course, its slowed-down, relaxed pace of life. Food is at the center of Thai culture, so it’s no surprise that Chiang Mai, with its emphasis on quality crafts, is the country’s most celebrated foodie destination.
Thailand’s capital and largest city, Bangkok, is a giant playground of infinite scale. But for someone who’s never been to the most-visited city in the world before, it can be a lot to take in. My first time here, I was completely overwhelmed, so I wrote this guide to impart as much wisdom as I can and help you enjoy Bangkok on your own terms.
I used the quarantine – and the solitude that comes with it – as an opportunity to dig in and do some deep work. I challenged myself to write one song per day on a tiny keyboard to expand my musical and songwriting versatility. I came up with some great stuff, and the challenge was a huge success!
I had been planning on coming home for the holidays all along, as my visa was valid until December 22nd and the round-trip ticket cost only marginally more than the one-way. I simply neglected to mention all these things to my parents, who were completely shocked to see me!