The universe is made up of stories – not atoms
-Muriel Rukeyser
I first learned of this quote from a multimedia concert presented by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the actor in movies such as 50/50) that featured all these short “slice of life” homemade videos, but feel it is very fitting for my day today.
My day started on the beaches of Phuket and ended on the bustling streets of Bangkok. On my way to the airport, I noticed some little things I liked about Phuket. For example, the cab driver always wanted to keep fresh flowers in his car, so he bought a flower lei from a woman selling them to cars stopped at a red light to put on his rearview mirror. How lovely! I also loved the way branches are used to hold up trees.
At the airport, I realized I was not in Seattle anymore when there was a sign reserving a special seating area for monks only.
When I got to Bangkok, I grabbed a cab to my hotel, put my things away and headed out to explore the city. I have this game I like to play when I am in a new place called “Start Walking and When You Get to an Intersection, Turn Whichever Way Has the Coolest Looking Thing” (this can be played while driving too, but is more fun if you do it with exits instead of on streets). The rules are simple in that you just sort of let yourself get lost with all the turns seeing awesome looking things and then do your best to get back home. You award yourself points based on how awesome the places are that you find. If you have to use a lifeline (like get a cab or GPS…maps don’t count in my book because they require some sort of talent), then game over, you lose.
So I started off with this game (without a map might I add) and was waiting at the light to cross an intersection when a man came up to me and started asking me where I was going. “I’m not really sure. I am just walking,” I replied. He then proceeded to tell me about how it was a special day. Apparently, there is only one day a year that non-Thais are allowed in to see the Lucky Buddha and tuk tuks are cheaper to go to and from the Lucky Buddha and the Big Buddha as well (less than $1!). He even drew me a list of things that I had to see.
I had wanted to zoom around in a tuk tuk, but since I was too afraid to get one on my own, he got me one in Thai. The only thing I understood was “you take care of her…she’s my friend”. I still don’t understand his motives besides him just wanting me to enjoy his city.
At the Lucky Buddha, I was greeted by a man who wanted to know where I was from, where I was going and make sure I understood the significance of what I was looking at. He made me take a seat on the red carpet with him and we chatted while I marveled at the beauty in front of me. Is life in Bangkok really about hanging out next to large Buddha statues and talking about life? I could get used to this.
I then saw the Big Buddha and the neighboring grounds before the tuk tuk driver took me back to my hotel. Probably the most fun I have had for that cheap!
From there, I decided to try my “Start Walking…” game again and see if I could make it farther before getting more good tips on sights to see around the city from the locals. Within about fifteen minutes, I had found the most beautiful monastery. Plus ten points! I was hesitant to venture past the open gates onto the grounds since I was not sure I was allowed until a nice man waved me in and told me what was going on. Normally, the monastery is not open to the public, but there was a special ceremony since there was someone getting “monked” and exchanging lighter robes for darker orange robes. Although I was not allowed inside the ceremony since I am not Thai, I was able to watch it from the window.
From there, I kept walking and found an old abandoned fort (with a moat!) that also had a park and a small market along the canal. I would say I get five points for that. As I was heading out, I saw a small group of kids practicing a hip hop routine to the side of the fort. I am not sure why, but that deserves at least five points since I appreciate anyone busting a move in public.
I kept walking and walking and just when I thought it was game over and time to get a tuk tuk because I had no idea where I was, I turned a corner and saw the golden point of the monastery and (literally, I kid you not) the sound of monks chanting. Am I in a movie or daydream or something? Does this really happen?
Before heading home, I found this amazing street that was selling all sorts of goods as well as food, which was perfect since I didn’t eat lunch and was very hungry. Normally this would only get about five points, but I think it gets at least seven because this place bumped it up a notch and was even offering fake licenses/passports/registration cards of all kinds. I enjoyed some pad thai, mango sticky rice and skewer of beef on my walk back to the hotel. I would say my day was a win!
From there, I decided to try my “Start Walking…” game again and see if I could make it farther before getting more good tips on sights to see around the city from the locals. Within about fifteen minutes, I had found the most beautiful monastery. Plus ten points! I was hesitant to venture past the open gates onto the grounds since I was not sure I was allowed until a nice man waved me in and told me what was going on. Normally, the monastery is not open to the public, but there was a special ceremony since there was someone getting “monked” and exchanging lighter robes for darker orange robes. Although I was not allowed inside the ceremony since I am not Thai, I was able to watch it from the window.
I then took some time to explore the grounds and climbed the stairs to get closer to the highest point in the monastery. It was so gorgeous!
From there, I kept walking and found an old abandoned fort (with a moat!) that also had a park and a small market along the canal. I would say I get five points for that. As I was heading out, I saw a small group of kids practicing a hip hop routine to the side of the fort. I am not sure why, but that deserves at least five points since I appreciate anyone busting a move in public.
I kept walking and walking and just when I thought it was game over and time to get a tuk tuk because I had no idea where I was, I turned a corner and saw the golden point of the monastery and (literally, I kid you not) the sound of monks chanting. Am I in a movie or daydream or something? Does this really happen?
Before heading home, I found this amazing street that was selling all sorts of goods as well as food, which was perfect since I didn’t eat lunch and was very hungry. Normally this would only get about five points, but I think it gets at least seven because this place bumped it up a notch and was even offering fake licenses/passports/registration cards of all kinds. I enjoyed some pad thai, mango sticky rice and skewer of beef on my walk back to the hotel. I would say my day was a win!
