Back from Thailand: From Land of a Thousand Smiles to Land of Little Smiles

The splayed plantains grilled by sidewalk vendors, shrines and temples gilded in gold, the vast assortment of fruit stalls, clothing retailers, orchid dealers, massage storefronts, smog, raw sewage smells, fish, friendly smiles of the locals... So many things vie for your attention in Thailand. It is a country that astounds. Reina and I were impressed with all facets of this Asian country. We discovered three things that make Thailand special: the cheap shopping, gregarious people and delectable food. It is a country that will make you dig deep into your vocabulary for synonyms of praise. Claudia particularly enjoyed it because so many Thai locals treated her as if she was a celebrity. They loved interacting with her and rubbing her belly. The “blond Buddha” also sampled spicy foods with much delight. We moved from Bangkok to Phuket over the course of roughly 11 days. The contrast between bustling city to tourist trap left us wanting to revisit Thailand in hopes of exploring the middle realm someday –Though, it will be hard to not go back to those majestic beaches -Islands popped out at every curve of the road; and the warm water could lure any aquaphobe from their beach chair into the sea.