Bangkok 2008

Visiting Bangkok was easily one of the most colorful experiences of my life. Riding tuktuks, learning new alphabet characters, seeing new architectural styles, finding different cultural practices were all things I did and that pleasantly surprised me as I learned more of Thai culture.

Their Songkran Festival was definitely a highlight! During this period of two or three days, the Thai celebrated the New Year (in April!!) by soaking each other on the streets, in the trains, between stores in the market, everywhere! Even tourists weren't safe. At times, white, flour-like powder was also smeared across faces (including mine!) to add to the vivacious celebrations. I got my share of being smacked!! And I still have a water gun too, I just can't find it....

And of course, what would I do in other countries but find and photograph crafts I had not seen before? This balloon exhibit was definitely a first!! I took 50 different angles and solos of these dresses before the mall closed on me!

Bangkok was so similar to Manila. The people looked the same, and walking around the city somewhat felt the same as well. But there were small hints here are there that indicate how the Thai are ahead of us, and though it goes much deeper than "their shopping malls are bigger," or "their mall displays are much more elaborate than ours," it's true! Have you ever seen something this grand here? I know I haven't. But it definitely shows that we can do this too!!!

And lastly, the Bangkok trip was very close to my heart not only because I had never been before or because of the arts and crafts I found there, but also because I was with my favorite people in the world! My friends. :-) We celebrated our college graduation with a trip abroad, a new place and a new set of memories.

Sometime this week marks the two years that have passed since the trip. And though we've seen each other and had other out-of-town vacations since, there is still nothing like spending an entire five days in the same hotel with the people you love the most, at the time in our lives when we were all at the cusp of...something.

I miss them very very much! We haven't been getting together as often as we all would like to. But that's what entries like this are for, for remembering the wild Songkran times, for digging up the matching t-shirts we had made so we wouldn't lose each other while touring, and for being reminded of the memories that have come to pass, and those that can still come to be.

Hope to see you guys soon!! ♥