The sun has set on my final day away. Tomorrow night our
flight is due to leave for the long haul back to England, and my ‘usual’ life.
My every day reality of life in Lewes today feels as odd as arriving in India
did in January.
I cannot remember what it feels like to have a bath-even a
power shower with hot water in Bangkok was a wonderful luxury after many weeks
of taps, cold water or even no water at all!-and a western toilet with a
working flush (and permission to use it!) also felt wonderful when I met Paul
in Bangkok. So my own bathroom at home will now take some getting used to.
As will a cooker. I have not used anything other than a
shared outdoor gas ring for months, and certainly not cooked anything other
than instant noodles!! I have learnt to
eat with the locals, i.e. at stalls/shacks, where the variety and access to a
fantastic assortment of anything and everything has given my taste buds and my
appetite a new zest for life. Going back to English food, without the extremes
of sweet, sour, spices will be odd-my last supper here was a bag of sweetened sweet
corn with coconut, iced coffee made the
Thai way, with sugar and evaporated milk, longan berries and a bag of spiced
pineapple.
And as for driving-I’m used to weaving in and out of tuk
tuks and motorbikes on foot or on two wheels of my own, but driving A CAR…in
traffic-oh hum, that may take a few days to get my head around.
Our last day in Bangkok has passed in a whirl of final
sights, sounds and smells. Paul and I dodged another torrential rain storm this
morning by taking the sky train to find the day version of the night markets in
Silom-i.e. a ‘flea’ market, great fun, and then lunch in a local restaurant,
where the waitress gave us a free desert to try the traditional black herb in
ice with sugar, yummy. Then via the metro to Chinatown, and the most frenetic
tuk tuk driver yet to the flower markets and some final souvenir shopping in
the bazaars…
Sunset ferry ride back to the hotel and a final wander
around Wongwian Yai, the streets around the hotel are awash with markets,
fruit, fish, vegetables, and food carts.
Tomorrow morning we shall pack our cases for the final time. It’s been a
wonderful holiday for the two of us, and for me a good way to ease the
transition from solo backpacking to normal life. I shall miss living out of my
black case. My life since January 6th has been contained in a small
rucksack, liberating due to the freedom from possessions, carrying with me only
the bare minimum and living from day to day.
I have missed my family, and my home, and can’t wait to see
them, but this has been such an amazing trip, Edwina’s travels 3?? Watch this space!!
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