Turning 26 in Thailand

Todays the day I’m heading out of the continent for the first time in over a decade, headed to Thailand. I have no idea what to expect but I know I’m looking forward to it.

I’m spending my 26^th birthday in this Southeast Asian paradise – I can’t think of a better way to ease into one’s ‘late 20s’ than white sands, cold drinks, and the good life.

My family pretty-well all work in the airline industry, and I wouldn’t say I’m a bad flyer, but I’m always super uncomfortable until the moment that I board the plane. It’s not the flying that I dislike, it’s the short window of time leading up to it… like now, mere hours before show time.  but I love long flights, being suspended in the air in such a void allows for honest self-thought and reflection.

We see the news almost daily about the political unrest in Thailand, and violence that seems to be growing along with it. To be honest, in a way I’m looking forward to seeing that from a closer angle. I’m not saying I’m going to submerge myself in a war zone, I just mean I’m sure seeing fresh remnants of conflict will remind me how grateful I am to live in Canada, the freest, most beautiful place in the world. It’ll give me new perspective to meet people that have seen true adversity, not the petty sort that we western people seem to dwell on often.

 

I’m pumped about eating fresh Asian fruits and veggies that I’ve never seen before, on beaches and bars that I could have never dreamt existed, with people whose culture is absolutely nothing at all like my own.  I imagine they’ll be excited to practice the broken short English they know with me, what words I’m not sure. As a man who is 6 foot 4, and 250lbs going to an Asian country, I’m sure I’ll be referred to as something along the lines of “big boy”. Which is fine, I could use the ego boost.

Hopefully I’m going to get a line in the water at some point during the trip and try my angling luck on the other side of the planet, see what kind of weird looking creature I can yank out of the water and hopefully eat.
 

And finally all the ancient temples of truth and peace, that Buddhist culture have created over the past few thousand years, I bet that stuff is going to knock my proverbial socks off. I’m not a Buddhist, I’m a Christian, but I am definitely an explorer on the seemingly never ending path to inner peace.

If there is one thing I’m not looking forward to, it’s leaving my dog. Wee-Li Nel Sun is a Buddhist dog from Tibet though, so maybe he will be my spirit guide while I’m gone.  Canada’s Gold Medal Men’s Hockey game day marked the 1 year anniversary of me rescuing him, so I’d say that’s pretty momentous.  Man, I love that little guy.

If I do not return, I’ve most likely fallen so thoroughly in love with the country that I can’t bear to leave.  Remember me fondly, and remember I’ll keep you all in my thoughts.

Till Mar.9^th when I return, Peace, Love, God Bless, and be good until I get back to shake things up with you.  SEE YA!

Ps. If I’ve got Wi-Fi, I’ll show ya’ll where I'm at via jeggergram

Pps. If anyone spoils the outcome of the episode of True Detective that I’m going to miss, I’ll egg your house... (Not joking)