Layers of Thailand

Thailand is a strange lover. At first, it gives you the best welcome, with open arms. Everything feels magical, every corner a new discovery. The baht bills in your wallet, the rhythm of the BTS, the fruit vendors on every street or the aesthetic, to mention a few of the most recognizable details. Even the most ordinary things like a simple sidewalk or a battered bridge in Bang Na become endearing!

But Thailand has many layers. The deeper you go, the more you realize there’s a core you will never reach. That place is not for you. A Thai essence that belongs only to them, where you will always be a farang. What if Thailand never truly wanted me? What if it only lets me stay the outer layers?

I don’t mind at all.  I’ve never truly belonged anywhere, never fit into any place or culture (free me from that). And honestly, those outer layers of Thailand are the perfect place for me, so… excellent!