A traveler? Sure, when I was a little girl I fantasized about far off places, but to be 24 and traveling (for the most part) alone – nope, that wasn’t me.
In the beginning I thought this was a pyramid scheme. People quitting their habitual lives to travel, are you kidding me? I wasn’t buying it. There had to be a catch! All I could agonize over was how much money it would take to be traveling like these “travel geeks” I had come to know. But as I continued to meet them in person, matching story to author, and hearing their real-life “I did it and so can you” tales, everything started to change.
The adventure of the unknown takes us to new level of horizon creating new and untold opportunity. Sometimes life is about getting on a stinky dilapidated Thai city bus and seeing where it takes you. Today it took me to a very old fashioned run down town. No foreigners in sight. I was definitely looked at as an outsider as people stared at me at every corner (doesn't help that I'm taking pictures and basically emphasizing my alien status). But it's to be expected when you trail off the beaten path.
Travel, of course, has a certain magical allure, but the personal transformation won't happen if you aren't open to it. I witnessed many examples of grinding poverty today (I rod on a city bus beside a number of Burmese beggar children who were not more than 6 years old and looked (and smelt) as though they hadn't showered in years). Although, I have seen this on a number of occasion it doesn't stop the funny feeling that overcomes me. Further, it never ceases to amazes me that these kids continued to smile and laugh throughout our entire encounter; not a care in the world. Anyone can be an inspiration to themselves and to others.
Anyways, enough of that for today, here's some pictures of what I saw this fine afternoon.
les concombres.
You can always find a vendor asleep on their own stale.
Dried stinky flattened squid is usually close by as well.
Smelly fishies.
I still haven't figured out the appeal with the copious amounts of fake flowers.
Fabric for days. There were a dozen stales like this. Look at those neons, oh my!
I found a temple.
just chilling.
5 incenses (actually usually 3) for good luck. Thai people are very superstitious. Odd number are supposed to be lucky numbers. Lottery tickets with odd numbers are likely appreciated. The number "9" is supposed to bring good luck. In Thai language number "nine" is closed to the word "rice" and to the word "to enter". So it is an important word of luck, food, improvement. For Buddhist ceremonies such as wedding or new shop settlement, nine monks are always invited. The number "9" is an auspicious number. The number "3" is also an important number.
I found another temple. There wasn't anybody there but me and a dozen old ladies chirping on its front steps.
qt pie.
gargoyle.
This was much larger than it appears here.
gargoyle guard.
I'm really not as obsessed with babies as this entry makes me out to be. Asian babies on motorbikes though? Who can resist that.
I always get a kick out of the freaky looking mannequins.
Vroooooom.
Colours of the rainbow, cell phone case edition.
These ladies were way too excited when I asked to take a picture of them. They love that fabric softener.
Thai spirit houses: The Thais widely believe in spirits. The spirit house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. Offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits, in return these spirits provide protection to the owner and watch over the property.
yo momma.
lime juice everyday.
India is my next destination at the end of February.
Stay tuned,
em xo
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