Tae Yoon: Life from 2006-2021

now that i've crossed into my 6-month mark of living in thailand, even surprisingly surpassing the amount of time i was living in korea, i thought i'd share a few of my thoughts on thailand, bangkok, and its culture.

there's something very alluring about thailand, and it's evident in the vast array of people who live in bangkok. for me personally, the attraction comes from a few particular things. the first would be, it's considerably different from nyc. i know this is stating the obvious, but after being in nyc for so long, i'm still nowhere near ready to go back home. while i do miss it at times, i also don't as well. i would say that what i miss most about nyc are my friends and the available diversity of the city in every conceivable aspect, but going a year or two without that won't kill me.

thailand is also great because the culture is somewhat openminded and welcoming, and is therefore quite receptive to foreigners and alike. i mean sure, there are definitely thai people who do not think this way, but many do and make it agreeable for those who choose to come and reside here. while in bangkok, i usually never feel threatened or uneasy due to the fact that i barely speak thai---hand-gesturing goes a long way and i'm grateful to be able to get around by myself as much as i do, thanks to its peacful residents. thai people in general all seem very nice and like they enjoy life, no matter what their circumstances are, and their smiles and positive outlook can sometimes be cheerfully infectious. the tropical weather is also something i've come to enjoy. i used to really dislike hot weather, but now i've come to appreciate it because even though i don't work out, i've still managed to lose a little bit of weight from all the sweat i produce on a daily basis (i look forward to working up a sweat from just walking ten minutes to grab some food near my place). i admit that i do miss winter, but living in a one-season climate is especially nice on those days when i look up at the sky to see its breathtaking views with the hot sun on my skin. also, the street food here is just fucking awesome. it's inexpensive, easily found pretty much everywhere and comes in a wide and eclectic range. from noodles and papaya salad to seafood and shabu-shabu, you can find a street vendor anywhere and happily pull up a chair to eat. in fact, the NYT wrote, "Bangkok may boast the finest street food on earth." how fucking cool is that? and for the occasions where i'm craving other types of food, i can find most of it here (except american sriracha sauce). after one gets a bit used to the city, it's also not that difficult to get around. while bangkok's public transportation system is continuing to grow, i still think it's quite adequate at the moment. for my whole life, i've been used to schlepping it on buses, trains and taxis, and find it comforting to have a reliable way to get around without having to depend on anyone else. also for a broke ass like me, the buses here with no air-conditioning only cost 7฿ (equivalent to about 25¢). it's funny to note that from all the friends that i've made and people i've met here, absolutely NONE of them have ever rode the bus in this city---i found this out when i would ask them about where the buses run and how much they cost. i'm proud to say i learned everything i know about the buses i normally ride through trial and error. bangkok is also pretty modern in many ways. there are so many large buildings, hotels, international corporations and daily happenings here that are no different from what goes on in any other modern and prosperous cosmopolitan metropolis. the party and nightlife scene here is also quite decent, and having a drunken night out with friends can be done on a daily basis.

lastly, bangkok is a great place to just walk. i love walking around the city in my new balance sneakers and discovering something new---it's what i live for. however, due to the current rainy season and the unpredictable weather that sometimes changes faster than the time it takes to tie your shoe, i don't walk as often as i'd like to anymore.

i'm sure i've left out tons of other great details about thailand, but these are all that come to mind at the moment. and yes, there are also MANY MANY details about the country and culture that i don't appreciate and get really frustrated by, but i strive to stay optimistic so we'll leave it at that.

if anyone is planning to visit, don't be shy to say hi---maybe we can go grab a beer (or 2 or 3).