I spent an uncertain week in Bangkok before starting my next adventures
I moved to Seattle in 1999. The city felt like home before I signed a lease on my first apartment on the corner of Bellevue Ave and Bellevue Place on Capitol Hill. Narrow quiet tree-lined streets. Views to distant snowy mountains rising above ferries crossing an inland sea.
Home and Bangkok are not such an easy fit. At first glance, Bangkok is a sprawling, crowded, concrete maze. There are massive malls at nearly every transit station. Sidewalks disappear or are commandeered by parked cars, motorbikes and food carts. Neighborhood streets meander and branch, but rarely connect. Cars rule, though they barely move.
It’s easy to identify things I don’t like. A small step to use those dislikes to evaluate a place, a job, a person, or an idea. I can define myself by my resulting conclusions; by my opposition to things.
I was trained to evaluate. I am good at it. Assess all the good and the bad and come to a conclusion. Then, move on. One thing I learned from my years teaching: evaluation closes doors. It signals the end of learning and asks that our effort and creativity be saved for something else. Evaluation is the enemy of growth.
Growth is what brings me joy. Growth takes work and requires me to be present. Here are some of the joys Bangkok has rewarded me with this week:
Bang Krachao — The “Green Lung” of Bangkok
The “Green Lung” is a huge forested area just across the river from Bangkok. It contains a park and botanical gardens, orchards, temples and homes built on wooden stilts. Conservation policies keep it from being developed and make it an excellent place to explore by bike. After a leisurely afternoon here, we had only seen a fraction of the area. I can’t wait to come back.
Markets
Bangkok is famous for the Chatuchak weekend market. People kept recommending it, but I wasn’t interested. I wasn’t into shopping (← defined by dislikes). One trip to Chatuchak, shirts, a belt, shorts and a foot massage later and I can’t get enough. This city is full of markets and I’ve barely scratched the surface.
Family!
I’ve been surprised at how powerful setting an intention can be. This year, I wanted to spend more time with family. I have been able to do that in Washington State and now, here in Bangkok
Bangkok is also the land of my cousin Jeff and his wife Kat. Here I get to have adventures exploring the city with these guys. It has been so fun & I love getting to know them better.
I have not seen my brother Scott in years. He lives in Japan and rarely gets to visit the U.S.
But where was he this week?
Bangkok, of course, for a conference. We met on the skytrain, caught a boat up the river and spent an evening sight seeing and catching up over a waterfront dinner.
So much more
The week also included trips to sections of Bangkok that I had never seen before, like Little India and Bang Wa, adventures on the skytrain and subway, and even a trip to a water park on top of a suburban mall.
Bangkok is not Seattle and I am glad for that — I already have a Seattle in my life.
Bangkok is an adventure around every corner, a riot of culture and commerce, an endless variety of delicious food , pockets of green and calm, a gateway to Southeast Asia. It is full of people I already love and so many people I have yet to meet.
Bangkok reminds me to embrace uncertainty, to avoid easy conclusions, to be present.
Bangkok takes work, like all of the things I love most.