For reasons unbeknownst to me, Asia has been clumped into a region of consistencies. This stereotyping however could not be further from the truth. I mistakenly imagined Thailand to contain many similarities of India. Perhaps a little less Hindu and a little more beach but more or less consistently ‘South Asian’. Touts always giving you the “best price, madam”, animals in the street, English speakers all around, and an occasional temple to keep the spirituality alive. I could not have been more wrong.
Sifting your toes through the sand on an amazingly white beach may feel very similar anywhere you go. Yet, in Thailand, the view of the horizon on the glistening ocean is somehow different. I think this may have something to do with that fact that in Thailand, ocean equals life.
Sitting at a local dive (parking lot by day, street food restaurant by night), it is basically impossible to get even the local pad thai specialty prepared without the two most important ingredients: prawns and oyster sauce. Despite the Buddhism so uniquely integrated in everyone’s life, being Vegetarian excludes fish, as in Thailand, they are a necessity, along with rice and hot sauce.
Thinking back on Thailand, though, in a way does conjure up some familiarly Indian feelings. That is, just like after the first time I visited India, I felt completely overwhelmed by the unique beauty of this place. It’s these feelings that perhaps for me help connect the dots of what is ‘Asia’, ‘South Asia’, or whatever else you want to call it. For now I guess, let’s just say it’s a crazy wonderful place to be.
See more of Thailand here.
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