Thailand

Posted by Marci on Dec 2, 2010 in | 0 comments

“Sa-wat dee kaa,” a sing-song voice said as my friend and I walked along the streets of Bangkok our map in hand. “What are you looking for?” The small woman, who came up to my friend’s ribcage, asked.

“We’re not sure. We’ve just arrived. Can you suggest something?” I asked.

“Do you want shopping, clothing made, food, it’s too late for the Thai Palace, but you should go there tomorrow,” she said.

“I want to have custom clothing made,” I said.

“I know the best shop. They make a perfect Armani dress for you.” She put her hand in the air and hailed the first Tuk Tuk. She haggled for a few minutes securing us the best price and then motioned for us to get in the moped-powered carriage.

We weaved through the streets, narrowly missing other cars until we came to a small shop. I’d assumed the woman was paid to bring tourists into this shop, but I was wrong. When we walked in the shopkeeper was surprised to see us. They had a private clientele and didn’t cater to tourists.

My friend and I were invited to sit on a couch while books and fashion magazines were placed in our laps. An hour later a motherly woman took my measurements. I was worried that I was participating in child labor, so I asked her who would make my dress. She assured me that her two hands would do the work.

Two days later, the shopkeeper delivered two silk dresses to my hotel. The material slid over my curves and fell into place along my body. I offered him a tip for going out of his way to deliver my garments, but he refused and instead handed me two beautiful scarves I hadn’t ordered. “A gift from my wife for the lovely lady,” he said.

As my friend and I explored the streets of Bangkok we couldn’t walk more than a block without someone offering to guide us. We were directed to a park where we watched the local students learn art and other trades. We explored the waterways by boat, seeing how the locals lived. Children ran to the riverbanks to smile, wave, and make funny faces at us.

At the Grand Palace we walked through the temples, praying before the Emerald Buddha. At What Po (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha) we walked around the forty-six meter statue covered in gold leaf and stared at the mother of pearl inlay on his feet.

We stayed in a luxurious villa surrounded by gardens in Phuket. Each morning I walked to the beach and received an hour and fifteen minute thai massage while I listened to the waves crash on the shore. I rafted a river in the jungles, went scuba diving in the islands, and explored caves by kayak. We ate spices and curries that exploded with flavors in our mouths.

In the end, I found the feeling of zen so apparent in the people of Thailand.