01-02-21

It was said that ‘alone’ is just a state, condition or period of time. You travel with family or a group in Bangkok but you may still want to have privacy. While spending time alone, you can reflect, concentrate, turn inward and spiritual. The feeling is important to strengthen your mental health.

It was said that ‘lonely’ is worse than ‘lonesome’. A lonely person is alone and not loved, or has no one to love. A ‘lonesome’ person is alone, but has someone, somewhere, whose memory of will help a person emotionally survive through the hard times of being alone. A lonely person sadly has no hope but a lonesome person can long for love.

Bangkok, being the capital of Thailand, is however called ‘The Back Garden of Hong Kong’. It is also called City of Angels. It may not be beautiful but is certainly relaxing, to an extent that you can let off steam. It takes about 2 hours to fly from Hong Kong to Bangkok. The city has more than 1,000 hotels, from deluxe to cheap, with a population of almost 10 million to serve you. Bangkok is in the Chao Phraya River delta and its flatlands are favourable for houses, not for scenic hills. People in Hong Kong sprint in Bangkok for great shopping, Thai food, spa and Thai reflexology. Swimming pools are for psychological desire more than actual use; and sunshine is more for feeling good as most activities of tourists are often indoor.

Thai massage is good: during the one-hour massage, you will be pressed, stretched, pulled and rocked at the hands and legs of the therapist. They use their thumbs, elbows and knees to take you to the promised land. Every joy is connected with pain and every relaxation is controlled by the intensity of muscular endurance. Guess how much? It is about US$30!

In Bangkok, meaning of life is not proven by those who want to work hard. I was most happy when mobile phone, computer, pen and paper were taken away from me. I do not want to use my brain and in fact I have no brain. I eat, play, sleep and snore like a pig. We hungry pigs want sumptuous Thai food: galangal, coriander, lemon grass, shallots, pepper, lime leaves, shrimp paste, fish sauce and chilies…My favourite classic Thai dessert is khao niaow ma muang(mango sticky rice). It is heavenly and irresistible. The bright yellow and white look is a visual gift of God.

Culture in Hong Kong allows us little flexibility in terms of what we wear to the office or even at weekends. In Bangkok, except for palaces, certain temples and 5-star hotels, everywhere is like a beach: you can wear beach outfits, deep mini dress, botty shorts, tube top, vest, hot pants, hats, sunglasses and sarongs. I do not shave every morning. I use no hair gel, wax or mud. I bring no shoes except a pair of flip flops. ‘If I won the award for laziness, I would send somebody to pick it for me.’

There is a Thai expression ‘dai yang sia yang’ which means ‘you have to lose something to get another thing’. If you are alone, lonely or lonesome, you will be fully compensated in Bangkok. The business of life in this delightful city is settled through a variety of payments ranging from joy, gratitude, serenity, amusement, awe and love, fleeting or not. Being single is no longer a lack of options—but a choice. Bangkok is an opportunity for you to live life on your own terms and not to feel apologetic for yourself or anyone. Sunshine and smiles are with you—unfailingly obeying your orders.

Some said it was due to the rise of populism, people in Thailand have started to grumble about economic inequality and a decline in social justice since 2008. Protests and street demonstrations took place again in early 2020 demanding political reforms.

I remember the catchy Thai song by the great singer Bird Thongchai called “Koo Gud”:

teeth meet tongue, big problem

better to keep oil and fire separate…

truth is, you and me, have feelings for each other

so why are we battling all the time?

you’re a tiger, I’m a lion.

In fact, there’s nothing wrong we love each other, but why is it like this?

Peace and love are what we all need, apart from a glass of Singha beer. If not found in Bangkok, where can we find peace and love? It seems those who are alone, lonely and lonesome now have to consider seriously the forgotten city of Manila for a new paradise…

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