Last day in Thailand, last day in Urbana Langsuan, and I have to admit, we were feeling sad.
I say 'we' because, unlike previous occasions, it wasn't me only who was feeling it this time.
My friend, too.
Funny thing is neither of us knew why.
Maybe it was the realization that this was December and we had reached the end of a year in which we didn't think we would be coming to BKK so often.
Maybe it was the view out the balcony of Urbana Langsuan.
Maybe it was the breakfast we were having on the table.
Or maybe it was me, whom in the head there was the thought that I didn't know when it was I'd be coming back here again.
Would I come back here in the latter part of the month?
Would I be coming back here again next year?
Would I get to go elsewhere?
All these thoughts shimmered in my head this morning as we finished our 19-Grain toast and organic eggs (which we knew we would miss so much)
After breakfast we lingered on the balcony a bit more, breathing our own thanks, saying our own goodbyes, then did a checkout before heading on to Siam Paragon for lunch.
I had been missing the food from Michelin-starred restaurants Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice, Thipsamai.
This afternoon at the food court in the basement we ordered a plate of mixed chicken, steamed style, battered fried style, sliced cucumber, and what I think was a lump of coagulated chicken blood (which I don't eat).
There were, of course, two plates of rice.
I refuse to share.
And I don't care if someone says I'm eating too much carbs or that the rice of the chicken rice is unhealthy.
Yes, it is a whole plate of white rice, and yes, there's that faint sheen of (chicken/chicken stock) oil glistening over all the rice grains, but their rice is tasty, and if I'm going to come all the way here to have (reasonably-priced) Go Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice, you can be sure I am going to have the whole plate of rice all for myself.
We also ordered a plate of Pad Thai from Thipsamai.
And a plate of fried spring rolls.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a pang looking over this plate of Pad Thai.
Not just the fact that I have had a special love for Pad Thai for the longest time but also the memory of Thipsamai being introduced to me all those months ago the first time I traveled to Thailand here.
I guess I won't forget how the restaurant looks like from the outside.
Neither will I forget how it looks like from the inside.
When we finished, we got ourselves out of the food court and towards the booth areas where we got a BOOST juice each for dessert.
My friend got a Berry Boost, I got a Cookies and Cream, and slowly we sipped on our smoothies as we made our way back to Urbana Langsuan on foot before making our way to the airport.