Today marked the last day here in Bangkok, and the last day here at 42 Sukhumvit Residences in the Ekkamai zone.
Was I pensive?
Very much so.
This day, after all, culminated in 9 months' worth of monthly (bi-monthly) trips here to the capital city of Bangkok.
When I first came here in March I had no idea how to ride the BTS, much less know where or what the stations were. It was a time where we got mixed up between Central World and Central Embassy, couldn't find our way from Nai Lert Park to Central Chidlom except by wandering around and studying the map.
There was a time when I didn't know what Thipsamai was or how good the chicken of Go-Ang Pratunam was or how great the price of a BOOST smoothie was.
Let's not talk about the regular, day to day things, where to stay, where to eat.
I didn't know about Big C or Siam Square or MBK or Jodd's Night Market.
I didn't know about Emquartier or EmSphere or places like Thong Lor.
Not to mention that I hadn't even been back to Chatuchak in 28 years.
It might seem regular for me to appreciate beauty and cosmetic chain Eve & Boy or Beautrim now, but at one season we got into an argument with each other over whether to use the Chidlom BTS or the Siam BTS simply because Google Maps had parked the location of our phones separately.
And about the BTS, let's not talk about stations like St. Louis or Sathorn or Phrom Phong or Silom or Victory Monument.
We barely even knew the difference between Nana and Asok and Siam.
But that was 9 months ago, and thankfully I know my way around the touristy shopping areas of Bangkok way much more than I used to.
I know a bit of the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi too.
This morning we had our breakfast of eggs and toast, packed, then checked out.
Before leaving, however, I made sure I took a couple pictures of the room, so beautifully quaint were they.
From here we headed out to Siam Paragon.
I wanted chicken rice from Go-Ang Pratunam, and because there wasn't time to run to the original outlet as i had done couple of months before, it was at the food court of the mall that we ordered our rice and steamed chicken and breaded fried chicken.
There was a bit of shopping- I couldn't resist, finally- where I got nail polish from Eve & Boy.
I think we went for a 90 minute foot massage at LeLe on the same side of Siam Square after, then took the BTS back to Ekkamai, where we got a Grab to Don Mueang.
Thus ends the 2024 year for Thailand.
I couldn't be more thankful for all the months that I've been here.
There's a lot going on to ensure that I am here.
There's also a lot going on to ensure that I get to keep coming here.
This, I won't forget, I won't ignore, I won't treat lightly- ever.
Never in my life did I ever think that I would have the privilege to come here so frequent, and this, despite, circumstances that make it nearly impossible for me to be here.
Perhaps one day, soon, in 2025, I might have a chance to go Pattaya or Trat or Chonburi or Chiangrai or Chiangmai.
That's a lot to want to go.
There is a lot too I wish to say about this entire season that I've been here, but perhaps I shall leave that for another article, another time.