melting in bangkok

I arrived to Bangkok jet-lagged and overwhelmed by the weight of being completely alone. Exhausted from 95° heat and 70% humidity, I sat in an air-conditioned Starbucks, feeling ridiculous and weak for succumbing to a $5 reminder of home within the first few hours. I read and re-read an email from a wise friend:

“Know that it won't all be fun, and that is okay. You sometimes might not know you're having fun until you look back at a picture of yourself that a random stranger took and you see your smile.”

Over the next four days, I wandered through breathtaking temples, bustling markets, and canals where all I could hear was running water and my own breath. I made new friends and ran around Bangkok with plans that echoed the social life I love so much from home. I partied on the famed backpackers’ road, a posh club, and a hotel rooftop with sprawling city views.

Here I am, melting in the heat, as captured by a random stranger - with a true smile from having so much fun. Now, on to Chiang Mai.