Trish in Transit

A few days after Korea, I got my butt on a plane to Thailand with my friend, Mary. We booked the tickets a couple of months in advance with the seoul, I mean sole, purpose of seeing the floating lights in Chiang Mai. I was in Ilocos with the Bookie team when Ate Mer called, her voice brimming with excitement, “SEAT SALE!!! BOOK KO NA? (Should I book it?)” And I was like, “YES GO GO GO NOW BOOK IT! DID YOU BOOK IT? OH MY GOSH!!! Wait, magkano? (How much?)” Hahaha. So yeah, we were excited :))

There are many things I loved about this trip. Just thinking about the food – holy crap the food was really something!! Even the street food tasted glorious – sometimes even better than the ones in the restaurants. Best pad thai we had was in a stall beside the pier *drool*

Anyway *wipes drool* what I wanted to say was that going to Thailand for the festival was one of the best decisions I made this year. We met a cab driver who collects bills from different countries, a monk who is a boxer and a fan of Manny Pacquiao, and a string of solo travelers who have only their backpack, a guidebook or a map, and a thirst for adventure to set them on their way. Ligia, the Brazilian traveler who became our steady companion and friend throughout our stay in Chiang Mai, told us that she took two weeks off from work every year to travel to a completely new destination. “You will never be alone,” she said, telling us all about the interesting characters she’s met during her trips.

The whole experience left me breathless, and if I keep talking (or typing) then I will probably never stop. So for now, I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Here are my favorite shots and memories in the Land of Smiles!