piezloves.

Humidity
Mugginess
Aromas (Good & Bad)
Dirty Streets
Busyness
Traffic

These are all things that make Thailand what it is and I have to say, I love it.

I have just returned from a holiday that brought me back to life. I felt like my life was slowly drying up with assignments and drama but the two weeks with no phone, limited internet connectivity and nothing else to distract me helped to revive my soul.

Thailand, and most of South East Asia for that matter, has such a strong sense of community. Everyone eats out on the streets and is in no rush to get anywhere or do anything. The country is busy with the amount of people there are, however, they are all so laid back and chilled. I believe it must have something to do with their Buddhist beliefs.

While I was there this year, the Thai New Year came in. They call this the Songkran Festival and it was an experience that I will never forget. Apart from being on the back of a scooter that my best friend was driving that hit a minimum of 3 people, we had an amazing day. The purpose of Songkran is to wash away last year and bring in the new clean year. They do this by absolutely drenching you with water and then talcum powdering you up. Unfortunately, usually the talcum powder was actually Prickly Heat which did just that - prickled and the water was coloured with dye that stained your skin. If you happen to be anywhere in Thailand during this festive period you are guaranteed to be drenched head to toe. Our motto was, ‘If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em!’ and the day was much more enjoyable because of it.

I’m now home and back into college and work. It’s the same old life but with a new perspective and a rested mind. I can’t be sure whether it was the time away or the complete and utter drenching of Songkran that washed me and made me new again but it really is amazing how much of a difference two weeks in a foreign land with an old friend can make.