Thailand has to be one of the most stress relieving countries out there. Sure, it is hot and sure, you don't speak the language. But there are so many aspects to visiting Thailand that make the country paradisiacal. And we haven't even made it to the beach or our climbing destinations yet!
Food
Two nights ago, we wandered up and down Chiang Rai's night market eating food chopped, grilled, kneaded, and fried in front of us. I was so excited about the papaya salad that a woman pounded and mixed in a wooden trestle in front of us that she taught me how to say my first Thai word: Aroi-ka. Delicious! And at that same night market we walked about 3000 steps eating our way through the stalls -- grilled squid, noodles with curry, bubble tea, fried octopus and vegetable apps, black and green bean taro cakes. With a stuffed belly, I finished the night with Pad Thai. I then ate Pad Thai for lunch and dinner the next day along with mango and sticky rice from different food stands. And still not sick of Pad Thai.
Not only is the food so delicious that I can consume repititively and in distressingly large amounts, it is also low stress because you can eat it at any time and al fresco. Food vendors abound with outside tables or to go containers so that you can take the delicious Pad Thai to your venue of choice. At the food vendors, they have copious amounts of diverse ingredients and the food is quickly made to order. They rarely hawk their yummy food either, and don't seem that bothered if you decide you don't want what they are making. I think they figure - your loss! The price is also right-- costs only one or two dollars for a whole dish. A delicious variety of inexpensive food, easily accessible and freshly made, makes me a happy person.
Atmosphere
We are currently in the north of Thailand, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and these cities have little of the usual developing country heart breaks, such as starving dogs and begging children, and annoyances, touts and garbage covered streets. Instead ornate temples, golden robed monks, and flowers abound. And although the city can have karoake blasting late into the night, the country side surrounding the city can be so still and quiet. A few days ago, we biked to some thermal springs 10 miles north of Chiang Rai and we soaked in quiet there. Quiet, surprisingly, has been a rare commodity during our traveling. Traveling usually brings city noises or radios and TVs blaring. This Thai country side stillness is often elusive in African or South American countries. Even in my small village in Madagascar with no electricity, usually someone had their radio blasting or kids were shrieking or goats were braying. The stillness that we have found in Thailand so far is a beautiful rarity.
People
Someone once told me an urban legend about one person dropping a wallet and a Thai person wanting to return the wallet but not wanting to bother the person by tapping them on the back because the Thai person did not want to disturb the wallet-dropper. The Thai person had a moral quandary that I would never have -- they hesitated in preventing that person from losing their wallet because they respected that person's peace so much. That story (although maybe not true) has affected the way that I travel here and how I try to show respect to each person I encounter. In return, I have noticed that most of the interactions that I have had here are filled with nodding and hand prayer salutations. Of course, there are still a few touts and obnoxious people but calmness and leaving you in peace seem to prevail. One of my favorite things about being here is how many people speak to you in Thai, smiling, knowing that you don't understand what they are saying but they want to help you anyway.
What a wonderful place.
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