Many people may not know, but I’m very dependent on my family in every sense. Hence, my recent Thailand trip was a true test of whether I’m able to live independently in a foreign environment. And after the last 20 days, I think I’ve fared fairly well though I felt my dependence shifted from my family to my friends. Surprisingly, I didn’t really feel homesick this time as compared to previous occasions. Maybe it’s because this trip exposed me to a lot of new experiences that will stick with me for a long time to come.
As expected, the living conditions weren’t that satisfactory but I believe we managed quite decently. The mattresses aren’t exactly comfortable and clean, with many of them infested with bed bugs. Every morning, we’ll find ourselves waking up with numerous itchy bites on our arms and backs. Some couldn’t even get a good night rest as their sleep is constantly disrupted by these bug bites.
The weather there is also unlike that in Singapore. While it poured relentlessly on our tiny island, the sky remained cloudless in Thailand. In fact, out of the 20 days we spent there, it only rained on 2 days. The afternoon heat is punishing, especially since it’s summertime now. Even in shade with fans blowing at full speed, we’ll find ourselves sweating uncontrollably. Temperature in the day hovered in the mid 30s while it dropped to the low 20s at night.
Such temperature variations undoubtedly led to many of us falling ill as we failed to hydrate ourselves adequately. But fortunately, after the first couple of days, we learnt our lesson and ensured that we drank plenty of water. I found that I was able to adapt to the climate there quite quickly just after 2 days which was a good thing as I knew I couldn’t afford to fall sick.
Running water also quickly became an issue due to water rationing. Drinking water wasn’t a problem as they were thousands of bottled water to go around. We had to time our baths, clothes-washing and even when to brush our teeth to coincide with periods when water pressure was high. If not, we’ll often find ourselves without running water when we most require it. Electricity too was thought to be a given till a couple of blackouts proved otherwise.
As the end of our trip nears, we realize how often we take for granted the comfort we’re so used to back in Singapore. The peace and serenity of the countryside offered a very different and unique experience from the bustling urban life. I’ll definitely miss those days because it’s something that we wouldn’t experience here. The visits to the various tourist attractions such as the snake farm, floating market and River Kwai made the trip even more memorable.