International trip... In the time of recession.... Self financed ….. are the most shocking combination anybody could ever think of. No more guessing games.... I am talking about a trip which I recently had to THAILAND.
Traveling, visiting new places were in my blood, but didn't get such big wings to cross national borders. The thrill started from the procedure of security check in for international departure, immigration and continued even while boarding. A beautiful air hostess wrapped in golden color dress holding an orchid said two wonderful words “SWASDEE KHA” (A way Thai people greet each other). 
When the dawn broke after valentine's week in Bangkok airport it was an unbelievable site. SUVARVABHUMI is the name they have given to their international Airport it was a lot bigger than what I had seen in India. I was amazed to know that they have an Indian word as their International airport's name. Then I discovered that most of the Thai words are derived from Sanskrit language. They also fold their hands and say “hello !!!”. The hunt of knowing more in bangkok airport took me to a place where I saw SAGAR MANTHAN (one of the mythological event written in our Hindu holy book ) Statue having lord Vishnu at the center and tug-of-war between the demons and the Gods were amazingly articulated in the sculptures. Every step was full of excitement took me towards the exit where my tourist guide was waiting for me, he took me to my suite. On the way to my suite I saw many awesome building almost touching the sky, colorful cabs rushing from one to another, flyovers are replica of human nerves. The next day was my city tour which included a tour to a temple of lord Buddha an absolute delight of the carvings and stupefying experiment on architecture. Pearl Center was the next destination after the Temple where my general knowledge about pearl culture got updated and came to know that Thailand is one of the major supplier of pearls and each pearl is like star devolves down and gotten into the shell.
Then the reason came for which THAILAND was selected for a visit, full of adventures and fun, for which I had gone to many small islands. There was an island where the most famous movie called “The Beach” was shot and after hearing this my paint brush of fantasy started creating an image of Leonardo D' Capri o on the canvas of imagination. There was another Bollywood movie was also shot called “Kaho Na Pyaar Hai”, felt like one of the celebrity being there. Monkey beach was the next famous tourist place where tourist were dying to see MONKEY. Well this provokes me to tell this "silly" to see people running behind MONKEY.
Never ever thought that being on a speed boat could make you feel like being on roller – coaster ride, each wave when hit the boat except the boat everything else fall apart. Suddenly we realized that the boat is stopped in the place where you don't see island at all before we could run our thoughts further tourist guide queried whether we know swimming or not and gave us life jacket and urged to wear if we are not a swimmer.... I could not stop myself remembering sinking of Titanic as the situation resembled that of the movie. But this fear was replaced by fear of water when her statement proclaimed “we have exactly 2 hours for snorkeling”, snorkeling, in which you get certain equipment through which you would see a real time aquarium at your own risk. Initially it was unquestionably an horrifying thought of jumping into water without even knowing anything about swimming. This sinking terror was frozen when I actually saw the beautiful world beneath the giant sea. With this enjoyment 2 hours flew like 2 seconds and we came back to an island called Phi-Phi Don the only place where you find food. After a long exercise on the boat ride and snorkeling food tasted delicious. Later having stomach full food we did some site seeing and saw a canoe lying and rowing cost was put on the board. The water sport curiosities started demanding the same, and went for the first time in my life, so far, canoing which was the last adventurous thing for the day.
The day after we went to a beach site called Patong beach. Let me give you a little history behind the name Patong, this actually a combination of two words Pa and Tong where Pa means banana in Thai language and Tong means Forest, Patong beach was a banana forest earlier. This is the best place to relax in the beach. Inadvertently my eyes went to a person who was calling for para sailing at the first thought I said NO... This No was not for the person but for myself as I am afraid of heights but after snorkeling I had a feeling that everything is possible we just need to try it once then with all possible courage I said yes for sky riding and then they gave me some safety belts to wear and instructed me when to run , when to stop and stuffs like that and a coach would be coming with me. My hands sensed a rapid drop in temperature and I was literally shivering when I had those ropes of parachute, with the count of 3 they told me to run. I ran for hardly 3 seconds and the feeling after that was beyond of any body's belief, I was flying !!! I could feel the air beneath my feet. Everything seem to be so small, theres nothing which could be matched with my notion, height was never so wonderful before. It went for one complete round of the shore and then came down, felt like an achievement... sounds funny but it gave me a confidence that I could fly. The whole evening collocated with the same thought full of pride.
The following day was full of fun activities which the resort people have kept for their guests like blind folded, hide and seek and loads of swimming pool games... I won many prizes as I was not afraid of water now!!! Then a session only of photography I was already engrossed with the feeling of a celebrity now this part of the trip actually added to my thoughts. Subsequently I went for show which was arranged by the resort people where I saw most beautiful girls were dancing I was appreciating there beauty when I was told that those were actually not girls but guys I was completely shocked and they call them as lady boys. This surprise lasted till I went to bed.
Then comes the best part of the trip SHOPPING. Theres a funny yet interesting thing I came across was that the shops do have shifts in bangkok... One evening I went out and bought a hand bag but was not sure whether that was a right decision or not after coming back to the room my co-tourists actually appreciated my selection could not stop my self and went again to buy one more but realized that the shift of handbag shop was over and fruit seller started.
This was the entire experience I had when I had gone to Thailand.... In other words this was the pearl country in my horizon.
“ …..KHAWP KHUN KHA....” (Thank You in Thai Language)
