In July of 2018 I decided to make Thailand my home away from home. I entered Thailand and checked into the Ambassador hotel located in the heart of Bangkok on Sukhumvit road soi 11. A Touch of Fire performed at the Ambassador hotel back in the mid 80’s. Consequently, whenever I visit Bangkok, it is my hotel of choice. My reservation was for two weeks and I used that time to find a more permanent place to stay. A few days later, after some legal back ‘n forth, I was able to open a Thai bank account. Shortly thereafter, I signed a one year lease agreement on a studio apartment located just behind the hotel. Once moved in and having most of my business taken care of, I just wanted to unwind, relax and explore. I was well into my golden years and wanted to enjoy them to their fullest. Thailand was the perfect place for that. It represented the start of a new phase in my life.
I consider myself a seasoned traveler and didn’t want to be part of a tour group, so all of the sightseeing and touristy things I did were on my own. I would higher a driver, sometimes for a day, to take me wherever I wanted to go. A little more expensive but at least I didn’t have to play follow the leader. I visited temples, did some island hopping, went snorkeling, attended outdoor Thai boxing matches, enjoyed the nightlife, you name it, I tried to do it all. But one thing about being in Thailand, there is no end to the things you can do.
On this particular day, I went on a 60 minute safari on the back of an elephant. Other than the non-stop talking of the elephant handler, it was quit nice. Being out in nature is always a plus for me. It’s a way for me to organize my thoughts and reconnect with my spiritual side. From there I went to experience one of Thailand’s many floating markets; Markets that sell their goods from the edge of a water bank where the customers never leave their boats. Thailand’s floating markets are basically designed for tourist. It certainly gave me a new shopping experience. I honestly enjoyed it, and, unlike the elephant handler, the operator of the boat never said a word.
