the long way home

The morning I left KTM, as those of you who were there can attest, I was still sorting out 'my life', stuffing 'stuff' into my endless bags and running around in my pjs* minutes before the taxi arrived.  But I did make it to the airport bathed (albeit out of a bucket - thank you Ritsu for boiling the water!) and on time.  In fact, owing to my flight being cancelled, I was early (insert high 5 here^).  I had a choice at this point to:

a) check in, and sit in the departure lounge for another 3 hours drinking expensive coffee whilst gazing out the window onto a depressingly rainy KTM, reminiscing about 'the good times' and probably perturbing those around me as I did 'the ugly cry'**; or
b) finish writing my unfinished farewells, dropping them back at my apartment and giving Ritsu one last squeeze...

So I took option b).  Ritz was pretty surprised when the door bell rang and she saw me standing there (possibly because the bell rang, meaning we had power?!)...'wow that 6 months went quickly!' she said as she opened the door!  And then we said goodbye, again!...And then I was in the taxi, again.  And then I realised I had misread the boarding time, again! And then I was running with my thongs (flip-flops) falling out of my bag, again!  And then I was thongless, again! And then the plane was delayed, again!

And then I left Nepal and could not see the Himal through clouds.  I was happy but sad, excited but tired, relieved but anxious. 

Enter: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit (aka Bangkok - Guinness book of records holder for the longest place name...)

Stepping out onto the tube in Bangkok the temperature change hit me...suddenly the jeans, boots, hat, scarf and coat seemed perhaps overdoing it?!  At 9:00 pm it was 30 something degrees and I was cooking!...Those lost thongs were missed. 

Things I love about this city in no particular order:

• 24 hour power
• 7-11s on every corner
• late night thai massages
• air-conditioning and wi-fi
• good coffee
• better cocktails
• the smell of chili in the air
• street food

After I had unburdened myself at my hostel I set out in search of Day 1's massage...returning 2 hours later I slept too well and the next morning forgot I'd left a valuable item above my bed the night before...

Day 2...I considered the floating markets, the cooking safari, Bangkok by bicycle, the reclining Buddha, the emerald Buddha even, but opted to 'chill' over a long slow breakfast and a skype session with my Nepali auntie.  Not wanting to squander my time completely I made the pilgrimage to Khao San Road, and underwent another ceremonial massage...

And then I was in a taxi, again!  And then...blank...

And then I was reenacting the entire movie 'The Terminal' and funnily enough there were Uzbekistanis.  And then I did 'the ugly cry'.

And then it was Day 3.  And then it was 4:00 pm.  And then I was in the air.  I was happy but sad, excited but exhausted, relieved but anxious.

And then I was in Australia!  And then I was in my family's arms.  And then I was drinking beautiful coffee and enjoying beautiful conversation and lots of time with my beautiful family.  I was happy, exhausted and relieved. 

So we have started a little tradition in Sydney called the 'attempted airport terminal welcome home dance'.  It was inaugurated when my didi Sarah returned from Italy. A few of us crazy ladies endeavoured to perform a surprise dance in the terminal, owing, however, to a 'boom-box' malfunction we were relocated to the carpark. 

Due to my 'delayed arrival', the 'attempted airport terminal welcome home dance', was relocated to outside our apartment building early the next morning...

This is why I love my friends.

* 'pjs' - abbreviated form of pyjama (from the Persian word meaning, 'leg garment')
^ 'high-5' - a gesture of celebration...aka 'chos' (Nepali), 'high-touch' (Japanese), 'dai-pi-ont-ke' (Polish), 'hoch fünf' (German)
** 'the ugly cry' - the action of crying so hard that you look really ugly...