See you again, Thailand

The word for goodbye is Thai is "la-kon." However, I was told that almost no Thai people say this to one another, as it is seen as having too much finality. They prefer the equivalent of "see you again." I like that sentiment as Derek and I prepare to leave Thailand tomorrow after over two months here. And since we have to fly to Singapore out of Bangkok in April, we really will see this place again, however briefly.

There are many things I have discovered that I love about Thai culture, and some things that bothered me. Here is a partial list:

Things I will miss about Thailand:
* fruit shakes: watermelon, mango, lemon, pineapple - blended with ice for $.50
* som tum (green papaya salad) phet nit noi (a little spicy)
* Thai massage - $5 for 1.5 hours
* Swenson's ice cream sundaes / frappes
* dark teak wood houses with steep slanted roofs
* the VIP bus!
* banana roti at foodstalls
* exploring on the motorbike
* fresh fruit and muesli with yogurt for breakfast (every day)
* doggie dressup (I mostly find this appalling, especially when the miniature dachschund down the street was wearing his cat 'costume.' But it is a hilarious amd almost universal aspect of Thai culture.)
* smiling Thai women
* outdoor aerobics sessions in the evenings - These people have no shame! It's great.
* Thai lady boys. This is the most gay-friendly country I have ever been in.

Things I Won't Miss About Thailand:
* political trucks blasting Thai pop music at an ear-splitting level as they drive by
* Thai pop music - even when it is not blasted, it's unbearable.
* violent, gory movies on the bus (Although our last bus trip played a Lindsey Lohan / Disney double feature - Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap! Too bad they were overdubbed in Thai.)
* standing up to salute the king before the movie starts in the theater - You have to listen to a cheesy song sung by little kids and watch a photo montage of the king's accomplishments.
* Thai towns and cities seem to pave every surface. It's ugly, and the towns turn into concrete frying pans in the afternoon.
* pollution from cars, tuk-tuks, songtaos and motorbikes
* hazy skies - from the pollution. The mountains were beautiful, but there were no views!
* food stalls with mystery food - bad for vegetarians
* Singha and Chang beer - they give you a wicked headache
* roosters crowing at all hours of the day!
* middle-aged Western men with much younger Thai women hanging on their arms. Thai women also hang out at bars to entice male customers in.
* kids perched on the front of motorbikes - definitely no seatbelts!

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Tomorrow we head on the bumpy road to Cambodia. We have heard that besides bumps, it is full of touts and con artists at the border. It promises to be an adventure! We'll report back from the other side...