From Bangkok to El Paso with Love - August 2019

Asok, Bangkok

After a car, a train, subway, a plane, a bus to another airport, another plane and one more car I had arrived in Krung Thep. The plan was to acclimate myself to the new time zone, weather, and prepare myself for the second leg of the trip in the north. Upon arrival, my Grab driver had mentioned something about boom boom (Slang for sex) but I had misunderstood and only when I put together why my friend told me not to take public transit and had checked the news, I had become aware of a bombing — okay three separate bombings in the capital. The city had not seen any incidents in over ten years I believe. However this wasn’t the same circumstances — apparently they had targeted areas near an ongoing security conference. The explosives were not targeting tourist areas and it seems were somewhat tame compared what were all used to. Perhaps that sounds a bit desensitized but it wasn’t going to detract me from going out for a jog in the park, going to get some food, to the mall or a museum. The bombing was front page news the next morning and not to sound too stupid, I still wasn’t too worried, just reminded myself to be alert.

Hua Lamphong

Bangkok Railway Station

However, the next morning wasn’t so pleasant — I was awoken at 4am from my dad that their had been a shooting. I thought to myself, another one? But why was it relevant for him to message me at 4am my time. So many things raced through my mind and he finally replied that it was El Paso, Texas — now we have quite a few family members living there and while thankfully none of them were harmed, it was quite an unsettling way to wake up, thinking of all the worst cast scenarios. Perhaps it would be an understatement to say that I was upset. I was angry. I ran and ran that day, maybe I hurt myself a little bit that day with heat induced issues but nothing permanently destructive. At least I was alive unlike those people in El Paso who didn’t have a choice, who were senselessly murdered in another shooting. I tried to enjoy my time in Bangkok but the darkness was looming within me. It was time to head north for the next leg of the trip.