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video_2025-01-18_23-59-53.mp48 November 2024—after our 12-hour bus ride from Naga City, Bicol to Manila, we finally boarded our flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, bound for Thailand. It was our first time traveling abroad. We only had our luggage, an overpriced steamed siopao from the airport cafeteria, and a dream. As our ears were about to pop, we landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after a 3-hour flight. The feeling was surreal. I was overstimulated. It was like yesterday when I was rotting in bed in 2020, watching my favorite Thai series and dreaming of visiting one day—and there I was, in the Land of Smiles, chasing my dreams.
Prior to our flight, I had contacted my uncle who was in Bangkok to pick us up from the airport. After we claimed our luggage, we went to gate 6 to meet with him. It was scorching hot outside of the airport, hotter than the hellish heat of the Philippines. But hey, I was not complaining, I was more than happy to be fried in one of my dream countries. We drove for another hour to my uncle’s house in Thawi Watthana, Bangkok. On our way, my jaws were literally dropped to the car’s carpet by how amazing Bangkok was. It was like entering another dimension. I don’t know if I was exaggerating or it was just the countryside of me speaking, but it was really amazing!
We dropped by a restaurant in Bangkok to aid our famished stomach. Since we had no idea what to order, we let my uncle decide. It was our first Thai meal, and we had Tom Yum soup. They say first impressions last, and it's true—after my first sip of that soup, my life was never the same. The dish was incredible! As the sun relentlessly beat down on us, we were more than happy to sweat a waterfall from the spiciness of the Tom Yum. It was automatically added to my list of favorite Thai food.
First Culture shock: Thai people drink everything with a straw. In the Philippines, we are used to drinking at the lid of the cup. Also, they drive on the left side of the road just like in England.
When we arrived at my uncle's house, I greeted my aunt, his Thai wife, and we settled in to rest after the tiring journey. After a quick power nap, we went to 7/11 to get our SIM cards and pick up some essentials. 7/11 in Thailand is incredible! They have literally everything you could possibly need. What I liked the most were their reheatable food, especially the sandwiches. While eating, we waited on the balcony for Teacher Gray, who was going to take Lisbeth to Kanchanaburi. Teacher Gray had just landed in Thailand after dropping off students from KRU at Saint Mary’s University in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines.
You might be wondering, why was she taking Lisbeth and not both of us? Well, that's a good question. A week before our flight, I asked our College Dean and Teacher Gray for permission to stay in Bangkok on November 8 and 9 (Friday and Saturday) and join KRU on November 10 (Sunday), starting my participation on November 11 (Monday). They both agreed, so I stayed in Bangkok for two days.
The KRU van arrived with Teacher Gray and two of our buddies, Frost and Newie, inside. Right away, Teacher Gray and I clicked. She had a bright, friendly aura that made me feel comfortable with her. She was trying to get me come with them but I had to stay to get my allowance 5555. I also greeted the buddies, who were kind and a bit shy. I tried shaking their hands and they were like, "???" They were so cute. Lisbeth got into the car, and we said our farewells.
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