After more than two months, I’m sure some of my friends and family back home have started wondering “why is she still in Thailand?".

If I’m right, and you happen to be one of those people asking yourself why I haven’t checked out Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or Malaysia while I’ve been here in Southeast Asia, the answer is simple – I just can’t imagine a better place to be.

I love Thailand. I love the people, the food, the beaches, the mountains, the nightlife, the travelers, the lifestyles and the effect it has on people.

Bad press aside of the threats of bird flu, malaria and dengue fever, this country will exceed every expectation, inspire all senses, lift the spirit to a higher plane, and always leave you wanting for more. Even the thought of leaving in three weeks time is already heartbreaking for me.

My latest adventures were spent in the company of an old friend and previous travel buddy, Nico. For the past two weeks, we’ve seen most of the famous temples of Bangkok (a serious feat when done by foot along the city’s terribly polluted streets); traveled north to Chaing Mai and Pai to chill out in the mountains and enjoy a little elephant trekking; barely made it out of the country for a quick visit to the immaculate port city of Singapore; and quickly returned to Thailand to indulge in the laid-back island vibes of Koh Phi Phi before he had to answer the call of responsibility and hightail it back home to Paris.

Nico was quick to understand my love for this place and even remarked “I feel like I’m just visiting you in your new home.” It’s true. I am at home here, and I’ve felt that way since I first arrived.

Even being out of the country for a quick two days to see Singapore felt like an eternity (and an expensive eternity at that). After living in relative luxury on a budget of about $30 a day, it was quite a shock to see the bill for our lunch in Singapore and learn that my ice tea refill was a whopping USD$5. Since I’m used to paying the equivalent of $3 for an entire meal (mango shake included) here in Thailand, I’m sure it’s easy to understand my alarm.

In retrospect, I’m glad we made it to Singapore and had the opportunity to witness a living example of urban planning gone right. The city is beautiful, and so rich that you can pretty much smell the money in the air. Even the older parts of the city like Chinatown are beautifully restored and lack any sign of neglect. And I suspect the SD$1,000 (appoximately USD$680) fine for littering, smoking, chewing gum, spitting or not flushing the toilet after use have not only managed to keep the city pristine, yet have also influenced the general population to closely monitor their day-to-day behaviors and habits (something I feel that most Americans and Western Europeans are desperately in need of).

But enough about Singapore, this is suppose to be my tribute to the joys of Thailand, and help explain why I’m finding it so hard to leave.

Maybe it’s the predominantly Buddhist leanings of the people or maybe it’s just that everyone is simply contented with living in such an amazing paradise, but Thai people are among the most pleasant on the planet. Respect, humor and happiness are widespread, and in my experience, tourists are treated like old friends rather than walking dollar bill signs (a problem I’ve encountered in other poor parts of the globe). Even the fact that you can barely communicate is hardly an obstacle when handled with a smile and creative hand gesture (try explaining that you want your fried eggs cooked on both sides and you’ll be amazed by your own spontaneous ingenuity of hand signs and sound effects).

Oh, and I really can’t go on praising Thailand without mentioning the food. From sweet Pad Thai and pineapple fried rice to a flavorful selection of curries, stir fries and No Name dishes, Thai food will seduce any palate – even Nico’s bland Frenchie taste buds were wooed by the spices of Thailand, and I’m sure he’ll be searching out the nearest Thai restaurant once he gets back to France.

Top it off with beautiful beaches, colorful coral reefs, peaceful mountains, emerald jungles and a countryside dotted with rice fields, palm trees and Buddhist temples, and my love affair with this place can hardly be questioned. I only hope all my friends and family back home have the chance to see it for themselves one day.

August 22, 2006