halfcactus

Just got back from a short solo trip to Bangkok where apparently all I did was look at birds... It was my first time in Thailand ever, and between my relaxation-focused itinerary and the semi-spontaneous meet-up plans on my first two nights (I stayed three), I got to at least familiarize myself with the basics of both train systems and the area around my hotel. I logged 20k–30k steps a day (with an average of 26k steps) but a lot of it was unnecessary walking from having no sense of direction and always getting lost haha! Now my camera roll is full of photos/videos of birds (and reptiles—which deserve their own separate post).

I'm still very new to travel so this is only my second solo trip ever and the first in a country/city I've never been in before. I feel some measure of regret for not eating, shopping, or exploring more, but I'm also pretty happy with the way I traveled—a way that is only possible when I'm by myself. And although I barely slept since I woke up at 3:30AM on Thursday to make my 7:30AM flight, I felt so light and free and open to organic interactions with strangers. (Well, as light and free as one can be when tethered to their phone and fully dependent on Google Maps and power banks. XD)

Maybe one day I'll post about the whole trip but for now—birds!!!

Pictures

I hope I didn't misidentify any of them:



I'm so pleased to be able to recognize the Asian koel call from Wingspan (the only call I internalized because it's so distinctive and familiar), so every time I heard it I felt like I was in Wingspan hahaha. I didn't see any though, I guess they stayed on the trees. ;___;

Did most of my bird-watching in Benchakitti Park and Lumpini Park where my main goal was to see monitor lizards (I only got to see them in Lumpini Park, but I'm not sure if time of day was a factor), but saw common mynas, pigeons/doves, and sparrows (no picture because they're that common) all over the city. :) I hope to see one of the temples if I get to visit again! I had to trim my itinerary so I wasn't overextending myself to make it to meet-ups, and one of the activities I cut off my list was Wat Pho (reclining Buddha). A reason to go back, I suppose. :) (I should make a list of the places I got recommended during the meet-ups too...)

Just got back from a sort-of bachelorette vacation, which is either my least documented trip, since I didn't take a lot of pictures or bother taking notes... or my most documented, since it was a group trip and most of my friends and their SOs actively document their lives on Instagram and engage in photography (which I've learned to appreciate as an art, now that I'm trying, and failing, to take decent photos). Most of the pics above were probably taken by someone else!

Otherwise, the week passed like a smudge of memory. I feel like I didn't do much except to be around people, but at the same time I barely had time to relax, and I hardly slept, if at all. At some point I had a stomach bug, maybe from un-fresh food, maybe from being dehydrated and my immune system being weaker from sleep deprivation. And the only bananas I could find were from my own country, which was ironic and amusing and comforting, but also incredibly frustrating because they were the variant that was least representative of the bananas I actually eat at home.

Born to eat Señorita, forced to eat Cavendish. >:(

On my last night, there was some drama at my hotel's laundromat at midnight, which was very exciting (though a little scary at first, because I thought I was gonna end up in a fight). And in a way, affirming—I've never been happier to be trylingual. I always say there's no language I speak well, but I realize now it's because I overthink and compare myself to native speakers and monolinguals/bilinguals who don't code-switch as much, and in real life it's a matter of communication and meeting each other halfway; of being human. And anyway, who doesn't want to gossip about the stupidest pair of people who've been monopolizing machine #2? XD

Anyway, offloading some museum photos so I can add some notes about them.
( pictures )

Just got back and put together some clips on the plane—the timing is off in a lot of places but I've decided to be a normal person for once and let it go because I'm running on an hour of sleep and I have a lot of work backlog to catch up on tomorrow.

Keeping it unlisted because 1) it's personal, 2) I'm unclear about the exhibit's policies.

When I visited I was told only that I could take pictures but not use flash, and no mention of video recording. So I, uhh, took videos. I mostly posted them on a private IG for personal documentation and so I could show my friends what it's like and why they should check out the exhibit when they're in the area. (I myself only found about it through nermida_'s travel notes.)

Watch on Vimeo

Video link if embed doesn't work: https://vimeo.com/1012012977/ebbfa97b67

BGM is 靠近我 by Zhang Xincheng. :)

I got a really interesting comic from Taiwan Comic Base. The guy at the counter was asking me where I was from (he assumed Hong Kong, curiously) and I ended up with a surprisingly wholesome travel encounter and a new comicbook to show for it.

The comic is Halo-Halo Manila by Jimmeh Aitch, who, based on a cursory internet search is indigenous Taiwanese, and he draws comparisons between Taiwan and the Philippines's histories of martial law. Thinking out loud about the comic to my Philippines-raised Taiwan-based friend has also sparked some illuminating convos I'm still chewing over.

Naturally, I completely forgot I was reading Bridge Tower because I got distracted vibrating with excitement over comics. XD Thankfully, this (distraction) happens every week so I'm pretty sure I can lock in again...