[DREW]

I've learned many things from my trips to what is known as the Land Of Smiles or Siam as it used to be called in Yul Brennar’s days of the ‘King and I’ and Thailand as we know it today and I started thinking about what I have learned in my time in the Land Of Smiles, general things at first and then more specific to life in general. How I viewed things when I first landed on a cheap BA flight (courtesy of my wonderful sister) in Bangkok in 1990 and thought that I really did look like a ‘’handsome man’’- how else would all these stunning women want to discuss their marital status with me and offer me an insight into the ways of love in ASIA- then over time how you understand more about ASIAN customs, 'face', legends, culture Buddhism and how your attitudes change over time and your experiences grow and you meet people who have been here even longer than you have, and still do not fully understand the ways of the East.

I started thinking about my experiences from that first visit when I shared a cab from Bangkok to Pattaya with some American Businessman on Holiday from Hong Kong for the weekend ( I didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going but he was happy to half his cab fare) , and the almost fatal taxi ride through Bangkok to the initial ‘taxi scam’ drop off point before heading south on the long 3 hour helter skelter white knuckle ride, not knowing where you were going (and if you would make it in one piece) and then meeting a retired US Air force Commander who owned a bar and gave me invaluable advice on what to do and not what to do and the things to avoid at all costs, before I met what a lot of people (and I say people because I include women as well as men) go to South East Asia to meet; (quite by accident in my case; after all I was only 18); the beautiful exotic women; with such dark complexions that resemble a sun kissed glow (that we westerners spend all summer trying to achieve as a symbol of prosperity and health and the Thais shun as a symbol of low class out door working) , the intoxicating dark round almond eyes (so enchanting it is impossible to guess what lies behind and what they are really thinking behind those ever so easy smiles) and the skin as soft as suede and the jet black hair that shines like silk and seems to go on forever cascading almost to their waist and like most of the women in South East Asia, they moved with poise and elegance, perfectly balanced and supremely confident. A slight sway and rhythm in their hips that is completely natural and unpretentious but incredibly attractive.

I then thought about how I had changed and my visits had changed from those early days so many years ago to what I now view as a second home; the friends I have made that always make me feel as welcome when I return as slipping my hand into
an old glove and feeling the protection it offers from the elements outside, which is something that is truly genuine and I have not found anywhere else in the world.

I am now searching for an investment property and enjoying more relaxed visits without the need to party to 6am every morning, well almost every morning (it is after all almost 20 years later and I am in my mid 30’s) and I am now travelling the more civilised route through Singapore and being met my a regular taxi driver (without the white knuckle ride) who actually looks after my mountain bike whilst I am away and meets me each time I land at Phuket airport.

I started to reflect and think about all the crazy, lazy, hazy days spent in the sun and then the barmy night time partying hard; the hangovers, the hangers-on, the misfits, the smiles, the friends- new and old- the ones here (the ones I lost in the Tsunami of 2004 and the things I saw when I was there and it actually happened) and the ones who have moved on- the laughter and sadness, life and all it had thrown at me and I started thinking about what I had learnt, really learned that I would not have learned if I had taken my vacation in France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the US, The Caribbean, Africa, Australia, all the places I had already been to- what was it about this place and these people, and what had it taught me and what had I taken back with me, how had I changed over the years.

So taking in the sun on Lam Sing beach (which is a beach on a sheltered enclave on Phuket’s west coast accessed only by steep slopes and off the tourist route and known only to a few of us but worth seeking out) with a nice cold Singha beer one day I wrote the following;