I Keep Going to the River to Pray

Today something pretty sweet happened, and it’s probably going to sound kind of wanky, writing it on le blog, but it was truly amazing and Ann and I both left a part of our souls in Bangkok because of it, and we were speechless (and for Ann to be speechless...well, that says a lot). In another classic Moose Brooks situation, we headed to Golden Mountain one afternoon, as it had an alleged sunset that would blow your socks off. We got there on time, for sunset ya know, only to realise that it was closed. Classic.Then, on our way out as dusk was setting in, we passed a monk wandering through the undergrowth, and he beckoned us forward. Confused, we followed him. He didn't say a word, but led us to a prayer room at the base of Golden Mountain…and under his instruction, we took our shoes off, and took a seat inside. He invited us to pray with him and a room full of other monks and Thais. For lack of a better word and general ignorance, the ‘head monk’ read the readings and the whole room chanted along. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with prayer sessions (nor am I tbh), but they are harmonious, peaceful, sacred and very calming. For around about half an hour we sat there, watching rows and rows of Buddhists cross-legged on the floor in front of us praying. I am fearful of sounding like an ignorant, ill-informed white person, but all I can do is sum it up saying that it was absolutely mesmerising, and enchanting. Ann and I were asked to sign a book on  the way out, and I was flicking through pages and pages of names, to find not one Western name, nor a name written in English. We walked out shakily, speechless at the energy, the passion and the sense of healing and harmony that we had just been surrounded with; the deep chants echoing off the walls and settling deep into our ear canals, the pure focus of everyone in the room, and the complete and utter state of inner peace and tranquility. It was amazing, and we were super lucky and privileged to have been a part of it.

Le sigh, ah Bangkok

Perhaps you've seen the video. Bangkok is full of fish tanks that have hilarious signs trying to get you to self-sacrifice your feet for the fish.

"Mr fish can do massage"

"Let hungry fish eat your dead skin!!! They are hungry!!!"

"Fish can do massage pay and see for yourself!!!"

Khao San Rd nightlife....think The Hangover 2 kids, keep that in mind.

Our breakfast hangout

We wandered onto a wharf one afternoon in Bangkok, and soon enough as any band-swagglin, young, carefree backpackers might understand, around 15 minutes later we found ourselves on a boat. We took a boat ride around the river canals of Bangkok, seeing the parts of the city that many might usually bypass #myfavourite.

Houses built on rickety concrete slabs, we passed shelters that were literally falling apart. We saw lizards, fish and I swear to god snakes in the canals, and even feral dogs that were roaming around the rocks. I saw (what I can now identify and defend with all my might to ANNIE, who thought that I was talking smack)a HUGE water monitor, which was as I CORRECTLY DESCRIBED about the size of a small crocodile. I Googled those things man. They can be huge, up to 2.5 meters long to be precise. It was a monstrosity of a sea monster, hiding out  on the rocks. (And no the picture of the cute little lizard in the peep hole is not the monster I saw, nor the same species). Google them. You'll see. you'll all see.

Freaking awesome

We passed children swimming freely in the river, the brown mucky water full of fish and rubbish and a lot of other things that moved mysteriously under the current, and now – small children. I couldn’t help but think of how something like this would not go down at all in Western society AT ALL…kids’ immune systems couldn’t cope with it…and we’d all get seriously ill if we even set foot in the water. It’s like the Murray x100. But nonetheless these kiddos were having the time of their lives, swinging from vines, jumping from roofs of houses, ect. And they always stopped to wave and smile, and blow us kisses. These kis and their families were living in the slums…like, the worst poverty I’ve born witness to in my entire life. Yet, as always; so happy, so carefree…so joyful. It was excellent experiencing a different side of Thailand, away from the swanky clubs and market streets packed with Westerners. But it left a sour taste in our mouths.

Our French friends of whom we became a part of their Go-pro film...they said it would end up in Youtube one day. We never even learnt their names. 

It was the first time since arriving in Asia that I’d felt a true sense of guilt for being Western. I’m not going to sit here and preach values and morals and ramble on about being lucky or appreciating what we’ve got, or the opportunities we have access to. Or why one person is born into a world full of education, employment, wealth, and consumerism and others are not. We have the access to and the means to literally achieve anything we want. We have so much, yet require so little. Not to put a dreary spin on things, but it’s unsettling, it’s contemplative, and the reality of it is disturbing.