Bangkok

During his third year of university, Aaron lived in Jerusalem. This included some months renting an apartment on the Mount of Olives. Aaron’s roommate was a Quebecois guy named Guillaume. Twenty-plus years later, Guillaume lives in Bangkok, and warmly invited us to stay a few nights with him and his teen son.

These few days were filled with comfort and hints of home. The boys each had their own bed. There was maple syrup in the fridge. The cereal had English and French on the boxes (they visit Canada with an empty suitcase so they can bring back their favourite foods). Guillaume made us hamburgers! Aaron picked up Subway sandwiches for the boys. We did laundry, used the pool and gym, and hung out in the living room while Aaron and Guillaume chatted about the two decades since they’ve seen one another.

On day one in Bangkok, we got some essentials done. New socks and T-shirts for Judah, replacement prescription glasses for Susanna, some new headphones, and other bits and bobs. Susanna visited with an old friend from university who happened to be in town (she lives in north Thailand).

Judah was feeling sick on day two, and Mathai didn’t want to walk in the heat. So, Aaron and Susanna left the boys at ‘home’ and went exploring. We took the public bus-boat down the canal. Then, we walked through the campus of a famous Budhist temple. This led us to a part of town that specializes in car parts, followed by our arrival in Chinatown. The food stalls were all heaving gorgeous smells out into the street. There, we soaked up some hipster vibes, watched the sun go down on the river, and headed home.

Our short stint in Bangkok gave us a sense of its powerful contrasts. Insane wealth and debilitating poverty exist side-by-side. Sex workers stood outside various shops while monks walked down nearby streets. Dozens and dozens of international schools provide education to the elite. Clean and efficient subways run by roads choked with traffic. Many workers live in tiny apartments without kitchens, while street stalls and exclusive restaurants serve perhaps equally delicious meals. It’s a fascinating city.Read more