I’m back in Seminyak. Bali. I had an incredible 3 weeks back in Bangkok — essentially ‘closing up shop’ and packing up the rest of my things in my Bangkok apartment to bring to my new place here in Bali.
But, as always, I was also able to visit and spend some time with my friends in Bangkok (whom we sorta affectionately call The ‘Bangkok Brat Pack’ — I’m Judd Nelson). And while it’s nice to back to an island pace, I already miss my friends in Bangers. I really can’t describe just HOW lucky I’ve been in meeting the people I have in the past couple years (and beforehand too). My friends in Bangkok are simply amazing people and I love them dearly. I don’t know what’s gonna happen if and when I ever have to return to the States. I really don’t.
But that time is (hopefully) some time away still. And I’m back in one of the most beautiful tropical paradises in the world. And I have friends here, as well. So my goal is to try to continue to enjoy myself as much as possibly in the midst of missing my Bangkok friends, and so much doom and gloom elsewhere.
On another note upon which I plan to expand later, I’ve recently been contacted on Facebook by a number of people I grew up with back in Philly. It’s both interesting and a bit disconcerting. I haven’t thought about many of these folks for a long time, and while it’s interesting, I’m not sure exactly how I feel about having to explaining myself all these people I left in the dust decades ago — especially considering I’ve been doing it here — publicly — for the past several years.
We’ll see how it unfolds. I’m going for a surf.
What makes you think all your friends here are breathing dust here in Philly. Your paradise is not everyones paradise. Don’t kid me , I love reading your blog, but I wouldn’t make those assumptions from your shoes .Matt, you are still trying to find yourself. Some of us have done that and realy like what we are doing or are trying to accomplish. This current blog makes me feel like you are are pontificating from Everest. Do you really think you are on a summit above us all?? Yes you are living in a totally different environment. But some of the people you speak of in the dust have experienced that. Maybe this is your first time living outside of the US, but don’t assume you know something everyone else doesn’t. I would not discount any of the observations you have made on a global level, but at least do it from many places and not just Asia. After all you are pontificating about us people in the dust from micro Asia (ok, I invented a new term) not from seeing the rest of the globe. I’d love to see you travel some where else, maybe even outside of southern Asia, hence the micro view.