Back to emerald island and river of Guinness...
Home sweet home 😊 as they sing in Home sweet Home Alabama song but in this case it is Ireland ! Yeah after few months of easy living in sweaty Thailand it is time to cool off in Ireland during the famous Irish summer. Left Koh Tao in not so high spirit since I’m leaving new good friends / family behind as well as the diving sites, boat and great hot and sweaty weather what I got used to it quite easily but hey life is change and change is life. Also the visit back home is on purpose to help best friend in difficult life situation, see my son and if I’m lucky make some money in some easy job so then I can return to the diving with some cash or at least pay for flights and accommodation before I will get some work and earn some cash. Anyhow all stuff packed, even the t-shirts I have barely worn “now know what to left behind” bills paid in full and dive master party behind I can leave Koh Tao temporarily. All of this started as idea of helping friend since I had already purchased ticket to Milan and there is no reason to let it go without use since the romance did not work out and the plans were changed, therefore I have offered my help and friends accepted so here I go back to Europe. After some time in hostel I decided to also get a pamper a bit so I have booked a nice 5 start hotel Pullman Bangkok King Power in Bangkok to spoil myself for one night before flying out and after the long journey to Bangkok. The journey to Bangkok was o.k since I have been on the ferry and bus previously and got a nice seat so I could stretch legs, type a bit and doze off as well after feeding time at stop somewhere in midway on the road to get food and rest for drivers. Nice so called street food of pad thai noodles and some coconut ice cream. I think that behind me sat two not bad looking Israeli girls based on my guessing of language and conversation since when they were talking they were a bit louder than I would be if I had such private conversation that they had. Here we are, arrived in Bangkok near golden palace “where I have not been yet” and the usual catching of tourist by taxi drivers and tuk tuk drivers is national sport 😊 got my little suitcase and took Tuk-Tuk to the hotel but in sneaky way I told him to take me to airlink station so I will get a normal price as if I would say that I’m going to five star hotel he might make a different price and we were off. I have to admit I like the Tuk-Tuk more than taxi in Bangkok but the number one is motorbike / scooter taxi as this is the best and fastest way to travel in such big city, you have to give it a try as the freedom on scooter is fantastic feeling and you can shoot video or photos as you are not driving. Driver dropped me near station and I asked him to pull closer as I need to get into hotel, upon which he asked which one and I said Pullman so he just pull up to the traffic again and dropped me right at hotel. I’m not a guy who needs luxury or pampering so I have not stayed in many fancy hotels as I prefer hostels with it s colorful mostly young and free spirit thinking people but well this one was something. Yeah the room was nice and comfy with beautiful bath and all the amenities but the staff made it really homey. Not sure if that is the Thai culture or training or both but this was first time I felt really warm welcome in Hotel from the time I walked through the door, through reception and into room as all staff was so genuinely polite as much as I felt it. I have to admit that I was pretty tired but after the refreshing in hotel pool I felt great and ready to take to the streets for dinner of street food and bit of walk around to get tired before bed time. Upon returning to hotel room I had to took the bath since I had not took bath in few years as the showers are mostly done this time by everyone. Well the bathroom was divided from room by movable wall and that means that I put bath salt in, turn on TV and lay in the bath watching movie before bed time. Morning is here and now is time to get on for swim in the hotel pool before the breakfast near the train station on rice and pork from street vendor before walking towards the cinema near canal what was used for transportation in day gone. Seen John Wick 3 in freezer cinema since the Air condition is much loved in Thailand and I was wearing only flip flops, shorts and t-shirt so after the movie I was deliberating if there is any point keep toes what were frost bitten but thankfully they melted and warmed up so no loss of limbs occurred. Get out of the cinema walked through the back streets mindlessly observing and looking around until I stumbled upon the massage parlor so I’ve decided to get full body massage as well as manicure / pedicure as part of my treat myself day in Bangkok. Overall it was nice but u have to say that the one I took in Hua Hin was better but well experience is what is counting and therefore need to experience all. Afterwards I walked to hotel pick up my luggage and stopped at side of the road restaurant on plastic chairs watching traffic passing by while eating another fried rice and sharing table with lovely family from Poland with one son, who traveling around the world with him instead of hoarding the possessions and we had great chat about it as we seems to have same values on how to raise children and enjoying life. Middle of the meal the massage girl came to me with my sunglasses I left in the parlor, which I completely forgot about it. Such thing from her to run the streets hoping to find me ….. only in BANGKOK ! Well time is ticking and I needed to run to get my luggage so we say goodbye and I left them to finish their meal. Got luggage and get on the way to air link train and sweet lord what a walk in the heat of the evening…. I have not sweated like that ever…. Shirt and shorts completely wet as if I came from the shower. Poor fellow traveler in the air link looking at me like some weirdo but ….I had a lots of space around me in full train 😊 so sweating is good for you 😊 Here I am at the airport and nearly gone from Thailand but not before I will pay hefty fine of 15 000 Thai Baht for overstaying my visa as I made mistake and did not look beyond the visa sticker which was valid for 90 days but as I learned later this is only validity of visa but the visa itself is only for 60 days and it is valid from stamp of immigration what was put on the other page in my passport. Well tourist sponsor the country where they are traveling to so I did learn valuable lesson and also have a bit laugh when the immigration officer mentioned that I’m o.k since there is jail time if you overstay visa for longer so I got off lightly 😊 Anyhow it is what it is so no point make drama from it and move on. Boarded plain to Milan and said final goodbye to hot and sweaty Thailand “for now” and headed to hot Milan “not only weather I mean”.
Landed in Milan for one day as the arrival was early morning and flight out late in the night so I can go and stretch my legs a bit and enjoy slight decrease of the temperature from 40 to 22 degrees Celsia what is a bit relieve, I had to admit. Walked around familiar streets, trying to find a scuba shop as the Italian are makers of most of scuba diving gear but as I learned in few hours, Monday is actually Sunday and those shops are closed. Thankfully I was in Milan before so I head off to my favorite café / eatery Green Station on Corner of Via Victor Hugo and Via Spadari. Between two tram lines the island for pedestrians with parked white Vespa scooters, black Honda beast and silver Suzuki. On this pedestrian island in the middle of the day couple met for lunch probably and as he patiently waited in anticipation, she crossed the street with light steps of ballerina or dancer, moving graciously between bollards and motorbikes to her loving other half. Maybe she danced to the tune of love and therefore, her steps were so light that even the cupids fluffy clouds will not be disturbed by her movement. She stopped entwining his torso with her hand and she lift her head towards his lips and her left foot off the ground, hungrily pressed her lips against his as he bend down his head to meet her in mid movement. The effort was mutual and pleasure seems to be on both sides as their smiles and eyes were shining bright as the star. Hand in hand she motioned him towards the street and he gladly obeyed and let her pull him towards the destination around the corner as their footsteps matched and here we are, love is in the summer air of Milan. Split of time no longer than two seconds maybe and what a statement of life and love can be seen and observed in the streets of Milan. Life just happening all around us and if we have the time and patience we could observe this miracle called life. We are just passing the through the time and leave our footprints as small even pitiful dent in the universe. Time had slowed down and this split of second maybe two was enough for me to think that life is good. What is life, if not a collection of moments that take our breath away and leave a huge dent in our hearth and maybe even in the mind and soul. Eternal soul passing through the time. Well now it is time for food for body and not only for the soul 😊 and what a feast in this place hmmmm yummy healthy food for really cheap price of set menus and lots of locals coming in and out from here. Ahh what a two gorgeous girls came in in low cut jeans ahhhh I’m sucker for beautiful behind and in combination of long hair and green eyes I’m speechless and brain less 😊 However the lunch is over and it is time to leave someone else to take seat and have some lunch so I moved out and walked towards the Parco Sempione behind Castello Sforzesco to lay down after lunch in nice sunny weather on the fresh green grass. After some time and snooze later I walk the through local streets aimlessly, exploring the non-touristic areas of Milan until I somehow arrived to Cimitero Monumentale what is a huge cemetery with quite impressive front entrance as if you are entering some caste. Following the road and sight of Bosco Verticale what had miraculously appeared front of me I passed through Porta Garibaldi station and entered city area called Porta Nuova, what is one of my favorite place to just lay down and admire the living apartment block with so much green on the walls that it look like vertical forest. Well there is also the sunbed area where are I think eight timber sun beds arranged in crescent shape and people just laying there and catching the sun. Another good thing I like there is free water fountains so you can replenish your bottles with water for free and stay as long as you want in the park. As the sun decided to slowly set down behind horizon I slowly started walking towards the Garibaldi station and with closing meters I speed up as I realized that the time of nature calling came and I needed visit the little boys room in hurry. However all was well and I have reached the train and went to the airport to get my luggage and check in for Aer Lingus flight home to Ireland with strange mixed feelings I went to check in and then just sat down at the airport café having some quick snack and then boarded the flight.
What a strange feeling coming home after I said that I will not return to Ireland when departed in Nov 2018 and here I am on the plane to Dublin again. Well it was long journey and I did not have energy to deliberate on my feelings as I was overcome by sleep and nearly few minutes after takeoff I was in the land of dreams and my head clanked like free balloon. Woke up few moments before landing as I was so tired after such long flight that I need to sleep and no matter what position I was in. Well Ireland is here with is fresh summer of 15 degrees Celsia and me in shorts and flip flops shivering outside while waiting for a friend to pick me up. I is feel good to be home I had to admit as far as I was not sure how I would feel coming back I felt good. Let’s enjoy this little break in my travels in sunny not so hot and defo not sweaty but fabulously green Ireland.
