There’s something about Thailand that seems to draw people from around the world like a beacon. I can’t put my finger on it but I felt that irresistible draw myself a couple of years ago. I’ve always wanted to visit South East Asia but throughout all my research on where to go I kept coming back to Thailand.

Having made the decision I booked my flight and arrived in Thailand for the first time a little over a year ago…wide eyed and ready for anything. The two weeks I spent in Thailand were incredible and seemed to last forever. The sights, sounds, and smells of bangkok had me mesmerized and then there was Pattaya! Even though it all seemed to be coming at me at once, I never felt more relaxed.

Well, all good things come to pass and before I knew it I was home in the states and very fuzzy. It took me a good month to come down from the high…all I could think about was Thailand. I thought I hid it well but obviously I didn’t. Work suffered and I kept falling back into the daydream. Eventually I snapped out of it and was back to myself but the thoughts lingered and the beacon was still calling. I decided the next trip would be sooner rather than later and much longer than the previous trip.

The second trip found me arriving in Thailand in late June of this year and with a healthy allotment of vacation time the trip was set for five weeks. My first trip I made some good friends in Pattaya and decided that was the place to stay. You can’t beat a beach town with about 3000 some odd bars and 30,000 some odd beautiful women. Of the friends I made my first trip a few already lived in Pattaya, some were in the process of moving to pattaya, and at least one was contemplating the idea….he gave up contemplating and moved there this summer. The five weeks went by pretty fast but I got to see a lot of the things I missed my first trip such as the Sanctuary of Truth and Nong Nooch Gardens. Made many new friends and had a great time…even met a girl…but thats a story for another time.

Coming home was hard but I didn’t have the same daydream type effect this time but the beacon was still calling. After coming home from the second trip I started planning the third for January of 2008 and also a fourth for either May or August. The January trip will be brief, only 2 weeks which really isn’t enough but will have to do. The May trip might not happen because it depends on what I decide for the August trip….and the August trip…well, lets just say that might be a very long trip.

My heart made the decision months ago, now I’m just waiting for the brain to give in. The brain is still going over all the possibilities and contingency plans but for all it’s arguements it’s not gaining any ground. My brother has known for a while what I’ve been thinking and even told me my mother suspects it, which was confirmed tonight when I went by the parents house for dinner and mom basically asked when I was moving to Thailand…she expects an announcement any day!

There won’t be any announcements soon but mom knows me too well and my heart usually wins. This is a big decision and one not to be taken lightly but all things considered I think a change would do me good. When I figure it out I’ll let you know…but not before I tell mom!