East Or West, Home Is The Best

Our ‘Amazing Thailand’ boasts the tastiest food on the planet, beautiful temples, and tons of shopping arcades and open markets; our hotels and resorts cater to every budget and disposition. Our beaches are unrivaled; where else can one get served chilled coconut water or somtum/khaoniyo or get massaged or experiment with temporary tattoos while lolling on the foldable canvas chairs. But we want change, we like change, and so we travel. But, while away, here below are what we miss, and things we absolutely hate.

Miss the dent on my pillow and the firmness of my mattress.

Miss home food and the comfort of my own bed and space.

Hate fussing about which clothes to take, economy seats, and changing hotels often.

Miss Sometimes I don’t miss anything at all; at times, depending on the destination, I miss food.

Hate night flights and starting the tour immediately on landing, needing to freshen up in the airport toilet.

Miss Chibi, my little dog.

Hate packing and unpacking.

Miss being a creature of habit; I miss the predictability of the daily routine. Being home gives the feeling of belonging, of safety and familiarity, and stability, of just being.

Miss coolies to help with the bags

Hate super early morning flights and super late-night flights.

Miss being away from routine and my maid.

Miss the familiarity of my bedroom.

Hate airport waits.

Miss my bed! My pillow!

Hate long flights.

Miss daal and home-made chai.

Hate lack of routine, and exhaustion if the trip is long; social fatigue if group travel.

Miss putting up my feet after a full day’s work, watching TV with snacks and a cuppa chai.

Hate packing and unpacking, change of food and beds.

Miss family members.

Miss comforts of home, especially the bedroom.

Hate long flying hours.

Miss the triviality of my bed, tea, and my friends.

Hate the pressure to see and do as much as possible to appease the diverse wishes, requirements, and personalities of the family members, which makes for a very hectic itinerary and ends in exhaustion.

Miss familiar home surroundings.

Hate the stress of what to pack.

Miss home sweet home, family, and maids. Never miss or hate anything, just enjoy the moment.

Miss butt spray; my yoga.

Hate getting sick of eating restaurant food; in group travel, sharing bathroom and bed, robbed of the freedom to pass gas and use the toilet in peace.

Miss somtum/khaoniyo or homey Indian meal.

Hate the thought of the trip ending and getting back to reality. Though traveling boosts the energy of mind and body, being a pure vegetarian, finding places to eat is bothersome is something I hate. The food might look yummy, but it often contains non-veg ingredients. Sometimes, even the vegetarian joints serve food with elements of egg in them. So, now, before each trip, we do the extra groundwork.

Hate jet lag.

Hate choosing the hotel like I’m buying a lottery ticket, and not knowing if wifey will be happy.