UNSEEN THAILAND: phitsanulok

I put off writing this post for several days, maybe a couple weeks. I can't even explain why. The draft page has been open on my computer for awhile. I keep staring at it and nothing comes out. Is this writer's block? Can I call myself a writer even?

It really has been awhile since I wrote as the last post in here is from February and the text reads as follows:

"I'm gonna let the pictures do the talking on this one."

Oh, McKinsey, you are ridiculously lame and obviously too lazy to actually write anything.

NOT THIS TIME, MATE.

Now on to the actual content for this post. UNSEEN THAILAND: Phitsanulok. I keep using this phrase 'unseen Thailand' as it was a recurring theme in the TV show we were filming, Sofar So Good. This show is filmed in various locations around Thailand and each episode brings along a different tourist or foreigner to experience these new locations, new places, things off the beaten path. The purpose behind Sofar So Good is to showcase tourism in the country. So, yeah, I got a whole 45 minutes of fame in the episode the folks at Sofar So Good wanted to film with me.

Though I'll admit being filmed for television is kind of nervewracking. After each scene I filmed, all I could think was Shit did I sound like an idiot? Did I say "That's amazing!" too many times? Do my super cool overalls actually look really dorky? Or maybe that's me being the paranoid, anxiety-ridden human being I am. Probably.



Sofar So Good took me to Phitsanulok... Try to pronounce that... Go ahead... It's going to take you a couple tries. By the time we left I finally got it down... Of course. It's pronounced PIT-SAN-AH-LOHK. It's a sparsely populated town in the North.

Things I did

+White water rafting
+Eating too many dragonfruits
+Stuffing my face with local pad thai
+Exploring picturesque rice paddies
+Taking a million photos of my hottie friend, Megan

This area was essentially untouched by tourists. It's a ridiculously old area of land that used to be completely underwater and now serves as rice paddies. 

Every night at sundown, millions (maybe thousands? anyway, a shit ton) of tiny bats fly out of the caves to go feed. They fly in waves and it's quite incredible to witness this nightly routine. 

Our heads were finally able to rest after a long day of traveling when we arrived at this local home stay in the town. We were greeted with these beautifully dressed young women who performed a traditional Thai dance for us before serving us a dinner of local Thai foods and more dragonfruit. 

Before we left Phitsanulok, we had the pleasure of visiting a sustainable farm in the town. The man who ran the land spoke only in Thai so I needed a translation when he explained how he lives his life simply and believes you don't need much to be happy. He survives (read: thrives) with his family via his own land; growing his food and raising his animals. 

This small city has a war torn history that includes some pleasant details of the King who offered his assistance and support during these times. Here I am in a memorial area made in his honor. 

What I discovered on this trip is that there is more to this country than I could have ever imagined. Every corner of Thailand is sprinkled with history and culture and colorful details. It's also dotted with a lack of hand soap and updated plumbing systems, but that's a whole other conversation. Phitsanulok? Who has ever heard of that? I haven't even heard of it and I LIVE IN THAILAND. My point is there's so much of the world that is unseen and I'm feeling like a baller doing my best to try and see it.

Thank you to Sofar So Good for having me on the show.