Second Homesick by Toby Leon in Sydney

Some places open up to you right from the start. And my first time in Bangkok was certainly an embrace. It was 2002—not long ago, but worlds apart from now. I was 19, preparing for a grand adventure. 10 countries in 3 months—1st time I’d ever travelled solo! I’d scrimped & saved, planned then paid. Ready for anything and terrified of what I might find. Never even considering myself in all that. How my own reflection would tilt & shift in these far-flung latitudes. How could I have known I’d still be friends with folks I met on my 2nd visit to Bangkok? In 2003, en route to London. People I saw every time I visited for 6 years after that. People I still see when I can. People I’ll know until one of us croaks. People that are friends with other friends of mine, looping back to this stream of consciousness with however many degrees of Kevin Bacon you want for breakfast. Bangkok isn’t just my second home. It IS home. As bright and hodge-podge as my bricolage memories of this special place that's changed as much as I have over the years. So very much indeed, and not at all...