After a series of twists and turns, I arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’d initially planned to head back to Bali to dive into surfing, but after missing my flight, I rerouted to Chiang Mai — a destination I’d always longed to visit. In retrospect, I think I made the right choice. As a South Korean, I can stay in Thailand visa-free for 90 days, and I plan to take full advantage of that. I haven’t set a particular theme for this trip, but “slow travel” seems fitting. Well, work remains my top priority, and I prefer not to pack my schedule to the brim anyway.
When I think about it, few things reveal an individual’s personality as much as solo travel does. Given three days, some people cram their schedules with activities, while others can spend a whole month absorbing each view, each place, and each person, one day at a time. There’s no right or wrong approach (obviously), it’s just a God-given personal trait.
To be honest, I don’t know much about Chiang Mai. I know it’s a hotspot for digital nomads and Western retirees, and it’s Thailand’s second-largest city. But if you were to ask why I felt compelled to come here, I’d say, “Isn’t it often that we’re drawn to places or people without any apparent reason?” Sometimes you feel a pull towards something or someone inexplicably, while at other times, even when all the boxes are checked, something still feels amiss.
But, upon arrival, my experience is anything but slow travel. I’m swamped with zoom meetings and pressing tasks. Therefore I’ve been focusing on essentials like finding a gym(?), ticking them off one by one. My first task was to get a SIM card. My lodging was about 3–4 km away, so I decided to walk, partially to explore the area. Midway, hunger struck, so I ducked into a random street-side restaurant. I ordered beef noodles and a salad recommended by the waiter, only to find that they didn’t suit my palate at all. The salad had a fishy taste (literally speaking), and I, who generally hate wasting food, left most of it untouched.
‘I’ve always loved Thai food for a long time; what a fail from the get-go. I’ve got to find an excellent Pad Thai place,’ I thought as I resumed my walk. Soon after, a Coke Zero in a shop fridge caught my eye. Eager to wash away the lingering fishy taste, I grabbed a can and took a swig.
The familiar cold, fizzy sweetness felt like meeting an old friend in 2.5 years. Maybe the secret to the longevity of universal F&B brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks is their ability to offer a consistent, familiar experience, no matter where you are in the world.
Lost in thought and holding my can of Coke Zero, I continued to wander through the unfamiliar city. I then caught a glimpse of myself reflected in a shop window and saw someone who looked just like the can of Coke Zero.
There’s much I don’t know, and I have neither the need nor the desire to know it all. However, I do want to understand myself as well as I understood that can of Coke Zero in this unfamiliar city. Perhaps then, I’ll be able to wash away the fishy aftertaste that some people leave in others’ lives.
p.s. This post is NOT sponsored by Coca — Cola.
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