My first trip to Southeast Asia was in 2003. I was 23, fresh out of college and making bad decisions. I ran around with my enormous backpack and a group of culture-eschewing friends. Full moon parties were a priority.
Something clicked for me in this region, though. I was drawn back. I moved past the cheap Chang tank tops and the all-nighters on Khao San Road. I grew to consider Bangkok as a second home of sorts.
Now, two decades later … I remain completely smitten.
I love most the earliest mornings, when the flower markets find their busiest hour and Buddhists snag handfuls of prayer garlands for taxi-cab rearviews and sidewalk alters. At the feet of Buddha statues, you’ll find loose change, a smoldering stick of incense, a bowl of rice and small notes.
In the middle of it all is usually a bright red bottle of Fanta.
I grew up in Alabama. The Southern Baptists believe that Jesus drank austere, red wine. From a wooden grail.
Buddha wants something fizzy and full of sugar. He’s laughing or teaching. He’s got a belly and a bendy straw.
I love the whimsy in spirituality. To me, the sacred necessitates smiling. This is the region that first inspired me to be a travel writer … those bottles of Fanta, specifically. I came home from that first trip telling friends about the strange, quirky things I had discovered. I come home from each trip, still, with a heartfelt excitement about the little stuff.
The world is a crazy, bizarre, catastrophe of a place. I want to explore as much of it as I can before I sign off, and this travel blog is where all those attempts get cataloged.
I don’t believe in taking it all too seriously. I don’t believe you have to lose your sense of wonder or stop believing in magic, just because you’re now 52 instead of 15. I’m well into adulthood … and I still go outside to play.
Even Buddha drinks Fanta.
Hi. I’m Jenny. I’m a full-time writer, author and photographer. Welcome to this blog. If you have any travel-related questions or just want to say hello, feel free to email me at jennyadamsfreelance@gmail.com. You can also visit my other (slightly more professional) attempts at journalism on www.jennyadamsfreelance.com
Me again. My email was undeliverable. Picture is up on Instagram
David
Just discovered your site and can’t wait to dig in. We have visited N.O. 3 times so far this year and are coming back in October. Can’t take the summer heat there. We also love the bywater area and stay there.
We are retired and just want to have fun, dance, eat and try try to be merry. N.O. offers all of that and more!
Maybe we will see you around. Karen
Hey! Thanks for reading. We love the Bywater most of all 😉