Singapore - Pattaya Return

I never wrote about it then,
there wasn’t time, it was good
enough that we’d survived the
trip unscathed and made it
home to Sembawang.

The memories linger clear, as fresh
as lilts of heady scent conspire
to leave intriguing hints with passing
time. Bangkok – I recall being ill for
days, too sad to see the sights,

I tasted exotic foods, watched Thai
warrior’s mock fights with swords
blurred invisible in their twirling flight,
of elephants building a simple
bridge with logs fresh-felled,

dragged from the dwindling forests,
of elegant dancing girls with articulate
hands in stunning dress. And the driving,
endless hours in insane traffic
where road courtesies were seldom

expressed, following and learning to
trust our leaders knew where they were
going. We were young enough to ignore
the dangers, felt an entirely false 1978
sense of confidence in being ninety

cars driving on an organised tour
of Malaysia and Thailand, a road
trip to end all road trips planned in a
tacitly insecure, ‘tho utterly beguiling,
South East Asian mainland.

We didn’t tempt fate, try to drive to
Chiang Mai. Would I do it again? In slower
time, perhaps, but without Singapore AA
to organise, accommodate, and Thai Tourist
Police to protect and guide us along the way,
thankyou – no way!
© I.D. Carswell 2006