Bangkok in Film
Another film photo diary, this time from my Bangkok trip last month.
The last time I’ve been to Thailand was in 2015. It’s one of the most spontaneous and memorable trip I had, albeit short. I remember my friend and I going around the city following a “tour” from an app because we didn’t have an itinerary at all. We both had exams and final projects to submit in school just a few hours before our flight. Ang kapal pa ng mukha namin magcross-country nun, I seriously don’t know why our parents allowed us to leave then.
I can’t say I had everything planned this time around, but I did book this Bangkok trip for an “inspiration” break before the end of year rush. Bangkok’s art scene has been thriving and I had a few places I really want to visit, mostly based on other people’s recent trips. I’m so glad I decided to come back! It’s so different from what I remember it to be. Good different. Dropping photos here so I can look back to ’em someday.
While I stayed in the city for most of my trip, there was one day where I did a day tour to Ayutthaya. It’s a 2-3 hour drive north of Bangkok. Very Cambodia-ish scenery. Some parts of the old city are preserved and declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Factory Coffee deserves an individual photo! The hostel I stayed at is just a 3 minute walk away from this cafe and I just kept coming back. One for the coffee (soooo good!) and two for the aircon because it was just too damn hot. Mrs. Cold is a must-try!! There’s so many single origin coffee shops in Bangkok, I can’t explain how much that makes me happy! I got to draw in between the long walks, and actually sit down in a coffee shop without the pressure to work. (Take me back!!)
I’ve been drawing and writing lyrics on photos for some time now. It’s been a personal project for me, and sometimes, a warm-up before a to-do. This trip gave me time to do just that again. It’s a simple thing I don’t force myself to make. But lately, even drawing things like this makes me anxious. Because who am I to have the privilege of time when everyone else feels like they’re doing something worth doing?
Shooting in film takes so much more time and money, and there’s honestly no assurance that it will turn out well. Around half of the ones I took turned out underexposed! Some didn’t even make the cut to be here, haha. But I do love the fact that shooting in film is unpredictable. And I’m one to hate surprises! (Knowing how things would turn out keeps me in check.) But this is one of the few moments where the wait is more exciting than it is anxiety-inducing. Not all of them will turn out pretty, and sometimes, it might even feel like a waste. But not everything’s meant to be good anyway — something I need to tell myself more!
My week in Bangkok gave me a shallow dive on pace and value. Not all things are meant to be rushed, even ourselves. That it’s okay to do things and not think about whether it’s worth something. It’s okay to chase dreams fast! And it’s also okay to take things slow. Not everything will be worth it every time, but some things are and that’s enough to try.
Anyway, daming sabi, lol. I don’t have any planned trip for next year yet. Mighty proud of myself for consistently checking sale flights but never buying tickets! Also, because waiting for AB6IX to hold a concert here! As a basurafan, I’m reserving all my money for my kids, HAHA. This space is idle for months at a time, so in case I don’t write anything anytime soon here… I hope the end of the decade brings you something good!!
Perpetually lost,
Louise
