Phantom Travel Syndrome
Place des Vosges, Paris, April 2018
Yesterday, I joined two expat women, Mary and Jem, for breakfast at a beautiful venue in Bangkok near the Central Embassy shopping mall.
Lady L, located at Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, is really lovely place. One of those spots where you’re happy you dressed up a little bit. The breakfast sets were giant. You ever see a plate of food and think, “Erhm, how will I get through all that?” Then 18 minutes later, the plate is barren? It was very good. I believe I had a three-person portion of meats.
We had great conversation. We talked about everyone’s individual story, how we all came to be in Bangkok. We talked about Thailand politics. We laughed.
It was a really good time. I left thinking, “Ahhh! THIS is all right!”
I’ve been having a hard time coming to terms with my status as a self-professed full-time traveler who cannot travel, stalled in a country not of my choosing, worried about the future on so many levels.
It’s like I’ll spend a few minutes thinking about one challenge, then remember how that one dovetails with another and another… and just feel… not HOPELESS exactly, but hope-limited.
Yes, I’m healthy and I’m safe and I’m staying in a nice, nice apartment and amazing food abounds.
But man! The thought of being in Paris right now entered my mind. No, not Paris LIKE now but Paris like the first time I went or the last time.
Ooh… a dose of Paris virtual reality would be a real nice stop-gap measure right now.
Le sigh.
From left: Mary, me and Jem. Photo courtesy of Jem.