Bangkok and Shibuya

By Ayero Moro, Australian National University, Australia

I booked the trip on a whim: Japan and Thailand, all in one mid-semester break. No spreadsheets, no daily plan. Just a vague outline, an empty suitcase (for thrifting of course), and an old friend who was equally up for the chaos. My friend Hannah had visited Japan a lot recently and at this point, she didn’t know she was going to stay. 

We started in Tokyo, staying in Shibuya. It was every bit as overwhelming and exciting as I’d imagined. Bright lights, huge crowds, busy and did I mention it was bright? I’d seen the famous crossing in films, but standing in the middle of it was cool.

We spent most of our time walking (and walking), eating convenience store snacks, and vintage shopping in tucked-away secondhand shops. What I didn’t realise was that our friends (who are supposed to be locals), did not know how to drive properly which only became apparent when one said: ‘I didn’t realise there was a gear shift’ about 1hr into the drive. 

Next was Bangkok. The heat and rain hit us the second we stepped off the plane. Everything moved fast: the markets and the energy. I tried to haggle at stalls and failed completely, but it was all part of the fun.

After a few days, we ended the trip in Koh Samui. It was quieter, calmer, and a much-needed change of pace. I stayed with an old school friend who now lives in Bangkok, and it felt good to slow down. We swam, read, and didn’t check the time much.