Crossing borders

Seems like Thailand is slowly becoming one of those countries in the world where the reign of terror can bear fruit... Security checks at shopping malls, bored looking young army boys patrolling around bus stations and government offices, people eyeing other people and deciding whether or not that is a bomb in their bag or just a smelly durian... But that is just a small part of daily life. In general people go on about their daily business, shopping is still the number one favourite pastime for inhabitants of Bangkok, the buses are still joyfully overcrowded and after giving your bag a suspicious look people will still give you a nice innocent smile as if they never were suspicious at all... I will miss this place, with its bombardment of sensations, its colourful pallet of smells, sounds, and lights.. The bustling activity on the streets where every available square meter is used to its fullest potential. Time for me however to go and make myself a busy man again in the fine Kingdom that is Belgium. Ah, Belgium, where fries are fries, wether it are french ones or decent ones, with its tasteful beers (it's a good thing our monks aren't Buddhists, or we wouldn't have our precious Orval's and Grimbergen's and Leffe's...) and its delicious chocolates. Where people like to complain about the weather whether it is cold or hot, where people tend to worry about things that haven't even happened yet... Yup, I think I am going to be just fine coming back, after all it's home... Just let me have one more fruity toast before boarding that plane to Home...

Before the winter...

Wether they fall in the name of Freedom or the name of Terror, people fall when chaos strikes in daily life. No matter what colour of skin or religion one has, as a victim they join a long list of kindred that leave black spaces in the hearts of their loved ones. To the latter I wish this year to be a healing and kind one, and to all others I wish to find kindness and warmth in your hearts, so that there will be no more black spaces to be made...