Random rants of a traveller

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After a week of running around the city and the rural plantation in Selangor, I had a few hours of leisure time, blessings for this unfortunate soul. Sat down comfortably in my chair at the porch, almost lost in a day dreaming episode. The heat wave has been brutal, my garden seems to thrive in such blistering humid pleasure.

My memory took me to Thailand. Missing the excitement of the adventures, travelling into cities and into the countryside. Undeniably I met many good news friends, courtesy shown somewhat similar to Malaysia. Miss the discussions and leisure time, and the laughter.

At the same time seeing others, struggling, working beyond what is expected of them, made me wish for a world without borders. Quite impossible, I know, but can’t help wishing for it. I am slowly building my networks, trying to stimulate the minds of people to focus on anti-poverty projects for the marginalised. My trips are not just a social visit, I learn, I share what I can to help others.

Anyway the local cuisine is tasty and hot, depending on how much chili you dump into your bowl. Though I could stand Thai/Isaan street food for 3 weeks, before my craving for Nasi Padang would resurface. The only thing I actively avoid in any of my travels is pizza. Nasty bit, horrible to my oral senses.

When visiting Thailand with the family, I advise you to stay clear of Bangkok. If its modern life and comfort that you’re seeking, you might as well enjoy the same thing in Kuala Lumpur. Make a point to visit rural Thailand, and satisfy your appetite in places with less tourists. Pursue the adventure, avoid the folly of the urban nightmare and concrete jungle.

Why do I keep on going back to Bangkok? Well, its mainly because of the slums. I have not completed my embrace of the slums, it may just take me a year or two to quench my thirst for the squatter colonies. My fetish, my work; I seek every corner of a city, town and village, I seek the urban and rural poor. In search of adventure and offering assistance to the poor, you will find me a tireless worker walking through dirty streets, back lanes with firm, precise steps. Not a boast, merely stating a fact.

I yearn for another opportunity to travel the globe. It has been my addiction for a long time. I wait for more opportunity, impatiently.

Zashnain

An avid blogger, twitterer and photojournalist, Zashnain Zainal suffers from an incurable addiction to social work, helping marginalised communities since 1989. Nowadays he travels from the plantations of Malaysia to the slums of Thailand. He can be found at zashnain.com and @bedlamfury

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