1:21’s Trip to ChiangMai

I believe I speak for the twenty-one of us when I say that we all did not expect the sweltering heat when we stepped out of the airport and into Chiang Mai on day 1. Based on the book that we received before the trip, we all expected the weather to be a cooling 18 degrees celsius to 34 degrees celsius. Well, the weather that greeted us when we arrived was safely above 34 degrees celsius, or so it felt.

The streets of Chiang Mai

Not being a fond lover of hot weather, I was complaining in my mind about the excruciating heat that failed to let up. I was extremely amazed by the smiles on the locals’ faces. The bus drivers that drove us to our guesthouse had wide smiles on their faces. It was seriously as if they did not feel the heat at all. It was amazing how despite the merciless heat, they did not show their displeasure or irritation in the least bit. At that moment, it struck me how pampered Singapore teenagers like us are. We complain at the slightest bit of rise in temperature from our normal comfort zone.

The laid-back citizens of Chiang Mai were the complete opposite. Even though they might feel irritated (well, who wouldn’t? The weather was sweltering.), they never showed it, always putting up a good face. It was really quite amazing how much of a good sport they were. Our bus drivers weren’t the only people smiling at us and giving us excellent service. Storekeepers and other people we bought stuff from just smiled at us with such a warm smile that one really wondered if they felt the heat at all, seriously.

Chiang Mai weather, in a way, allowed me to realise that Thailand is indeed the land of smiles, through and through. (:

- Grace Yeoh