After spending a whole month soaking up both primitive islands and crazy city life of Thailand, I found myself feeling both excited and a little sad as I prepared to head to my next destination in Asia that is Siem Reap, Cambodia. Leaving behind the charming romance I experienced in Bangkok, with a kind-hearted man whose smile could light up the room, was bittersweet. However, our farewell was filled with warmth and tenderness, mirroring the genuine kindness in his smile.
Going on a wild 6-hour train journey, I often find myself questioning why I keep putting myself in these adventurous yet seemingly absurd situations. Initially, the idea excites me, but as the journey unfolds, frustration sets in. However, in the end, I come to appreciate the adventure for what it is—an enriching experience that adds depth and color to my world.
1,5 EUR Train Trip from Bangkok to Cambodia
"It's amazing how such an affordable journey can offer such a unique and adventurous experience!" is NOT a sentence I'd build telling about this journey. The fact that you can travel from Bangkok to the Cambodian border by train for just 49 Thai Baht certainly speaks volumes about the comfort and hygiene level of the train, just like many other goods and services in Thailand and Cambodia.
Amongst the crowded and basic train, I experienced a wide-range of emotions as usual. Despite the uncomfortable seats and super unpleasant restrooms, looking out of the open windows brought a mix of feelings alongside with the warm breeze. The rural scenery was beautiful, with tropical greens as far as the eye could see. In Asia, observing my surroundings was effortless; here, people seemed lost in their own worlds, making eye contact rare but allowing me to soak in the beauty of the moment without disturbance.
Then suddenly, I noticed a pair of eyes, quietly seeking companionship in the midst of our busy journey. A very young lady stood out with her large backpack, seeming to carry the weight of countless adventures yet to unfold. Despite her bold appearance, I could sense her vulnerability, longing for reassurance. "Are you heading to the border too?" she asked, her eyes filled with longing. With a compassionate smile, I replied, "Yes," but in my heart, I whispered, "Yes, sister, I'm with you," silently promising to accompany her on the journey ahead, offering support amongst the unknown.
Just like me, she also didn't have an online visa, so we found ourselves having to confront the customs police, rumored to be looking for excuses to issue fines to passengers that turned out to be a true story. The young French woman seemed quite anxious about the situation which I'm super familiar with holding a non EU Passport. Whenever a Western traveler faces such border crossing challenges, which is relatively uncommon, I can't help but recall the iconic scene from Fatih Akin's "Im Juli" that is "No passport No Romania!."
In "Im Juli," the character Daniel (Moritz Bleibtreu) is a German man who embarks on a spontaneous journey from Germany to Istanbul, in pursuit of a woman he has fallen in love with. Throughout the film, Daniel’s journey can be seen as a metaphorical movement from west to east, reflecting the broader cultural and geographical divide between Western Europe and the Eastern regions. During this wild road trip Daniel loses his travel companion Juli and his belongings including his passport. He would then eventually be stopped at the Romanian border where we see the legendary scene that reverses the border crossing challange which generally occurs from east to west. In this context, Daniel’s journey becomes not only a physical adventure but also a symbolic exploration of crossing boundaries, both literal and metaphorical, as he moves from the familiar comforts of the West towards the mysteries and complexities of the East. That was exactly what the young lady was going through.
"I consider myself fortunate," she said while we were waiting in the queue of the customs office. "My internship in Australia had been exceptional. I gained invaluable experience working in sustainable energy, which aligns with my field of study. And now that the internship's over, I've been travelling for over a month on a tight budget, trading work for food and a place to crash wherever I go."
I turned to look at her, and I could feel my eyes brightening up as I have a thing for young women who dive into the unknown that really captures my attention. I assured her decisively, "No, no, no, no! This isn't just luck. You've earned every bit of it by stepping out of your comfort zone and being true to yourself. Own it, my dear! You should be proud of yourself."
I could see my words had an impact as a faint smile replaced the sadness on her face. Despite the setback of being fined for not having a biometric photo, I hoped my encouragement gave her a much-needed boost, especially knowing how crucial every penny was for her. Me? I didn't give in to paying any fine, even though the customs officer's annoying attitude. My strong determination made him back off. Sadly, it seemed like many young people (mostly white Europeans) were fined for no good reason when crossing the border. It's surprising how standing up for yourself can work, it apparently requires some border crossing experience those individuals didn't happen to experience carrying advantageous passports.
It's amusing how I avoid feeling like a tourist in the places I visit, so I always find myself caught up in the most authentic activities. Without a to-do-list in my pocket, I was told about a Temple Marathon by my train trip sister that who mentioned she was planning to run 100 km at Ultra Trail Angkor. I looked at her with wide eyes, and she just laughed it off, saying, "Don't worry, I'm just crazy, that is all!"
I happened to run the 8 km Trail throughout the magical temples and forests of Angkor Wat classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1992.
So, the takeaway from all of this is that what keeps me "running" in life is staying true to my authentic self, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I'm not interested in following the typical "Top 10 Things To Do" lists for any location. Instead, I prefer to focus on the "Top 10 Things Ipek enjoys doing." No matter where I am or what I'm doing.
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