Mr Chalk and I are at the end part of our Thailand holiday in barmy, bustling Bangkok. We last came here 28 years ago on our honeymoon, when we felt we were stepping into an altogether ‘other’ universe. We had never encountered anything quite like the smells, noise, crowds, traffic and chaos in our lives before and it certainly left a lasting impression on us.

Since that time we have been to Thailand several times, both with and without our boys, but this time coming back to the capital city once again, since that first time in 1990.

A lot is the same : traffic, noise, smells, crowds, as well as the most stunning temples you could ever see. However, the one thing that is really different now is that everyone has a phone, and many people seem to be using their phones most of the time, certainly to take pictures. The ‘selfie’ stick (a horrible invention) ensures that each beautiful temple can have ME or US in the foreground, grinning inanely. God give me strength. We also have people taking endless pictures of their food or drink. What is that all about?!

I know that I am of a different generation but I remarked to Mr Chalk that if people were just able to put down their phones for a little while and really take in all that is around them with their senses, they would be amazed at how amazing that is. Not to just view absolutely everything through the lense of a camera phone but to just sit for a while and watch, listen, smell, FEEL.

Of all places, Bangkok is a city to use all of your senses and to just leave the phone behind for once. So, I decided, just for one day, to leave my phone back at the hotel and I can honestly say it has been liberating. I felt so free and relaxed, not pressured to look for the next photo opportunity but just to ‘be’.

I really feel if we can just unleash ourselves from the gadgetry for a certain amount of time on a regular basis, we can then discover an inner calm and peace. Even in somewhere mad like Bangkok.

Sawatdeekaa (Thai blessing)

Wendy xx