After waking up, I headed to the coin laundry. My laundry had piled up, so I went to a place about a five-minute walk away. I could buy detergent and fabric softener there, so I put in coins to purchase them, set the machine myself, and started the wash. It said it would finish in 36 minutes, so I decided to go to the "Ebisu Ramen" across the street in the meantime.
A woman who looked French spoke to me at the laundry and asked, "Can you help me a bit?" I carefully explained how to use it. I guess it was her first time too. In the end we parted saying "thank you" to each other.
Ebisu Ramen: the expectation vs. reality of 850 yen
Ebisu Ramen really had the atmosphere of a Japanese restaurant, so I ordered tonkotsu ramen and a chashu rice bowl. Both were 90 baht each, and with water it came to about 200 baht (850 yen) in total. Super affordable.
I ate excitedly, but for some reason the broth tasted exactly like the instant tonkotsu ramen you eat in Japan. It was a flavor I'd clearly had before. I was like, "Really...?" but well, it's Ayutthaya so I guess there's no helping it.
Thoughts on the health gap between cities and rural areas
While walking around Ayutthaya I noticed something: compared to Bangkok, there are more people with larger builds. I got curious and asked ChatGPT, and it turns out this isn't unique to Thailand — it's a global trend.
People in urban areas tend to be more health-conscious, going to gyms and watching their diets. That's backed by higher incomes that make those choices possible. In contrast, in rural areas there isn't that luxury, and quick, cheap meals often take precedence over healthier options.
It reminded me of Maslow's hierarchy of needs: if basic needs for clothing, food, and shelter aren't met, it's hard to focus on anything beyond that.
When income is low, merely surviving becomes the top priority. Behind health disparities lie such structural problems. It was an interesting realization.
Thoughts on Wat Phra Mahathat and the origins of religion
After returning to the laundry and setting the dryer, I headed to the nearest Wat Phra Mahathat — that famous place where a Buddha head is embedded in a tree's roots.
I bought a ticket and went in, and the ruins of the Ayutthaya Kingdom spread out before me. Buildings made by stacking bricks. I thought how amazing it is that people back then built such things, and carving a Buddha out of stone to this extent is truly impressive.
I suddenly thought: perhaps religion is something that leverages human nature. Humans are creatures who want "something to rely on, something they can believe in." When we're sick we want to believe we'll get better. We want to think that if we do something, it will heal us. We want that "hope."
That's why people create gods, shape them in stone, and worship them. That brings peace of mind. I thought that might be how religion began. There's a connection to things in Japan too, like the great Buddha of Nara and the tales of Gyoki.
I wandered the ruins feeling those thoughts. It was a very enjoyable time.
Riverside restaurant and khao soi
I took a bike taxi to pick up the laundry, returned to the hotel and took a shower. Then I met up with Fah. She had come to pick me up by car again.
Today we went to the restaurant Fah recommended. The scenery was supposed to be very beautiful. When we arrived, the entrance looked like an art gallery with many paintings on display. Further in was the restaurant, and it was Fah's first time there too. Apparently her boss comes here often.
The riverside seats were fully booked, so we sat in a middle table for now. I ordered khao soi; Fah had carbonara and a matcha latte. We talked about all sorts of things while enjoying the view.
She works for a Danish shoe brand company that apparently has a factory in Thailand. It's a foreign-affiliated company and her boss is British. She uses English at work all the time, so I understood why she's good at it.
The khao soi was delicious. But it cost six times the usual price. Definitely expensive. Still, the dishware was carefully made, the staff were pleasant, and when a riverside seat opened up they guided us there.
The riverside view was completely different and very beautiful. Watching boats drift by on the river, I talked with Fah. Her dream is to go to Egypt; she's really drawn to pyramids and pharaohs. When I said I want to become a pilot in the future, she was really surprised.
Ayutthaya's specialty roti and an unexpected dessert
After the meal we went to a nearby stall where Fah introduced me to a sweet called roti. It was completely different from what I had imagined — a style where something like cotton candy is wrapped on a plate and eaten. Apparently it's an Ayutthaya specialty.
Then she took me to a dessert shop she knew. I ordered a dessert that mixed sesame and tofu. Fah had Thai milk tea shaved ice.
My dessert... wasn't a dessert. Zero sugar and extremely bitter. It might be good for you, but eating it all was tough. On the other hand, Fah's Thai milk tea shaved ice was amazingly delicious, and before I knew it I was focusing on that. The tapioca matched perfectly and it was truly tasty.
Fah prefers Universal Studios over Disney — exactly like me. I'm happy. She said she'll spend New Year's in Japan this year, which I thought was awesome! I hope she enjoys it.
'You can just treat me next time we meet'
When I went to the restroom and came back, Fah said, 'Alright, shall we go?' I asked, 'Wait, the bill?' and she said, 'I already paid.'
This was totally that classic move — paying the bill while the other person is in the restroom. And normally it would be the other way around, so it was my first time having it done to me. When I asked how much it was, she casually replied, 'You can treat me next time we meet.' I thought she was really cool.
She drove me back to the hotel, we talked about maybe meeting again when I next come to Bangkok, and said goodbye.
You can never meet again with the same feelings
I find it strange when people promise to meet 'next' time. Even if you think 'we might meet again,' you'll only ever meet once in the exact same situation and with the exact same feelings.
I felt like this at that moment, but a year later the feelings will already be different. Circumstances change as we age. That's why I think it's important to take pride in having met in this moment, to enjoy it to the fullest and savor it completely.
The feelings you have in this moment and the situation before you might be the last time. You may not be able to return the same way in the future. That's somewhat sad. That's why you should fully taste and feel the present and live without regrets. — This very moment is life itself.
It was a day full of lessons. And thank you, Fah! Until the day we can meet again.
