The Warriors House is on its way. For several days now we are in Isaan, north-east of Thailand, where I have my origins. But we are here to do some reportages. Fabio, in fact, wants to tell different stories from these forgotten places. From the bank of the Mekong, where the fishermen lifestyle is changed, to Udon Thani and its province, where I was born.
Although this is a business trip, we bring with us our principle, the back to basic. The Isaan is not touristy, there aren’t the usual young backpackers and it is much more difficult to come across some organized tours. We are in the real Thailand, the farmer’s country, where few speak English.
The welcome and hospitality are super, smiling gesticulate, they do everything in their power to give us directions. In the eyes of many we are aliens and curious, people ask us where we come from, what we do here and where we go. Everything is clearer to them when I explain my origins and my family.
Around here, even if there are shopping malls, shops, traffic and luxury hotels in the city, it seems to be back in the past. A leap of at least twenty years. Life is slow, everyone does everything with calm, there is peace of mind and you can see it on people’s faces.
In these days we have visited several temples, those in the city and those scattered in the countryside. At Wat Pha Phu Khon, we were the only farang (foreigners). In the province of Udon Thani, about two hours by car, in the mountains, surrounded by the forest, is a temple with inside the lying Buddha entirely made of Italian marble. The Thais bow three times, pray, make an offer, and then walk around it three times. On the way out, bells and big gongs ring all around. Between one selfie and the other you can breathe spirituality, faith and the joy of having paid homage to their teacher.
At the Salakaew Ku, an ancient park near Nong Khai, there is no lack of requests from the faithful such as health, abundance and metta (benevolence). Walking among the giant statues that tell the story of Gautama Buddha, we are stopped by a monk, a great talker who has made us happy the day. He arrives from the south of Thailand and in a moment he blesses us, he make us light the incenses near the statues that represent our birthday and then make us walk around the “wheel of life”.
Here, if you pause, you understand how precious simple life is and how many emotions it can give you simply by walking and enjoying your time. Incense, a portal between man and something much bigger, with its scents, enchants you and somehow takes you away from the modern world, even if for a short time.
Today we are heading to another park, very particular, where the statues represent the conception of Buddhist hell. There are about twenty of them in Thailand and we will conclude the trip to the “Red Lotus Lake” and visit my family.
We are busy, with deadlines, stories to deliver and reportages to translate, but nothing prevents us from living through this journey, to jump into the pool and eat a good pizza “Da Sofia”. Just like the Buddha’s teaching: “As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are other wise you wil miss your life”.
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