The NY Times front page story on Friday, May 14, was a little more startling than usual. While reading about a general who got shot in the head during an interview w/ a Times reporter, we checked out the map and realized it was just a few blocks from my fave hostel in Thailand, which I always referred to as my “home base” in SE Asia. It was the area of the city where I felt most comfortable and “at home” during my travels last Fall. Lumpini Park — Yeah, right next to the HSBC bank that I hunted down to re-up my stash every time I passed through Bangkok. I spent my last night in Asia alone on Dec 24 on a shopping spree at the Suan Lum night bazaar right next to the park.

Such a weird feeling to read about something so far away and for once not feel like it’s all happening in an imaginary world.

HSBC building on Lumpini Park, from my photos.