April 3: Chaos

From @sengkang:

The ancient queen of HR. "Sign here, here" (and forty three other places). "Sit" she commands and scrummages a thick wad of documents to the counter. Three hours later we depart, stamped up for another year. "This is chaos," I complain. "This is normal, this is Thailand," she snaps back. "You can always leave."

From @directrun:

Judith Chaos Smale triggered the dive board three times launching herself into the shimmering pool of blue as her heart climaxed in a burst of rhythm and solace. Branded as a child with the name and understanding of chaos theory she lived in a world of curiosity unstifled. Her father gave her the greatest gift.

From @nikkihamett1:

What started out as chaos became calm, harmony, order. It had taken a steadfast decision to make it that way for her. Because what is chaos? An inability to see the pattern. Observe the choreography in this fast moving world. Slow it down and look at life like a movie. There is order in everything.

From @ratchaprarop:

While attempting to cross Pracha-songkhro Road, he wondered if there'd ever been a bigger waste of white paint than at a Din Daeng zebra crossing. The busses, cars, tuk-tuks and motorcycles all nonchalantly ignoring the crossing hopefuls. He was amazed and confused by the chaos all around him. Going to 7-11 had never been more fun..

From @shayanbkk:

In a world of chaos, he stood still. Banished and betrayed, 20 years can fuel a grudge yet he continued to stand still, unchanged and impervious to what was about to come - a new level of chaos.To re-open old wounds can be painful, but sometimes, there're other things to make the experience worth it.

From konfuzed:

Rush hour on a Friday. Ugh and now raining too.  His wallet was thick with bills in his pocket, at least he'd been paid. Time to get down the red light district and blow it all on cheap booze and fast women.  He'd found the two girls, four hands massage was the most fun he'd had in his life.  But this traffic was chaos!

From @naamtok:

11 hour flight? took almost 14 – headwinds and delays. Making the connection from Bangkok meant racing across the airport in under 20 minutes. I was confident it wasn’t going to happen, but had to try. Then I got into Arrivals: total chaos. So mine wasn’t the only delayed Flight.  Screw this, I’ll find a bar.

From @bangkokgirlblog:

It was only Monday and her to do list was spiralling out of control. Her brain had too many tabs open to only be functioning on only one cup of coffee.

Her phone was beeping again with emails and texts. 

Life was chaos. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

From @geoffgthomas:

Throughout university I was struggling to fully understand the second law of thermodynamics. Then, in desperation, my professor told me to relate the theory to the historical cycle politics in Thailand. Each leader inherits a nation in chaos and then slowly restores order. But, hubris and corruption inevitably lead them directly back to chaos.

From @PennyKinned:

Yes, it was turbulent. Moving to another country for a man, being abandoned for another (not even younger) woman, left – quite literally – on the street with no place to call my own… The chaos in my heart only subsided once my bank balance touched 1,00,000 baht. Money really isn’t funny in a poor girl’s world.

April 2: Pride

From @ajarncom:

The condominium's marketing manager was screaming at me. Sweat began to form on his forehead, dampening his three-strand comb-over.

"Get out there and wave that flag for all you're worth" he snarled. "I don't give a fiddler's fuck about your pride and dignity"

From @directrun:

In 1840 Claire rode a horse drawn carriage each day to visit her father’s business. There she worked as a proofreader on publications produced at a lightning fast pace. Her day was a continual swirl of reading and restructuring a fire hose spray of words. Content was hard to retain, her reward of pride remained.

From @nikkihammett1:

I knew Neung feared disorganisation, so when she was called to the stage three contestants early I expected her to refuse to sing. Instead she gathered her courage and walked on. I was watching, full of pride. She began hesitantly. So young. Frightened. Then a confidence took over and there she was; a preteen rockstar.

From @bangkokgirlblog:

He had done it again.

Let himself get carried away with his gang of friends. Listening to them as they were telling him what he wanted to hear at that moment in time; instead of trusting his gut instinct which was usually spot on.

Time to swallow his pride and make his apologies.

From @ratchaprarop:

She has a pride in her appearance that is verging on the obsessive. As she leaves the condo, she looks at herself endlessly in the foyer mirror. Why can't she see, what we can see? A woman, whose skirt is tucked into the top of her underwear, leaving nothing to the imagination..

From @geoffgthomas:

With ‘Discover Thainess’, the Government promote not only the physical attractions of Thailand, but also the uniquely warm and welcoming character of the people. Thais are amazingly proud of their country and enviable reputation for genuine hospitality. However, ‘Thainess’ also dictates that their national pride will always be subordinate to their desire for personal gain.

From konfuzed:

there it was, unmissable in the middle of the wall in the lounge – he’d even moved his pride&joy - the 55” curved flatscreen TV to ensure ultimate positioning… 

dad, its just grass I said, any idiot could have dug it up and sold it… 

Nonsense, he replied, this is the stuff dreams are made of, pride of England… Wimbledon, Centre court.

From @PennyKinned:

“Walk away, just walk away. You will live, and you will go home to your girls. It’s not worth it! What are you trying to prove – and to whom? You won’t even remember this in a week. Go on now, walk away,” said Reason.

“Get that bastard,” snarled Pride.

April 1: Rumour

From @ajarncom:

I heard a rumour that the Thai guy who lived down the street did odd jobs with a paintbrush - and I so desperately needed my living room ceiling done.

I knocked on his door. The painter answered. First impressions are everything. I said “sorry, wrong house”

From @directrun:

Rumor has it that Bangkok is sinking.  Or is it science that is declaring the soft delta mud is gobbling up the guts of the condo glut.

Whatever the source whatever the reason for this phenomenon I’m going to stand firm and enjoy the ride as Sin City slides. It’s the greatest show on earth.

From @Naamtok:

Seven years is long time to wait for a new album, no matter how dedicated the fans. Rumour had it Tool had been recording, but a new album? It seemed too good to be true. Everything they have put out to date was held in majesty and awe. Now is when to surf for tickets.

From konfuzed:

I know a secret I whispered in her ear.

Is it damaging? She asked. There’s no roadmap for recovery...

Why is everything so light and dark with you I asked? It's not a storm in a teacup, its golden!

I think your secret isn't true she said.  It's just a rumour anyway. My tits are real.

From @geoffgthomas:

The date might be significant, April Fools’ Day. But, if the swelling rumour that Banksy really was visiting Bangkok is true, then should I leave the political mural alone and make a fortune selling my garden wall to a collector, or should I paint it over before the authorities come and arrest me for criminal defamation?

From @bangkokgirlblog:

He sat patiently by his computer.

Tickets went on sale in exactly 2 minutes.

2 minutes arrived but nothing. The website wasn’t frozen; just blank.

A twitter plea enquiring if anyone had bought tickets to the NKOTB reunion concert gave confirmation.

He had been conned by the Bangkok rumour mill again. There was no concert.

From @2yrsbangkok:

She knew that it was only a rumor at this point, but she felt the anxiety expanding in her chest, making it difficult to breathe normally.  800 teachers – that’s what the nervous chatter in the lounge had claimed.  Last in, first out.  But for now, at least, she was still employed.

From @nikkihammett1:

‘Call off your dogs,’ she said. The rumour had arrived safe and sound, halfway around the world. They had fallen over themselves to be the first to tell her, jumping online to let her know her husband was unfaithful. They took a strange delight in telling the story, and so it hurt even more.

From @sleepypigrabbit:

He saw the reporter who had misrepresented and crafted the entire article based on nothing but rumours. Since his reputation was already ruined, there was nothing more to lose. He went over and punched the sleazy reporter. "Let this be another rumour too then," he spoke, as though it was a line from a movie.

From @ShayanBKK:

The power of information is a great thing but when rumors whiz pass us on a daily basis, one can't be completely oblivious. We can't avoid it but we can control how it affects our actual perception of the real world. One must take every bit of information with a bit of salt.

From @PennyKinned:

“So, as I understand it, she is safe in her ivory tower? Do what she might, they will still adore and support her?”

“That’s right. You have the power to replace her, but they will hate you for it.”

“There’s only one solution, then. Get the rumour mills going. Make sure nothing comes back to me.”

March 31: Storm

From @bangkokgirlblog:

Another day, another drama.

Or are we just hearing more thanks to social media?

Woe is me, life is fantastic, ATTENTION please….

Even more noticeable is people involving themselves in matters that don’t concern them; making a storm out of a teacup seems to be the sport of 2015.

A sad reflection of times. 

From @ratchaprarop:

It was mid-afternoon, the sky was dark and threatening. The storm was on its way. The stall holders at Victory monument were packing up, hoping to beat the downpour that was imminent. Somchai had to get to home, quickly. The weather was changing and so was he; tomorrow he, would be a she.

From konfuzed:

Perfection is something that people can spend their whole lives striving for yet fail to attain.

Perfection is sinister, it eats away at you, forcing you to keep going, keep changing it, keep toying with it…  never stop just keep at it, its never complete…

Perfection also exists in nature… George Clooney showed me – the perfect storm…

From @2yrsbangkok:

She knew she should back off when she saw the storm gathering.  But she didn’t want to.  Not today.  She wanted to press until it burst forth in a cascade of polluted words and thunderous blows.  She wanted the torrent to wash her clean away until there was nothing left to hurt.

From @sengkang:

“Where is it?” Shouted big sister.

“Don’t know, don’t know. Just disappeared.” The tiny sibling sobbed into her tissue.

“Well, I’m not giving you another. You’re greedy guts. And I’ll tell father when he comes home.”

Later, when washing up, the mystery was solved. Storm in a teacup dunk indeed.

Father was not informed.

From @shayanbkk:

Her eyes were full of fury. It was probably not such a great idea teasing her about her weight...but it was done. Nothing could stop the storm that was about to come. Not even a glass of wine.

From @directrun:

A Russian legend lies in the life of Tolstoy. Storms carved his pathway, storms of enthusiasm for sexual passion, sentimentalism, Christianity and asceticism. A storm of gambling led him to be a soldier, later this would burst into a tornado of pacifism.

Tolstoy’s works triggered an outpouring of accolades from a torrent of accomplished writers.

From @nikkihammett1:

The days were sweltering and dry leaves blew noisily in the scorching breeze. We prayed a storm would break the intense heat and finally it came. A storm enveloped the town in coolness.The air smelled of dirt and meant that hot season was finally ending in a welcome climax of heatwaves and storms. Bliss!

From @Naamtok:

Kids running underfoot “Get out!” too many people in my stifling kitchen, empty offers of help, potatoes par-boiling as I prep the Goose’s trivet. Marie banging on about her date, I haven’t even started the batter mix! Jamie hands me a glass of Valpolicella. Cooking up a festive storm. Beloved chaos. How I love this.

From @geoffgthomas:

The rain beat down on the shabby tin roof with the deafening staccato of River Dance, and the overflow from the broken downpipe sounded just like a horse pissing on a concrete yard. Living in Bangkok I was no stranger to thunder, lightning and torrential rain, but this was a storm of biblical proportions.

From @PennyKinned:

Suddenly, this storm. Out of nowhere, seemingly, great gusts of air bloom and the sky darkens ominously. There must have been warning signs, of course. A distant rumble, perhaps? A drop in temperature, a rise in humidity? 

But I missed the omens, like I always do. And the raindrops come as a shock to me.

March 30: Gold

From konfuzed:

My wife wanted a “cultural” night out… Alright, you book it, put it on my card and we’ll go I told her.

We’re queuing at an unfamiliar venue… where are we i asked.  Some ballet…

The stage lit up. OMG,

“Gold, Gold, always believe in your soul, you’ve got the power to know, you’re indestructible”

Someone shoot me now

From @geoffgthomas

The news that John had married his young Thai sweetheart came as something of a shock to all of us. In earlier emails he'd appeared happy and had described Tassaneeya as his beautiful 'trophy wife'. But now, having spent two hours in her company, I can only assume that he hadn't won the gold.

From @bangkokgirlblog:

She had always loved rainbows. 

One day on discovering the elusive end, she found the infamous pot of gold to be a myth. 

Instead of feeling defeated she sat by the rainbow and realised she had her health, friends, family, peace, freedom, knowledge and love – seven colours are more valuable than one pot of gold. 

From @NaamTok:

“…A golden suit of armour and sword might look pretty, but in battle they would be useless”. Replied the Blacksmith, answering the Boy-Prince’s initial request.  “Gold is heavy, and actually pretty soft,” His Young Majesty listened intently. “The colour alone would make you a keen target, and any steel would cut through it like butter…”

From @sleepypigrabbit:

"Let's call my friends over for this," Grandfather said excitably before Grandmother interjected, "What friends? They're all dead." He shot her a look before turning away angrily. "Just because you won't look at me doesn't mean you won't hear me!" Grandmother raised her voice.

I wonder how these two made it to their Golden Anniversary.

From @directryn:

A red & gold bug crawled up her sleeve, she only noticed as the bug took flight, which startled her, off balance she fell on the grass, tumbled, rolled three times down the hill bouncing like a loose innertube into the hedgerow. Leaves, dust, spider webs graced her face as a snake landed there, too.

From Anon:

I played the part beautifully. As a foreigner, how could I possibly know she was rich when we “accidentally” met at the bar? I insisted on paying for dates, feigned surprise at the big “reveal” and gave meaningful gifts. Of course, she married me. Some call me a gold-digger, but I call myself a pragmatist.

From @PennyKinned:

The little tea-shop does brisk business, seven days a week. The old man makes the best Indian chai in Bangkok, sweet and milky, brewed with cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. On days I feel particularly homesick, I get myself a cup of tea from there. It tastes like home – and that is more precious than gold.

March 27-29: Light & Darkness

From @geoffthomas:

“Dear Guest

If Electricity Becomes Extinct

Use Battery Light to Overcome Complimentary Darkness”

Turning the computer screen towards me, the grinning receptionist was obviously proud of his latest safety notice. I politely offered to make some minor adjustments before pressing ‘PRINT’. However, he clearly trusted Google’s translation tools far more than he trusted an Englishman.

From konfuzed:

Like stars in the night sky, my friends are little sparks of light in an otherwise dark world.  And like stars, it's not until total darkness is upon you, do you realize how brightly they really shine.

From @minatilou:

He lay awake in the pre-dawn darkness, listening to the rain as his lover slept. No need to leave the womb-like security of the duvet. Today was Sunday and it would be hours before the rising sun backlit the clouded sky. The only irritation; Get up and pee or not?

From @bangkokgirlblog:

“Are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark”?

There’s a well-known saying that when God closes a door, he opens a window.

The trouble is whenever I find an open window, it closes just as I reach it.

Perhaps I am destined to remain a lost star. 

From @directrun:

In the screaming silence I told myself to lose the person we had become. Drop the light and blend with the darkness that brightens all who break the mold. A mother’s shroud should be permanently temporary offering empty completeness. As vacuum became palpable a heavy lightness lifted my newness to frighteningly aged depths.

From @directrun:

I am black. My sister is white. We never had a fight. There was strife coming from the outside, continually twisting our light darkness into stripes of confused wrath. 

In time we took different roads to the goal of creating our families.

The oneness we had continued solid, the wrath expanded globally beyond our comprehension.

From @directrun:

A worm lives in the light of his world of darkness. He loves the warmth of his world beyond anything mankind could ever understand. The true nature of his existence is multiplied exponentially by the bold colors transmitted to his soul by the earth he molds.

Vast vibrations keep him in tune to his heart.

From @sengkang:

New met, a gleam in her eye, but I couldn't see properly. "Come here, step into the light." "Oh, Highway 61 Revisited." A fellow worshipper. I was transfixed immediately. We became soulmates. She's gone, my life darkness. Or better, "It isn't dark yet, but it's getting there."

From @sleepypigrabbit:

She looked at him longingly in the darkness of the night, wishing that everything would remain at a standstill. Time was passing too fast, the first light of day beginning to appear. Leaning closer for one last kiss, she then pushed his cold body into the water. "Goodbye," she said, as she watched him disappear.

From @Naamtok:

Gafae-Yen she called it – Thai Iced coffee, no frills, no fanciness just real coffee, chilled down to cold with ice. Sumptuous, strong, borderline bitter coffee, a stark contrast – darkness, briefly at least, before swirling with the light condensed milk. A simple mixture, creating something better than the sum of its parts. A new lifelong ritual.

From @shayanbkk:

I wake up in the middle of the night, thirsty. It's pitch black and I'm fumbling through the darkness looking for my water bottle. It's surreal - the absence of light. My thirst grows and heart beats faster. Where's the darn switch?

From @PennyKinned:

He laughs easily and often, eyes crinkling with mirth and warmth as he looks at her. She is delighted by the lightness of his ways – and she knows she is going to fall for this man.

It is only later that his darkness shows itself, and by then she is in too deep.

March 26: Map

From @NaamTok:

It wasn’t going to happen again. She had assured him repeatedly. “Trust me”. Frustrated, she had in fact lost their way again, despite planning secretly on Google before he even handed her the map. “Maybe the pub moved?,” he suggested playfully, not realising how angry she was, with herself. If he keeps it up…

From konfuzed:

Where are you going? i asked

Where have you been? he replied

How are you getting there? I asked

How did you get here? he replied.

We need to backup a bit I said.

There’s no map for the adventure we’re taking he said.

I’m not talking to the mirror again. #Asshole

From @ShayanBKK:

"We're lost!" she exclaimed, as I anxiously drive through barren lands. Google Map on the fritz and gas swiftly draining much like our fortitude, we were heading towards the unknown.

Where in the world are we? A never-ending abyss as it would seem.

And then my eyes open.

From @2yrsbangkok:

He didn’t even remember when he had first become captivated by her. The fixation had bloomed inside of him slowly, petal by petal, until it blossomed wide into something that pressed on his insides.

Delicately, he spread the map out on the floor.  Hand-drawn, it showed her daily travel routes in careful detail.

From @thomaswanhoff:

“I am from Issan”, she said. When I asked where, she said Kong Khaen. When I asked if from the city, she said “nearby”. When I asked for village name, she said “No village, have farm, we poor”. And then she sent me the Google Map coordinates. I love technology. ETA 9.5 hours.

From @sengkang:

“Map” I demanded. She threw it at me. “Ask someone!” she snarled. I ignored her and studied the map intently as she seethed. Policeman at the window. “Why are you parked here?”  “He’s lost” she spat, before I could reply. He looked hard at me. “Hmm, upside down map. Explains it.” She smiled.

From @geoffgthomas:

Pausing to view the strategically placed map, a well dressed Thai with good English informed me that the Grand Palace was temporarily closed. However, his smiling friend would take me on a small tuk-tuk tour of Bangkok, after which, the Palace would once again be open. Welcome to Thailand's oldest and most embarrassing tourist scam. 

From @huskychemist:

When I was in college my sister and brother-in-law (with whom I was staying) went away on a vacation with his family. They left without me. I was invited, but thought I didn't want to go. Until the house was empty. So I packed my bags and found my way to their campground, which was a three-hour drive away. One of the family members there said to me, in amazement, "How did you get here?"

I followed a map.

From @PennyKinned:

He gazed at the box of random items, puzzled. Old books, scratched CDs, worn items of clothing, diaries bursting with scraps and scribbles, fading photographs from a time before digital cameras…

“I don’t understand.”

“You said you wanted to know me. How I became who I am. Well, this is the map. Happy treasure hunting.”

March 25: Cocktail

From @ajarncom:

She surveyed the punters around her. A typical Brit-pub happy hour mish-mash of cost-conscious English teachers and stripey shirt-wearing financial advisors. She lifted the cocktail to her lips. It was the first time she'd experienced a long, hard screw on the beach. She dearly hoped it wouldn't be the last.

From @bangkokgirlblog:

At 13 I fell in love with Tom, who played the main character in a film called Cocktail.

From thereon cocktails have taken a starring role in my life.

From sealing friendships, to healing breakups; to fuelling dancing shoes to curing holiday blues.  

Oh cocktails. What a lot I have to thank you for.

From @nikkihammett1:

Travelling to Thailand was filled with happiness and pain. I finally left England but it took the end of my youthful mother’s life, to compel me to make a new life myself. I started out drinking tropical cocktails and life was fabulous. Years later, happy, calling Thailand ‘home,’ I’ve graduated to Sangsom, Soda, Manao.

From @Naamtok:

Running hard now, past tired, two minutes left of twenty. Sweat dripping as she rhythmically hit the treadmill belt. Not even listening to the song that was playing now, despite it being a favourite. Just the thought if it made her smile, She was going to slay them all, in that little black cocktail dress.

From @geoffgthomas:

As our drinks arrived, four new beauties took to the stage. As glasses clinked, a slender hand gripped my thigh before slowly massaging north. Professional fingers were working there magic, but seconds short of a happy ending I reluctantly pushed that hand away. Did this bar's name refer to more than just the drinks? Cocktail.

From @directrun:

Seattle radiated a fresh misty afterglow from a sunny rainbow day. With Pacific Northwest wine flowing freely we probed every nook & cranny of Pikes Place Market. After 6 hours we decanted ourselves to the Edgewater Inn bar. Cocktail hour it was, all agreed, except one piping "I think are tails are cocked enough already!!"

From @FreBKK:

Once again we’re being silenced by the almighty powers that hold our lives in their greedy hands.

Talking about it might be a threat to the safety of our nation, and therefore, a threat to us.

Now we have to be afraid, so let’s be silent and just enjoy our shrimp cocktail.

From konfuzed:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  I was in cocktail class at university where we had to make all sorts of cocktails.  There was fine liquor being used – they’re crap unless you use the good stuff, obviously.  The downside? We were only allowed “tasters”, the rest was poured out…  what an absolute waste of great cocktails!

@ShayanBKK:

If you want to make life interesting, make it like a cocktail. Start with a base of excitement, a dash of compassion and a shot of attitude. Just make sure it's shaken not stirred.

@PennyKinned:

There is a coup: an overthrown president, an all-powerful general. She has been instrumental to this – years of backroom meetings, surrounded by weaponry and dark ambition. “I’ve earned this,” she thinks, looking out as crystal waters as the waiter serves her a Cosmopolitan.

Like her, there is more to the cocktail than meets the eye.

March 24: Damage

From @geoffgthomas:

At first glance, the challenge of writing a story in fifty-five words had seemed easy.  Fifty-five words would offer ample scope to develop interesting characters within a pithy well rounded plot. But, as his pencil crossed to the second page it became clear that no amount of editing could save him. The damage was done.    

From @ShayanBKK:

He wakes up every morning with adventure in his heart and soul. Leaping through the air, vaulting over obstacles with ease. Muscles tensed, mind focused on the path, never worrying about the physical and mental damage.

CRASH. He falls but swiftly back to his feet only to do it all over again.

From @bangkokgirlblog:

My friend is everything a friend should be. Caring, a listener, an adviser, a comedian.

The revelation of a careless whisper and I learn my “friend” is not really my friend at all.

Once the genie has been released from the bottle it is rarely re-captured.

To damage trust is to destroy a friendship.

From konfuzed:

my friend received a phone call at work today… its amazing how your whole life can change in the space of a few seconds.  the damage that can be done with a few words.  His agony thinly veiled, his face contorted with grief, his eyes welling with tears. his family has been torn apart… his sister is with god now.

From @2yrsbangkok:

The damage was only slight.  You had to squint and hold it up under the kitchen light to even see it. It was ever so faint.  But it was there - the dollop of barbecue sauce that stubbornly refused to disappear despite obsessive scrubbing. The only truly pretty thing she’d ever owned, ruined.

From @nikkihammett1:

As we arrived by longtail at dawn, the damage could clearly be seen. Beautiful beach bars made of old wood ripped up to make way for the brand new 5 star. A part of Thailand taken away forever. No more fire shows, no more reggae. Concrete paths already being laid amongst the debris. Goodbye Tonsai.

From @PennyKinned:

He traces the scar down her back – long healed now, but still clearly visible. “Don’t,” she says, pushing his hand away. “I don’t like for you to see me like that.” But he is insistent, following the trajectory of the old gash with his fingertips. He likes her damage. It makes him feel at home.