Had my blowout meal in Bangkok this evening, at one of the city’s best sushi places. It was very good, quite a delight, and plenty of things I’d not tried before, such as a baby snapper and seasonal squids and eels. I didn’t go for the premium omakase which cost half again as much though it did have some intriguing things, but also some rather unethical feeling ones, like a sort of flight of nigiri from successively older and larger bluefin tuna. When asked where I’m from these days I usually choose my answer carefully, between Pakistan, London and Istanbul. London is the default when travelling as Pakistan comes with so many preconceptions and it’s rare that I want to engage with them. At places like this, though, where there is a pleasant sushi chef, it almost felt like a patriotic duty to say Pakistan and thus do my little bit to shake those preconceptions.
Then I did a final round of present buying. No luck finding anything for my grandmother, and I am wondering if I should give her the lovely silk purse I bought in Phnom Penh, but I do like it and it is very practical and she is very likely to give it to someone else as a gift anyway. Well, hopefully I’ll find something appropriate in the duty free. I did come across the shop of a young jewellery designer with some very nice and good quality costume jewellery made of uncut gems in handmade settings, and bought a couple of earrings, one for myself and one for a sister.
I’m a little nervous about tomorrow’s journey, quite separate from sadness at this lovely interlude coming to an end. The events of the past few days, and of the past year or so, have made it likely to be an uncomfortable journey through the airport and from the airport to the house.
And then, tomorrow is a day to be nervous of anyway. The Punjab election is not happening, but the Thai one is, and chances are there will unhappy people no matter the result. But the real kicker is the other one, the Turkish election. So much fear and nervous anticipation 🫶