I think of Anthony Bourdain
perched on a plastic stool
in Thailand,
where he loved best,
at the road-side noodle stand
waxing lyrical
about coriander
lime
chilli sauce
and fish-balls
He might have stayed in Thailand,
lived his days out there
well-fed and
fulfilled
instead of getting burned
by
hot
Italian
love
I think of the late Shane MacGowan too
who once said,
“I dream about going to Thailand and living there. It’s the best place I’ve been abroad. I’m not counting Ireland, that’s more of a second home. Thailand is a great bloody place. I could live there very cheaply, nice comfortable surroundings and nothing to do except lie around drinking all day. It costs virtually nothing to get pissed in Thailand. And they don’t speak English so I wouldn’t have to waste time talking to complete strangers.”
