Why people actually watch netflix?

Yes, that’s a genuine question. One which I will try to answer here myself but rather unsatisfactorily. And so that everyone knows, I’m a resident of India so all my views are expressly about Netflix India service and probably not as a subscription service or company on a whole. 

First of all, to all the Netflix lovers out there, let me give you some solid reasons to rethink your stance:-

1. Netflix collection is laughably small. Unless you’re somebody born in the last ten years or never had access to cable TV or Internet earlier, there’s a chance you’ve already watched many things available on Netflix. What's the point of thousands of titles when most of it is uninteresting filler to make the service appear to have huge collection instead of providing some sort of value to the customer?

2. Honestly, Netflix shows are the most well-dressed garbage out there. Netflix originals are usually the most soulless, unoriginal, propagandist and terribly developed shows and movies. Netflix certainly has given us greats in the past like- House of Cards, Bojack Horseman, Stranger Things, etc. but recently it’s all been a popularity game for them. Whatever agenda/topic/actor is popular, gets a Netflix show/movie. They have become so much reliant on popular opinion that they try to tick all the boxes of ‘wow factor’ quotient, which they believe the public will like and then give us the worst representation of our expectations. 

3. They try to lure people by sexually enticing content. ‘Sex sells’ must be the oldest trick in the book but it just doesn’t seem to get old and die. No matter how progressive we become. The most watched Netflix shows/movies are the raunchiest, provocative and yet mindless productions out there. Either that or some horrible violent content. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against pure expression of any art form regardless of the amount of profanity, intensity or gruesomeness of the content. I just won’t approve of it when it’s done to appease and attract an audience instead of actually producing quality content. 

4. Netflix is expensive. I don’t know how much is too much for you but comparing solely on numbers, Netflix is far more expensive than its two biggest competitor streaming services (Disney+Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video). Given Netflix does not provide any extra utility at all, except few different titles, I see no point of it being placed at such a higher price.

5. Their content management is horrible. Netflix specifically presents the most mainstream and run-of-the-mill media available in the vast array of movies and shows from the whole world. A movie you really want to watch? Nope, won’t be here. A classic trilogy with all 3 movies? Nope, not here. A great movie you came across last week and put in your watchlist? Sorry it’s gone from Netflix now. A slightly older series which was critically acclaimed? Sorry buddy, Breaking Bad and Sherlock is the best we can do. Hey, why not watch Friends? For the 15th time? No worries. Good old Friends. Everyone likes Friends. (I can do a whole another article on why Friends in itself is a highly overrated and utterly mediocre show but let’s leave it for another day).

6. Rationally speaking, the competitors just peddle a better product. With Amazon Prime you get a slew of benefits from Amazon including faster delivery, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video and more. And it’s still cheaper than one year of Netflix. Disney+Hotstar gives Hotstar Premium, Disney+, HBO Originals, NatGeo and much more variety of content from different providers. And again, at a much lower price than one year of Netflix. The only thing Netflix has more in terms of content is its range of Anime shows. And I highly doubt Netflix is the go to destination for any Anime enthusiast. 

Alright, now back to the original questions which still baffles me- Why do people watch or subscribe to Netflix then?

Why is it such a strong pop culture phenomenon in the country? Why do shows which are a hit on Netflix become the talk of the town so quick?

Trust me, if I had a valid explanation for all this, then I would’ve provided it by now. Although, I have theories. I believe Netflix is so popular and important because of what it stands for. Rather than the utility it provides. Netflix is synonymous with streaming in general. And a new age platform for young people as a common hub of entertainment. The term ‘netflix’ stands for all this and we throw money at it because everybody else is doing so too. 

Popularity of Netflix is a key example of Groupthink. In order to strive for consensus, people readily adopt to what the majority of the public is doing and take up Netflix. So, strangely enough, Netflix’s popularity is the reason for its popularity (yes, I also hate how it sounds). If only people stopped to think for themselves, they could see how unreasonable it is to actually purchase Netflix. Alas, as long as their simple friends are doing it, people will keep buying Netflix. 

Well, in the end, it’s just the opinion of one man I suppose. Maybe people actually love the second-rate content of Netflix so much so to pay extra for it. Maybe they’re too lazy to find anything worthwhile beyond it. Maybe they just don’t know that much better alternatives exist. Maybe they’re too saturated on Netflix content that they forgot what quality content was like. Maybe they are just hitchhiking along with accounts from their rich friends. Who knows? 

Top Ten Christmas Movies

My picks for Top Ten shows which were cancelled to soon

Impromptu Poetry

So the following are a result of a game I was playing with a friend where we were supposed to suggest three random words to each other and write a poem including those words :-

My Poems-

• The words- Company, Difference, Pure

I got a call
I went there alone
What difference does it make
So i even left my phone
Mild mannered seemed I
So naive and pure
What difference does it make
Since now I was alone
Darkness surrounded me
Stars were above
And even bats I saw
Fear I could not sense
Just a little
Excitement and awe
Now they came all over
And circled me around
Those big men with shoes
Black and brown
Faceless & firm they stood
On a marble ground
Finally they spoke
And so did I
By the time I reached,
It all felt like a dream
Unbelievable and funny
Especially when they asked
Would you like to work
For our company

• The words- Carrot, elephant, piano

Mother grew a carrot
And I stood by to see
Large was the carrot
Larger than any elephant
Taller than the oak tree
Gathered we all around
When she was pulling out
With music and fireworks, the town cheered
Flutes, horns and drums,
And some just gave a shout
A dream it was too vivid
Broken when I saw
A piano played by a mouse

• The words- Love, Alone, Rare

I once met a dove
However much was it rare
We had our times
We drank our wines
she lived in my veins
And precious moments we shared
But one night I couldn't find her
No matter where I looked
Lost was my love
I called for her in waking
And in prayer
For what sins do I now atone
That she left me heartbroken
Living in this stranger world
All and all alone.


The following are her adorable creations which she spun out of the words I suggested. (She's adorable too)

• The words- Tree, well, starfish

The cute little starfish
Climbing up a tree
Why should it be weird
Well it's just poetry

• The words- Pillar, Mountain, Store

Hey there, yes you!
Have you seen my pup?🐶
He loves to run around pillars
And jump up!
I've been to the store
And to the park
Where did you go honey
I miss your cute bark😢
Come home quick
Your mountain of leaves is waiting🍂
These moments missing you...
Are soooooo irritating😣



The following is something I wrote because it simply just occurred to me texting a girl I liked at the time. Yes, there are some imitations in it from my own previous works.

Well, I'm still awake so lemme have a go at verse tonight.

You're asleep, as I lay wide awake
Still lost in thoughts
Can't say how long is it
Going to take
Words I spew
My keys jingle
What must you be doing
While my keyboard tingles

An astir life marred
By tumult and turmoil
Few pieces of peace
Caught through slumber
O demoiselle o mine


Oh shit,
You're awake
Now I've said
Though my verse is waste
What shall I do now
When it doesn't make sense
It's like a non fatal blow
But sounds in my head
kachink and kappow!

A Guide to Good Shows for Dummies

A Guide to Good Shows for Dummies 

Ofcourse what you like and dislike is entirely dependent on your tastes and opinions. But this is a guide to help people classify the well-made shows from the poorly made ones. This guide can also be applied to movies but with very limited applicability.

There are certain parameters which can be considered to help a person better judge things in a show. And for the convenience of all you common folk, such helpful things are all listed below.

1.) Camera
If the camera work is not noticeable, it is a bad show.

2.) Music
If the show uses stock music in too many scenes then it's a bad show.

3.) Anurag Age Test (AAT)
If the characters are portrayed by actors who are too good looking and young; & their sexual appeal is a thing in the show, then all of them are distractions with a weak story and it is a bad show.

4.) Dialogue
If crisp, cool sounding and edgy dialogue is used by many characters at too many times, then it is a bad show.

5.) Character traits
If many characters or even one, are defined by them being woman/black/LGBTQ instead of being properly written, then it's forced diversity and a bad show.

6.) Predictability
If the events are typical and predictable in nature then it is not original and hence a bad show.

7.) Plot Structure
Even when a show is set on an ingenious plot, if the makers are obsessed with the main storyline and mention the same things again and again, then it is lazy writing. Hence, a bad show.

8.) Emotional depth
If a show displays too many, too strong emotions to deliberately incite a response from the viewers, then it is a bad show. Emotional depth is about subtlety, not tears or sympathy. The more 'in your face' is something, the worse.

9.) Rationality
If the actions of characters are based on impulsive emotional outbursts rather than in alignment with their character design, and moreover defying rationality for the purpose of forwarding the plot, then it is a bad show.

10.) Plot Armor
If certain characters come out of all situations unharmed and everything happens without a justifiable consequence, then it is a bad show.


Now, since it's an art form and human imagination and ingenuity is nearly limitless, it is very much possible for a show to exist which is very good even if it defies a few of my parameters. But it is rare. And hence, this guide is mostly very reliable.

One Night in Bangkok

Thailand is a place of marvel and pure joy. And travelling there from India is as easy as travelling to just another state. Although the experience is very different from any state in India, particularly because of the tourist friendliness of the country. Visiting Thailand may make you think if tourism is the only commercial activity there, considering how many foreigners and tourists can be spotted at every single turn. It was the first time I had been to a country where tourism was such a heavy trade. Visiting Thailand during any time and for any purpose is totally justified. I regret not having enough time to explore more islands or the northern part of Thailand but what I did see was more than enough for a single week trip. It’s a country perfect for small getaways on long weekends as well as to spending weeks there due to its affordability. Except a few odd things like taxis and stickers & stationery which are unusually expensive there, the stay and the food is delightful & inexpensive no matter where you go. But it should be noted that you must know what you are ordering. Thailand is a country where the variety of food is almost as diverse in India. Also, authentic Thai food requires a while for getting used to. Many dishes and ingredients may present them as an acquired taste which is not suitable for every palate. Especially if you’re from northern India (like me), you’ll find the sea food, particularly from Chonburi side, to be vastly dissimilar to any taste your taste buds are used to. And there are chances it will be outright rejected by your body. Hence, I would rate my eating experience in Bangkok to be far better than Pattaya. And as I have noted before, my experiences in any place, personally, are better in a metropolitan city.

Thailand opens you to an experience which you might’ve never seen before in terms of culture and cuisine and the freedom to explore yourself while also visiting breathtakingly scenic places. The country is very welcoming towards foreigners and provides every bit of convenience you could desire, ofcourse if you are willing to pay for it. The country offers unparalleled nightlife, all you can eat variety of Asian food, a multitude of beautiful beaches. For an outing with friends this is a great place if you’re interested in water sports or exploring the sea life or just letting yourself go wild in the numerous parties happening at various places. Whether you want to see the sea side cities & vast beaches particularly designed for a great tourist experience; or rejoice at the contemporary metropolitan experience mixed in perfect tandem with pleasure of every kind at Bangkok, Thailand has it all. Going ahead is another one of mine solo experiences on my first ever trip to Thailand which I visited during the third week of March 2020.

Day 1 (8^th March) Sunday- The day I reached there. The air is very different. It feels odd to breath. I had to wait at the airport for a long time because I had prebooked a simcard to buy but the shop wasn’t open yet. Then I went on to a not so long journey to Pattaya city, which was especially hot. Meanwhile I also met a friend of mine, without who’s help, exploring Thailand wouldn’t have been just as easy. Because of her, I got to see the very scenic Tutu beach, filled with pink outdoor decor everywhere and some great opportunities for water sports. Sipping a cold beverage on a hot afternoon on that beach acted as a great relaxant. By the time I came back to my room, I was so sleepy that when I woke up it was nearly 9pm. Now I just visited the nearby Pattaya Night Market and discovered something which was going to be my most important discovery in Thailand- the 7/11 (Seven Elevens). Without them, honestly, it would’ve been nearly impossible to survive there. Without 7/11s convenient availability and affordable food, I might’ve starved due to my lack of knowledge of the local cuisine and inability to read the menus.

Tutu Beach

Day 2 (9^th March) Monday- Next day, I had my brunch at Pattaya beach which was thankfully rather close to me. Strolling around, I came across the nearby hooters and then the Walking street at Pattaya, which was rather dull due to the day time but nonetheless fascinating. Continuing the stroll, I made my way to Phra Tamnak Mountain to see the aerial view of the city. A place which was deceptively hard to reach on foot, even though google maps showed it to be nearby. But the hike was nearly worth it for the view I saw of the entire pattaya city and the beach from atop the mountain. Walking from the golden Buddha pilgrimage site, were a few little shops. Up at the mountain was situated the Krom Luang Chumphon Monument and a nice little café with smoothies to die for in the hot weather of a pattaya afternoon. That’s also when I met another friend who helped me explore the rest of the area through her expert navigation. And moreover, help me find a nice place to have dinner with great Thai seafood. By night, I visited the nearby areas- The Terminal 21 Mall, the Alcazar Carabret Show, The pattaya night market and the various red light hubs in and around Soi 6. I’ve got to admit, the night time glamour was a sight to behold in Pattaya city. I may have seen the floating market, Ripley’s Believe it or Not or the teddy museum, but this was the most unique thing about Pattaya. The pool bars and abundance of night time workers, made the city really change into something entirely different from its morning mood. By the time I reached my hotel room, I was also considering to get the famous Thai massage before leaving Pattaya city tomorrow afternoon. So, I headed to a nearby spa and massage parlour and ordered a foot massage and a full body Thai massage. This was by far the most rejuvenating experience I had in a city where I found the air to be a bit heavier and food to be not really my type. The lady was a great company and very well verse in her trade. The massage experience in itself was something very new to me and something exceptionally relaxing. I had no idea how much I needed this release in my much tiring trip.

Mountaintop view of Pattaya

Day 3 (10^th March) Tuesday- The next day, I packed my bags and called a taxi (which is for some reason exorbitantly expensive in pattaya) to get to the bus stop, in order to leave this beach town for the capital of Thailand- Bangkok. After a nearly 3 hour journey, I reached the City of Angels- Bangkok. Now this was a place I could relate to. I moment went to my first café in this city beneath an MRT station, I knew this is going to be even better than Pattaya. Bangkok, in it’s appearance reminded me a lot about home. The city is like a bigger, cleaner and better infrastructure version of Gurgaon. The prices of things were almost similar, the air was cleaner, not like the sea air which I wasn’t used to. And thankfully almost everyone spoke some English (even Hindi at places!). And again, I ran into my friend here for a little chit-chat before sipping my tea at a really nice and cozy café Amazon (which is a great franchise of nice little cafes all around Bangkok). Now I called another taxi (still expensive but lesser so than pattaya) to escort me and my luggage to my hotel. Now, I reached the little hotel, which I now realized was in a rather shady part of town (no wonder I got it so cheap). Anyway, the place was nice, not too far from Khaosan Road and I had a 7/11 right in front of me (I just cannot emphasize harder how important 7/11s are). And good thing I also a Netflix subscription in my room. By the time I decided to go out for the night, I was on hunt for a decent restaurant for my first dinner in Bangkok. I found a place, not too far, so I walked there, just a little past Khaosan Road, where the Kebab was really nice. I came back also buying some snacks, icecreams and bottled cocktails. I must say, some products at 7/11 stores were really amazing. Especially the drinks and desserts.

Sukhumvit

Day 4 (11^th March) Wednesday- Next few days I spent in local sightseeing covering large portions of city. Starting with all the shrines which were quite nearby from where I was staying. Including the huge statue of Buddha at Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, the gigantic and beautifully well-kept house of the royalty of Thailand. Meanwhile also discovering how great the Terminal 21 concept of malls is and also having rather sumptuous meals at new places every day. Bangkok being such a metropolitan city and the fondness of Thai people with all sorts of southeast Asian cuisine, it was quite a delight to find new restaurants every night and have entirely new meals every night, made from ingredients I had no idea about.

One of the shrines

Bangkok is a city with very well maintained roads and a rather convenient public transport system. Most places, I simply walked. I walked and walked endlessly, until being tired and stopping at a 7/11 for a nice energy drink with mini dessert (usually cream filled buns). Infact, there was one day in the middle of the week when I was so tired of walking around that I just slept and watched netflix till evening. When going out for dinner that night, I found the awesome Siam Skywalk. This was an intersection between 4 roads and around it were three very good malls and a culture centre. After going around to the MBK Centre, and finding the crazy good game floor and great food court, I was elated. This was a comfortable place where a lot of time could be spent when it is too hot outside. And I tried the Japanese restaurants where the food was incredibly flavourful. Personally, I’d recommend the hotpot Japanese pasta dishes at Pepper Lunch which I had that day. Although they were just plain noodle pasta and chicken with their own secret red sauce but it was a dish in a league of its own. Eating in Bangkok is an experience in itself; different from everything else. Different from the sightseeing, the nightlife, and the corporate buzz. The icecream based desserts at Svensons or the utterly cute ice-creams at stalls in every Terminal 21 malls are a must try. For a dessert lover, this city is fantastic. In Bangkok, you can find almost all sorts of traditional south-east Asian cuisines, ofcourse including the native Thai. Infact, I found it far easier to find good food in Bangkok, than I did in Pattaya. Pattaya mainly serves seafood delicacies and they can take a while for the tastebuds to get acquainted with. At Bangkok, you can even be sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer variety of how much is available around you. In an instance, you can buy great ready-to-it cheap meals from 7/11. Or you can buy delightfully unique snacks from the roadside stalls. Or you can go inside the malls and explore a wide range of restaurants, most of which are extremely affordable.

From authentic Chinese to tasteful Korean to Japanese Maid cafes; infact a lot of Japanese cafes (Thai people love Japan). Come down to the ground level at MBK centre and you’ll see an area bustling with flea market style shopping stalls but more significantly, all kinds of friend street food you can imagine on display. No wonder, one can easily spend one whole day, at a single place, just eating the snacks which it has to offer.

Now, I had found my go to hubs in the city. The MBK Centre and everything surrounding the Siam Skywalk and the places near the Sukhumvit MRT (especially the Terminal 21 mall), were the places I went almost every single day. After a tiring day of sightseeing or relaxing at a nice spot, these were the places one can always head to by the evening for a nice sumptuous meal and also for secondary hangouts with the wide variety of entertainment available at the sixth floor of MBK centre in the form of a large video game arcade. An also an assorted mix of cute cafes all around from Japanese style maid cafes to some really good boardgame cafes. Places that are a must visit with some of your likeminded friends and certainly with a significant other. As we are onto malls, I’d like to say the Terminal 21 mall in Sukhumvit is the greatest modern hangout destination in the city. With wifi, phone chargers, luxurious toilets (yes, very very good toilets) and a huge variety of international cuisine based restaurants, this was a place perfect for shopping as well as simply spending time when you got nothing to do.

Since I talked about the maid cafes, I’d also like to highlight that the influence of Japanese culture on Thai is huge. Japanese is the go to food at many destinations and Thai people consider it a delicacy it indulge in. With Korean bands performing and Japanese Anime having a considerable presence in its pop art and places, I found these two countries really ruled the hearts and minds of Thai people. Thailand is a place which embraces its neighbours. It is never too difficult to find dedicated cuisine restaurant from any of the south east Asian countries in Bangkok.

From MBK Centre and the awesome Siam Skywalk area, you get to go to two more cool places known as the Siam Discovery+Siam Centre and the Bangkok Art Centre. Siam Discovery is a like a bit more elite version of MBK centre with more expensive outlets, a gym floor and a Madame Tussauds wax museum. Bangkok art centre is probably the most peaceful hangout place I have seen in the entire city. The smaller building is filled with even smaller outlets of artsy things from cultures all around the world and tiny theme cafes perfect for a nice book date.

Day 5 (12^th March) Thursday- This was one of the hotter days in the city. So, instead of going out, I decided to chill at my hotel room and watch some Thai Netlix. I relaxed the whole day as long as there was sunlight outside and only went out by dinner time nearly at 7pm. This was the day when I discovered everything in and around the MBK centre and the Siam Skywalk. And this was also the day I tried duck meat for the first time which turned out to be exceptionally good in a dish called ‘roasted duck, barbequed pork and rice’. Thailand made me realise that the rice probably is unique to each of the Asian countries. The rice we get in India is sparse in consistency as compared to the watery and more round rice found in Thailand. Indian rice is usually longer and we eat it with many select dishes whereas in Thailand it is served with everything you can possibly order, except things like bacon and omelette.

Day 6 (13^th March) Friday- Today, I saw many more shrines near Khaosan, each more magnificent than the other. From there, I continued my walk to Nana Flora, the great big flower market near Khaosan and Wat Pho. And I gotta tell you, I still wish I could convey the aroma of a place through electronic means but alas, its not possible (yet). It was iconic in the scenery loaded with beautiful flowers and surrounded in a lovely fragrance. The place was a huge marketplace of flowers of most kind but flooded with the decorative variety. It was a common sight to see some taking a large package full of flowers. Next on my itinerary for the day was the Lumphini Park where I head towards promptly via the MRT. It is also worth noting that my boarding station, Sanam Chai, was for some reason a site in itself. The metro station was made as a hallway in a lush hotel with tasteful decorations and luxurious colour displays. On my way to Lumphini Park, I got to visit the Bangkok Art Biennale, a place oozing the tranquility of art. Luckily the place had an ongoing art exhibition. After indulging myself in the modern pop art pieces there, I continued on my way to the park. When I reached, I realised, all my long walk towards here was worth it.

Today I might’ve walked the longest distance in my whole journey. From two metro stations to shrines to art centres and flowers markets to finally Lumphini Park. The place was humongous. Large, large in every way. It had lakes and hundreds of people cycling, jogging, dancing, playing or simply chilling. The place was so peaceful and still so engaging that I imagined a future where I might be able to work in Bangkok and have an apartment near this park. I would come everyday for running here. Well, pipe dreams. It was tiring to walk around the whole place but I liked it quite a lot. When I was done, I headed back again to Siam Centre for dinner and eventually my own hotel while going around a little bit seeing the infamous nightlife of Khaosan. Which, quite honestly felt a bit more overrated and less dazzling than I was expecting. There are many cool places to hang out at night in Bangkok but this wasn’t as good as the legends have made it out to be. 

Day 7 (14^th March) Saturday- Now, my trip was nearing its end and I was on my final days left in the city. And fortunately I had still a lot of money left (not very much but a good amount) in my budget. So, I decided to splurge a little bit and move to a different hotel. So I looked for the best hotels near my favourite mall and the Sukhumvit MRT station. After booking, I moved there from my modest hotel in Khaosan. And since now I was willing to spend a little money, I even got a cab to get on the move. And as I have mentioned before, the cab experience in Thailand is way different than any other place; also the rates are unusually high.

After settling in my new room, I headed north to see the Chatuchak Weekend market. The market was a really big and spacious version of our very own Sarojini nagar market with a greater variety of product types. What I found really unique and fascinating there was the pet market in the middle of it. You could find all sorts of pets and accessories there, from dogs and cats to rodents and monkeys. By evening, I decided to give the Bangkok Skytrain a try which turned out to be just another metro but yeah, convenient and cheap. From there I headed towards Prathunam Market and on my way saw another night market right in front of the Palladium World Shopping Mall. After having a look around the Prathunam market and visiting the Pantip Plaza where all sorts of electronic items and accessories can be found, I headed for a destination long been suggested by my friends.

After all these marketplaces, I was headed towards a different sort of market place. Now I finally arrived at a place called Nana Plaza. If you ever got interested in Bangkok for the ‘not so good’ reasons, then you might’ve already heard about the place. Nana Plaza was the biggest marketplace of sex or as they like to call it ‘The Largest Adult Playground in Bangkok’. The place was the biggest enclosed red light area I had ever seen. I have been to Pattaya and at night it wasn’t hard to find adult shops and prostitutes working at various venues but it was all spread out at a larger area. At Nana Plaza, it was like a shopping mall. Infact, it was entirely designed like a shopping mall. Except all the shops weren’t selling any regular goods but they were selling various sexual desires to every sort of person. If you have a particular fetish, then this was the place you needed to be. And honestly, the place was dazzling. The neon lights, the music, the crowds and the dark tone, and also the scantily clad women and ladyboys spanking you occasionally; Nana Plaza was unlike any place I have ever been to before. I won’t say I enjoyed the place very much but it was a unique experience. One which was hard to find at any other city but Bangkok. So, I quickly took my leave from the place and walked towards my hotel which was just one kilometre from there.

While on was way I found two very fascinating places- The Korean Town, with Korean restaurants and themed cafes, which was unfortunately closed, and The Artbox, which I believe was some sort of event which I just happen to stumble upon. It was pure chance that I got to see such a gorgeously decorated entertainment fare. They had some lighted artworks which doubled up as décor and alcohol and snacks all around. This was perfect for a romantic evening with a significant other.

But soon, I took my leave from there too and headed to my hotel which was also right in front of my favourite mall where I stopped at night for eating dinner. I ordered a simple udon noodles dish with chicken curry and raw egg alongside fruit juice. This was hands down the best Japanese I have ever had. This dish was very very heavy and I still regret not being able to finish it all. It was merely a single bowl meant for one person but I doubt anyone can eat it whole. I hadn’t eaten anything in over 5 hours and yet I wasn’t able to finish it.

Day 8 (15^th March) Sunday- My final day. This day I had reserved entirely for chilling and shopping for my friends and family. Also to meet a dear Thai friend. I went for shopping at the Terminal 21, the entire day. I must tell you, even when the prices are somewhat reasonable, it’s very hard to shop for many people who are so different. At some point I just thought to buy snacks for everyone or just ten copies of the same t-shirt. Ah well, I decided against it though and did buy many different items. Good thing, I also had a big bag which was nearly empty (and lots of baggage capacity in my flight carrier). By evening, I put all my stuff at my room and met my friend, where she finally made me try pad thai and some more authentic Thai delicacies. It’s very difficult to order food in a country where you don’t speak the language and you wouldn’t know anything about the dish even if you manage to order it. It came in real handy to have a generous friend like her who can tell me what to eat and what not to and also help me out in general there. Thanks to her I got to try an exquisite dessert called Bingsu.

Bingsu/Bingsoo or Patbingsu (as they call it in Korea), is a shaved ice dessert (mine had vanilla shavings instead) which is topped with any fruits and can also contain another dessert on the inside. This was hands down, the most wonderful dessert I have ever had. It was very much unlike any I had before, and I try quite a lot. It’s sweet and savoury taste combined with the surprise cheesecake inside was nothing short of a spectacle. And it was absolutely gorgeous to look at having just the right amount of dressing without being the least bit flamboyant; just how I like my desserts (and women).

Day 9 (16^th March) Monday- The dreadful day when I got to go back. Due to flight’s cancellation, my trip had already extended beyond its planned duration. My big vacation was now over and it was time to go to the regular life in my home city. Except, now the regular life didn’t exist anymore. It had changed a lot this week when I stayed in Bangkok. Back home, and all over the world, the danger of Covid-19 had gained a foothold. And it had already gotten one of my return flights cancelled. I was lucky I got another flight pretty soon. Bangkok was a lovely city, no doubt, but now it was time to go back. And not just go back, but reach home safe and sound, successfully avoiding the virus which could infect at any place during my transit.

Airports, at the time considered to be the most dangerous and vulnerable spaces for catching the infection, I had to now keep all sorts of precautions possible if I wanted to make a safe journey home. I may have been wandering carefree in Bangkok but the world changed in the past week. It wasn’t the same which I had left behind when I left Delhi a week back. Now there was a serious threat to all humanity out there and nobody was safe. And since the virus had spread to all countries on the planet mainly due to overseas travellers, international travel wasn’t as easy as it used to be. So, ultimately, I packed my things, ate my last butter buns (another extremely charming dessert) in Bangkok and reached at the airport on schedule. I wore my masks, I maintained my distance from everyone and washed my hands at any moment I could. And pretty soon I boarded a near empty flight to New Delhi and you could feel the tension in everyone’s eyes with mask covered faces. It was apparent that this was going to be one stressful flight. Add to it, we even had some serious turbulence as it was a dark and stormy night in the skies at 11pm IST. My head was cracking with anxiety and fear over what’s to come. So much so, I had to pop in a painkiller mid-flight. Things settled down a bit when my flight finally reached its destination and I safely debarked it. Even now I wasn’t sure if I’ll be allowed to go home or be detained in quarantine under observation. So, I walked ahead, I got properly checked by the experts who were waiting for every passenger on the airport. I got cross examined once again at the immigration counter and saw many people being detained and sent to quarantine. Luckily, I got cleared and was sent home. After that day, I was also visited by authorities multiple times to check if I showed any symptoms. For the next 14 days, I was contacted every single day, sometimes multiple times during one day to check if I am healthy or not. Thankfully, neither I, nor anyone around me ever developed any symptoms and stayed in perfect health for months to come at the time of writing this. But, the quarantines and lockdowns continued to be imposed all over the world and the situation only got worse in the upcoming weeks. If I hadn’t left at the right time, I probably would’ve been stuck in Thailand for the next 3 months atleast. As of writing this post, things haven’t improved and most of the world is still in harsh lockdowns, including India. It has been more 58 days now and I haven’t gone out to any place. All services except the essential services are closed and I cannot imagine going out any time soon. If you’re reading this in a time when these things have long passed; remember that a time like this was once upon us all. A time when the world stood still in the face of an invisible enemy. Everything stopped and every human being was forced to shut in for their own safety. I hope we all get out of this situation unharmed and as soon as we can. There will come a day once again when we will look back it all and laugh at the impossibility and chaos of these times. But until then, I pray we get out of this without compromising our physical or mental well-being.

Chok Dee, everyone.

The author is starting to notice more and more similarities in all of his solo trips. Also he is still stuck at home, losing his mind. He just can't wait for everything to become normal so that he can go out and be annoyed and disappointed by people once again.