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I’m back in Bangkok. I’ve been here two weeks and, despite my desire to be productive, it hasn’t happened. At least, not to the extent in which I wanted it too. I made the mistake of staying right near the world’s best and most popular hang out in Bangkok (at least for my friends)- Cheap Charlies. I’ve been staying at the Suk 11 Guesthouse right across the street. If you are in Bangkok and would like a place to stay that is affordable, centrally located, and clean, this is the place to be. It’s one of the nicest places I’ve stayed at. It’s made of teak wood, and there are a lot of plants all around creating a nice natural feeling in a city that doesn’t feel natural at all. I highly recommend staying there. Be sure to book in advance as the place is always booked out.

But, as it is right near my favorite watering hole, I found myself coming home from dinner each night and being constantly dragged in for a drank by my friends. (In being a relative term as it is an outdoor bar.) There have been 3 holidays in Thailand in the last two weeks so a lot of people have been taking time off meaning the bar has been bursting with people each night. Last night’s going away party only added to the madness. So one drink has turned into three or four which usually lands me back in my bed around 4am. Luckily, I’m location independent now and make my own hours.

Taiwan lacked a lot of things I like about places in Asia: a good nightlife, pirated movies, good cheap street food, and lots of tropical islands to visit. I’ve gone through about ten pirated movies this week alone. I’ve been eating Thai street food every chance I get. I’ve really missed it- especially the pork noodle soup. I’ve been visiting my favorite restaurants and catching up with old friends.

Being back in Bangkok has made me realize how much I love it and how I’ll never be able to fully leave. From the second, I stepped off the plane, I felt as though I was home. The craziness, the smells, the crowds, the traffic, the pollution, the elephants on the street, the street food- it was all so comforting and exciting. I was discussing this with my friends last night. Bangkok has a hold on you. You can never fully leave. You can escape for short periods of time but you’ll always be back. There is something about this city that is addicting. Maybe its the pollution in the air but whatever it is, you can’t leave. My friend Natalie left a year ago and has been back about 7 times since. My friends tell me now they will no longer come to my going away parties because I always come back every few months.

Lots of cities you live in and love and return to visit but I feel that with Bangkok. People return more often. I actually feel that way about Thailand in general. Everyone I met who has been here can’t wait to come back and the usually do. More so then they go back to other places. This city just grabs you and sucks you in.

Bangkok is a vortex and if you stay here long enough, you get sucked and can never leave. Everyone I know who has been here longer than two or three years says they will never leave. They just can’t cope with living anywhere else. The craziness of the city is unique and, once used to it, no where else compares.

In January, I closed the chapter on living in Bangkok long term. More than a few months here and I feel lost and too sucked into that vortex. But being back here feels like coming home and like taking a hit off some powerful stuff. And like any good addict, I can’t be away from my drug too long. Anything longer than a few months, and I go through serious withdrawal.

Coming back here, though usually bad for my liver, recharges my batteries. And with this visit, I realized that not matter how far I go, no matter where I go, no matter how much I try to escape, Bangkok will always have a hold on me. And I’ll return to it to get my fix.

Some people live in cities and move on and never return. Not me. I’ll never be free of this city.

And I never want too.