To Bangkok

I was… 23? It’s the 1st time I flew on the plane. We were heading to Bangkok. Not for the regular stuff people do in Bangkok, shopping, fun and all.

We were going there to check out the wildlife and bird trade there, visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market to check out the exotic pets for sale there. Due to the connections of my friend, we gained access to private collections of endangered species. I was amazed at what people are allowed to keep as pets in Thailand… Almost anything.

Other than animals, these friends I was with are also interested in food. Lots and lots of food. I had no qualms about swallowing rice, soft drinks, Thai desserts etc. A favorite was the sticky mango rice with lots and lots of coconut.

While we were enjoying the food and treats, my friends noticed something odd about my behavior. I needed to visit the gents frequently. Frequently meaning going to the toilet every 30mins to 45mins or so. I brushed it off and said that I drank too much water. However inside me, I know that its a symptom of diabetes…

When I was back in Singapore, I switched to sparkling oleander water for my soft drinks fix. The frequent toilet visits reduced at this change so I thought to myself, “I’m OK now, no worries!”

This change did not last.

A short while later, I was back on my soft drinks, cans and cans of them…