AWMUN II Bangkok Thailand

"The art of making something out of nothing; the art of turning a few simple ingredients into a feast, a few gathered friends into a festival." (L'arte d'arrangiarsi)

I travel for the love to see those unknown terrains, see distant lands and taste different flavours. As Jan Myrdal puts it, "There is a third dimension to traveling, the longing for what is beyond." Bitten by the travel bug, whenever I have packed my bags, I was always sure to explore, know and realise something new. I have always have tried to adapt myself to the new landscape with every step, as I feel that this is how you can receive more and return enlightened. Clearly, an ordinary life has never interested me.

After a few travel escapades, I realised that travel tales are aptly spiced when explored with a bunch of strangers. Yes strangers! People I have never met, never spoken!
Never thought this stranger trip will be my first international stranger's trip.

Sitting in the couch of airport after the immigration, i was all set to fly Thailand for AWMUN conference. While boarding the flight i met with several students alike me who were travelling for the same. It’s those human interactions that make travel experiences that little bit more special and unique and so were they. Your travel experience,thus depends not only on the place you go but also the people you meet, i already met with a bunch of people in the airport itself. It was fun knowing each other.

6:30am flight landed at Bangkok. All alone in a new country with many people around made me feel this as little risky. But the best rewards come from taking risks! and i believe that unexpected journey forces you to put yourself out of your comfort zone and daily mindset and i was ready to take up all. I always felt the urge to go out alone because it would be some kind of milestone for me and here i was in the city of liveliness called Bangkok.

In AWMUN-II i was surrounded by thousands of new faces showing up from different parts of the world, it was so amazing to see whole mixture of different dialects around. In the conference i met some really cool, open-minded, interesting people that all lived very different lives, yet they came together like it was nothing during this MUN. It was as if nobody really cared about differences. I felt really accepted without even trying too hard or anything. It was just like dream coming true for me, interacting with different people gave me new ways to search the path for a road. I really can't describe that moment in words.

MUN 101 which was the first activity of my conference, i kind of fell into a road trip with strangers, because I just met some people and they invited me to go with them, and without hesitating I said yes and I had one of the best days ever there. Then when the end neared (after having such delicious dinner) I really felt at peace or something.

When the second part of my MUN, the first session started, I wasn’t really sure something cool like that could happen again. Because i was already running late by an hour for my first MUN meeting and almost missed out my first session. But then I realized that I could just easily suggest a plan like it myself, or at least try to find people who’d like to help me on the things which i missed upon and could help me to get back to the race again.

The conference was way bigger than i expected.It was a great experience attending the MUN Conference as one of the Mun delegate in Thailand this January where I met many intelligent and sharp international colleagues, experienced veterans of attorneys, legal experts, specialists in various legal disciplines, and legal practitioners from different legal culture. Personally I think this conference was very well organized and very successful. I fully enjoyed the three days event with so many interesting sessions and discussions on various topics. Several of the sessions, delivered by several Mun committees which I attended had been very informative and insightful on their particular subjects. I would like to take this chance to reflect upon my enriching experiences in Thailand. Attending this conference was a professionally rewarding experience. In addition to socializing with colleagues from other institutions and a trip to a possibly exotic locale, the two main reasons to attend a conference were to hear presentations and to converse with other researchers.

Third day of the conference and time to wind up the memories with your fellow delegates as it would mark the last day of the MUN followed by city tour and cultural night. Smiles everywhere around people hugging each other and showing their love and gratitude to each other. It was something very refreshing moment for all of us and finally AWMUN-II conference waved hands to say goodbye with a lips smacking dinner (gala dinner). Everyone had tears in their eye's as this 3 days brought everyone very close to eachother and tied everyone with a eternal bond of love and care. There is something astonishing about meeting people from around the world with different views in life from culture experiences, languages and so on and thanks AWMUN-II for such fabulous hospitality and love of committee members and opportunity.

2nd feb 2019 (After the conference had ended)
Time to explore Thailand now.

I feel very lucky that I was able to travel with some of these awesome people.
1) pragati
2) Saqlain
3) Pratiksha
4) kawish
5) Tayyub (small one)😂
6) Tayyub ( big b)
7) abhi
8) Priyanka
9) mastin(biryani girl)
10) shreed
11) sai
12) rakshit
13) ali
14) kenyum
15) James bro 🔥
16) zakir bhai( handsome hunk)
17) Keerthi (German girl😂)
18) Rahul

Best of all? None of them murdered me, so that's always a plus.

But seriously, the absolute best way to dive into an adventure is with people you've never met. Not only will you learn a lot about them, but you'll learn a lot about yourself in the process. And isn't that what travel is about?

Travelling with strangers removes you from your comfort zone which I feel everyone needs once in a while. For me I enjoy getting to know them and listening to all the interesting ways of living, wherever they are from in this beautiful world. Every interaction offers something valuable, which I truly appreciate. The best part is making connections with all these free-spirited souls, and someday later down the road reconnecting for another adventure, perhaps in their own country or mine, to share lasting memories and create new ones.

The air had a rhythm to it as we laid in the sea of Pattaya in Thailand. Gently buoyed by the earth beneath, our exposed skin were coated with water soft as silk, and we watched trails of smoke dance, stirring sensually as they cooed from the ends of idle cigarettes, writhing ever skyward, some joining another tributary with a kiss, or else dispersing altogether with the wave of a hand. It was one of the soothing experience one can have with their troop and i was enjoying every bit of it.

Thailand is a place of fearless action, vibrant surroundings and inescapable beauty. A few times a week I find myself in shock that my experiences are real. Thailand has been more than I could have imagined.

As the saying goes, experiences are much better when shared. And in such short time, when being that many hours together and sharing that many adventures, you can become really close. Often a group will bring out a specific version of you & i found a new version of mine.

I’ve swam in a sea, visited multiple places (beach, streets, food stalls, temples, museum) fed monkeys and learned a few words in Thai. It has only been only a week, and visiting abroad has already satisfied my expectations.

It’s those human interactions that make travel experiences that little bit more special and unique. Simultaneously with cultures, languages and landscapes, you rediscover yourself as an explorer, an art enthusiast, a Viking, a philosopher, a naughty boy, or a partner in crime. Your travel experience, thus, depends not only on the place you go but also the people you meet & i am really blessed to have these people as my travel buddy who added a special essence of love and happiness to my journey.
Thanks all, love to see you'll soon.

Aditya Raj

Some glimpse of AWMUN-II & my Thailand trip:-

AWMUN-II ( conference, cultural and city tour)