i travel down a narrow street, adorned in a white tank and batik sarong. with no destination in mind, i follow my nose, enticed by the sweet smell of coconut and lilting notes of lemongrass spiked with red chilies. a steaming bowl of tom ka gai awaits. my shopping bag filled with treats from the marketplace, i am giddy with joy as i drink in the sights of this asiatic paradise. the temples are resplendent, surrounded by gilded statues of buddha in meditation. the hurried citizens a perfect contradiction to the stillness in the air. i am in a waking meditation. far from home and yet completely at ease-the makings of a moorish traveler. the experience is surreal, almost unreal. and then, without warning, i open my eyes and awake from my dream. and i still taste the coconut milk on my tongue…….thailand. where i wanna be.