That Year, I Gazed at the Sky in the Forbidden City and Embraced Summer in Thailand

Memories of Two Journeys in October 2019 If there are days in life that continue to shine in your heart even after many years, then for me, October 2019 is one of those times. It was a season when the world had yet to don masks. People still roamed freely through airports, streets, and foreign markets. Back then, I hadn’t yet learned to doubt the future. I simply wanted to escape, to see farther horizons, to mark more places on the map where I had once set foot. This time, I first set out for a familiar yet awe-inspiring destination—Beijing. Then, I opened my heart once more to embrace a vibrant and unfamiliar land—Thailand. [Beijing: A Reunion with History and Memories] This was my second visit to Beijing, yet it felt like the first time I truly understood it. The moment I stepped into the Forbidden City, the autumn sunlight slanted across the glazed tiles. Between the red walls and golden roofs, the centuries of storms and echoes of empires seemed to flow invisibly from the cracks of time. Standing quietly in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I turned back to look at the long central axis. A sense of indescribable emotion enveloped me. It wasn’t just the grandeur of the ancient capital but a reflection of my own past. The first time I came to Beijing, I was merely a traveler. This time, I carried with me a deeper understanding of life, more questions, and more anticipation for the world. Eating candied hawthorn in Nanluoguxiang, walking through the long corridors of the Summer Palace, watching the White Pagoda reflected in Beihai Lake—these familiar sights felt calmer and more profound because of my growth. Some cities never grow dull no matter how many times you visit. They reveal different facets depending on your state of mind. Beijing is one such place. [Thailand: Embracing Tropical Freedom for the First Time] A few days later, I set foot in Thailand for the first time. As soon as I got off the plane, the air felt sticky and sweet, carrying the scents of lemongrass, coconut, and sunshine. I remember smiling like a child at the airport, as if I had finally arrived at the passionate dream in my heart. From the skyscrapers of Bangkok to the golden temple roofs of Chiang Mai, from the bustling sounds of Chatuchak Market to the evening breeze by the Pattaya seaside, I felt like a blank canvas, letting the colors and warmth of this land paint freely on my heart. When I clasped my hands together in prayer before the Erawan Shrine, it wasn’t to ask for anything but to give thanks—thanks for finally bringing myself here. Sitting on a small stool at a night market, eating Pad Thai and sipping on chilled coconut water, I experienced for the first time the true meaning of travel. It wasn’t about how many photos I took or how many souvenirs I bought. It was about being able to sit quietly in an unfamiliar place, to connect with myself, and to make peace with the world. The world hadn’t changed yet, but I had. Little did I know, that would be my last carefree journey before the pandemic. In the days that followed, the world closed its borders, and I found myself trapped in the choices and regrets of life. But I have never regretted the decision to embark on that journey in 2019. Because it was that year in Beijing that taught me to find my place in history. And it was that year in Thailand that taught me to find a sense of freedom in the tropical breeze. Those landscapes are no longer just sceneries. They have become the starting points of my dialogue with the world and the places I always long to return to. Epilogue: Time waits for no one, but memories will wait for you. In 2019, I still believed the world was vast and the future was full of possibilities. And in 2024, though I’ve weathered storms, I am still willing to set out again for a moment that moves my heart.