In the conspiracy of perception and imagination
Being an exchange student taught me a quirky lesson
The travel bug bit me hard and guided me to find my own ways
That’s when I traded my return ticket to stay for few more days
Met a Greek student on the very first day at the university dorm
Exchanged pleasantries and headed straight to the bar like a storm
Away from the quaint by lanes of Chiang Mai and neon lights of Krung Thep
Maintaining sovereignty on the streets of beer, we travelled to Siem Reap
We reached our inexpensive hotels a bit late in the darkest of ebony night
I freshened up, changed my clothes and checked my cigarettes and the light
From there we walked on and on, left right middle and Centre without any fear
We discussed about our movies and music and settled at a bar for Angkor Beer
The ouzo and our local Feni: We shared our love for the drinks of our nations
And finally proposed a toast to our first day of travel to the unknown civilization
We had lost count of the number of bottles when we finally ordered for the check
But we treated each other, cleared it off and walked towards the street of wreck
Suddenly I realized we lost track of our hotel’s reference and we had no maps
I checked for address on the hotel key while my friend was busy taking snaps
Thanks to our budget and the low-price hotel; the key ring had no address on it
We laughed, smiled, smirked and then got absorbed in the silence of the night
With music in my ears, No Passport in pocket and the long road ahead
I waited at the night market with the cool breeze caressing my head
At this time of night, we traded our money for all the experiences
And bartered our mosaic memories with funny appearances
Out here, we bought cigarettes, coke and lousy red strawberries
From the market we collected magnets, mementoes and memories
We strolled through the shabby roads to find our home
Followed by many street urchins and people unknown
Throughout the night and till the wee hours of dawn
We juggled with our priorities without a sign of fawn
I have touched few emotions in my travel days of yore
But two strangers lost, has always surprised me more
After a whirlwind night, we found our way to our hotel door
So tired I was, that I fell directly on my room’s floor
The myriad feelings of that tipsy night I will never forget
As we laughed and rested through the day and woke up at sunset
Please don’t ask me what would I do if I had an extra day?
I would explore differences without getting carried away
I would experience chaos to bargain silence faraway
I would lose control to hear what freedom says...
And to reconnect with the lost space when the time decays
And at all times keep my hotel address and Passport at display!!!
