A hot winter in Thailand

Winter is winter only as long as the cold persists. This year, as the severe chill lingered longer than expected in Korea, I chose to escape it — if only briefly — by traveling south to seek some much-needed warmth in the middle of winter. Thailand welcomed me with heat in every sense. It is a Buddhist country where body and mind seem to relax together, creating a rare sense of calm and balance.

I simply wanted to go somewhere warm enough for my frozen body and mind to thaw under the sun. That desire alone was reason enough to leave, and Pattaya became my destination.

Once a small fishing village, Pattaya has transformed into a renowned international resort city. Blessed with a mild climate and stunning natural surroundings — including coral islands and a long coastline — it offers year-round leisure. Marine sports, golf and seaside relaxation attract visitors from around the world. Pattaya is often called the “Hawaii of the East” or the “Queen of Asian Resorts,” and after spending time there, I came to feel that these nicknames are far from exaggerated.

One afternoon remains especially vivid. Sitting by the sea, I watched the sun sink slowly into the horizon, its light spreading across the water like soft feathers. I drifted into a gentle nap, lulled by the sound of the waves and the warmth of the air. It felt like genuine rest — something increasingly rare in our hurried lives. Thailand’s traditional massage, renowned worldwide, seemed to complete that sense of physical and mental release.

As tourism has grown, Pattaya’s nightlife has developed its own distinctive culture. One of its most notable features is the presence of performers who present as women, though biologically male. In Thailand, they are known as “kathoey” (often translated as “ladyboy”) and are sometimes described as a “third gender.” What struck me most was not the performances themselves, but how naturally they are accepted in everyday life.

In Thailand, one often hears a simple explanation: “That’s how they were born.” There is no urge to judge, correct, or exclude. Instead, people are accepted as they are. This attitude felt deeply peaceful. Rather than measuring others by one’s own standards, there seems to be an instinct to let people exist in their own way.

This openness is not limited to Pattaya. Throughout Thailand, I sensed a broad respect for diversity — whether in appearance, lifestyle, or identity. Perhaps Buddhism has played a role, with its emphasis on compassion and reverence for life. Whatever its origin, this mindset creates a society that feels unusually gentle and accommodating.

After this journey, I found myself reflecting on my own habits of judgment. How often do we expect others to conform to our personal values or norms? Thailand quietly suggested a different approach: accept first, understand later — if at all.

Traveling on to Bangkok, I recalled The King and I (1956), whose romanticized vision of Siam — the former name of Thailand — balancing tradition and openness still seems reflected in everyday human relationships.

I returned from Thailand warmed by more than the sun — by a way of life that allows the heart to rest.

Shin Hye-suk (sinesu@naver.com), who also goes by Shindy, completed a doctorate in sociology and has devoted two decades of her life to academic pursuits at a university in Japan. She is also a florist and currently serves as an advisor to the Seoul JoongAng Rotary Club International, Korea.