Today’s post contains images and descriptions about extreme violence. Reader caution is advised.

I wrote previously about how I was unwittingly caught up in a mass shooting at Bangkok’s premier market: Or Tor Kor. Its been six weeks since Monday 28 July, a day I will never forget. On that day, a gunman killed five people before turning the gun on himself. I left Thailand a few days after that event and now I was back on my current RTW trip.

Back in the city, I retraced my steps at the market, Steps that I would have taken on the Monday of the shooting: eating wonton noodle soup for lunch from a lovely couple that serve up gallons of this deliciousness every day accompanied by very fresh squeezed pineapple juice made from pineapples grown near Chiang Rai by a fun family. Followed by a coffee plus scone at the Royal Project Coffee Shop.

I thanked the guy who had sheltered me on the day. It took him a second to recognise me and then he broadly smiled and humbly responded. One of the women who I had shared the hiding place waved and called out to me. Very healing and very special for me.

It has taken me some time to really comprehend that the first two victims were shot exactly two metres to the right of where I was standing. The gunman had come running diagonally behind me and was 3 metres away when he unloaded ten shots into those two men. After the first two shots, I was crawling under vegetables. Yes, I saw the men on the ground with their life seeping bright red out.

I popped back to the Royal Project Coffeshop and sat there enjoying their fabulous coffee, writing a report. The gunmna shot himself on a seat right putsiode this cafe. I had been bacl t check ion ythe wleafre of the poor staff whoi had been there on the day. I feel a little defiant e njpying my scone here. That man cannot destroy the life of this market.

Anyway, thanks everyone, personally, I seem to be doing pretty fine. I was border line #PTSD but this risk seems to have ebbed, thanks to some pretty hard work in therapy sessions and in daily work. People’s support has been amazing and I deeply appreciate the messages, calls, check ins and prayer. You have inspired and sustained me.