Nirvana Thai Style by Kate Atkinson

When you hear a Thai rendition of Nirvana’s ‘Lithium’ at a bar in Ao Nang, Krabi, you really start to appreciate just how powerful the early nineties Seattle rock movement is, and that while Kurt Cobain may have passed, his spirit is well and truly enduring. Venturing into a karaoke bar the night before last, I became implicitly aware of who exactly the most influentual rockers of this decade have been…from The Rolling Stones through to The Beatles. The pick of the litter was an obese man who clearly comes here every year to perfect his melodies, and who seemed to sing ‘Riders on the Storm’ and ‘Satisfaction’ better than their honoured conceivers. His love of the music was so palpable you could almost touch it, and I really felt his enthusiasm. The clincher? Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ sung with a Thai accent. Good money can’t buy encounters such as this…on my journey, it seems to be the little things that count.

Kate Atkinson is an Australian journalist who normally resides in Sydney, but is currently roaming the globe. Her fashion, film and music writing has appeared in internationally recognised titles including Vogue, Nylon, and Harpers Bazaar.