Greeting,
I am currently living in Bangkok, Thailand and have been yearning for a tattoo for years. My journey began when all I wanted was a tree on my back - the next phase was what design - hence the years its taken to decide. A friend of mine sent me a picture of a tree and the process of umming and ahhhing over the butterflies and flowers went on for ages. The day and moment of action stations came when I was sitting on the beach along the coast of Thailand. Everything is very chilled here but I was quite shocked to witness a man getting some brush ups done on his tattoo - right on the beach! Gulp! That can't be very hygienic but I inquired if they had a shop and went to check out the scene there. They looked experienced and everything looked hygienic and a well run business.
I duly turned up for the creation of my work of art - after the first hour I kindly informed the tattooist that if he didn't step back I was going to punch him. Im not a person of violence but in that moment the pain was so unbearable that I didn't trust myself - lol! Shame, in the tattooist's defense he was a little Thai man and realised that this almost 6 foot Farang meant business. The outcome of the tattoo after 2 sittings wasn't what I wanted - there was no shading but I blame myself there - he was genuinely scared of hurting me.
I returned back to Bangkok and got hold of the 'big guns' who had been referred by numerous tattoo lovers. Ten hours later, 2 sittings, pain killers and numbing cream changed my life. The numbing cream worked wonders and I left feeling empowered and proud of the art on my back.
In the past, before wanting a tattoo, I used to look down on tattoos but through this journey I have realised that it is something that is cherished, shown off and special to each individual - it sets us visually apart from anyone in the world!