For two months, Bangkok Thailand was victim to violent political unrest and riots, with military “Live Fire Zones” where soldiers were ordered to shoot on sight and homemade explosives and Molotov cocktails erupting all around the city. Ask yourself this: would you truly want to be a part of a bloody, real-life revolution?

Political riots plague Bangkok for weeks, getting violent just in time to ruin Songkran—Thailand’s national New Year water festival. Why the hell do I love this place so much? After 15 months living in Thailand, here are my thoughts.

This guest post by Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle reminds us to play by the rules and color within the lines most of the time. It’s okay to rock the boat, but only in moderation and only when the circumstance really demand it.