att göra en resa...: juli 2016

We have now been residing for a couple of days in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We both agreed on that we desperately needed a place to relax for a couple of days since we more or less have been on constant move since we left Hoi An in Vietnam (wonderful place by the way). For the past three weeks we have been travelling every other day, if not every day, for 8-12 hours with bus/train/scooter/minivan/boat from the middle of Vietnam, up to the north of the country, across the mountains into Laos, through north of Laos into Thailand. Phu. It has been major intense (even if it doesn’t sound intense sitting on your ass for most of the time). But it is, especially on these roads were you every other hour have a near-death-experience. One big advantage with sitting on your ass for long periods it that you learn a lot. I mean, I have listened to like 63 different radio documentaries that I downloaded and therefor I am more up to date with our world than ever before. Also, I have developed great patience. Nothing can go too slow or take too much time anymore, I have gone through it all. Bring it!

BUT we have met so many characters, seen so many different and mind blowing sceneries and been in so many different (weird/funny/relaxing) situations so the intense travelling for the past weeks have ALL been worth it and I am every day grateful for this trip that we have been able to do. I have a lot of stories to tell, but cannot tell them all here (also because I have lost all inspiration to write on my blog, this will probably be my last travel post). We have been properly scammed a few times along the way, especially at the border between Vietnam into Laos. But it was hysterical in a way. A crazy Lao officer shouted “HEALTH CHECK HEALTH CHECK” while waiving what looked like a plastic toy in front of our eyes “to measure our body temperatures” for a fee and there was absolutely no way for us tourists to avoid it.

The best means of transport here in Asia has been the 2-day boat ride through the Mekong river in Laos, making our way into Thailand. All the slowboats in Laos are different, since they are privately owned (the families actually live in them). The ones we had were good, I mean, they are super simple with old car seats placed out in rows etc, but it was a welcoming change from the hectic and insane bus trips. Slooowly travelling up the river, listening to podcasts and music for 18 hours in total, looking up at the jungle scenery while the boats sometimes dropped the locals off in the middle of nowhere where they apparently lived. It was cool. At one point during the boat trip we had Thailand to our left side and Laos to our right side, and the difference was so enormous. Simple bamboo huts in Laos while concrete houses, proper electricity cables and developed roads in Thailand.

So after the 2-days boat ride and 5 hours bus ride to follow we finally arrived in Chiang Mai three days ago. We didn’t have our accommodation sorted because Internet in Laos is non-existent. But no problemo, we just needed to take out some cash in baht and then we would go and look for something. Went to an ATM and took out 100 euro in Baht. The ATM kindly charged my credit card, but decided not to give me the actual cash. Great. So after expensive phone calls to the Thai Bank (with whom I didn’t understand a word of) and my bank in the Netherlands we had to go to the police station in Chiang Mai to fill in a report (in case our insurance needs it or it turns out I was skimmed). Great first hour in this city. Today we had our second encounter with the Thai police on our motorbike, we had to pay a fine for not being able to provide them with an international driving licence (which was in our room 500 m away, but of course that didn’t help). Well well. Otherwise Chiang Mai has been a wonderful place to spend some time in.

Tomorrow we are off to Pai in the most northern part of Thailand, then it’s back to Chiang Mai for one night and after that we need to take the night train to Bangkok because WE FLY BACK on Saturday. Whaaat. But it’s ok. We are cool about it. No biggie! It’s going to be nice to see our family and friends, and I can’t wait to sit behind an office desk again 40 hours per week. Oh yeah, I feel inspired! No problem!

Well, we desperately need to fill up our bank account again so it’s time to come back home. And it is a fantastic thing that both me and Erik have work to return to, what a blessing actually. Our biggest concern when we come back is when we can get a cat, and what we will name it.