The first road trip

[snoop1130]

 

A second lockdown was looming, Covid cases were ramping up and somehow our already downsized holiday plans seemed to be on the cusp of being broken. As Thailand braced for its second wave the timing seems less than desirable with a holiday already, heartbreakingly, adjusted to stay in Bangkok, safe and assured we knew we couldn’t complain at the least with all that is going on in the world, for we have had a life so close to normal at times. 

 

With the 3 week duration of school holiday time we knew this was our opportunity to complete a visit to Chiang Mai, a long awaited and highly anticipated trip it was. Pete and I keeping it on our travel list for years for the “right time”. There never is a right time we know and even amidst talk of a lockdown and massive outbreak we decided to be optimistic. The cool weather was calling us, strawberries and culture and history alike.

 

We researched and organised our very first Thailand road trip, the boys overjoyed with the idea. We had hashed over the pros and cons of taking the train or a plane, the final decision based on the idea of something we had not done before. The Lazada packages containing a new organisational holder for the back seat, a crisp new map of Thailand to unfold and mark and the roof rack on the car caused more uproar than Santa’s impending arrival.  

 

Each day closer we had adjustments in place if travel with ease and safety due to the second wave of outbreaks strained us. We had a roll with the punches approach, one we have come to know and love and decided to focus on our first stop only and make the next move from there.

 

The car was packed, seat assignments in place and the adrenaline was pumping as we took our first road trip selfie, how could we not? We drove 7.5 hours to Khao Kho straight on Day 1. I won’t share every detail, but let’s say during those 7.5 hours I lost my title as copilot, due to a little hiccup with Google Maps. We stopped for a roadside lunch that was packed the morning of, an American family staple of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, fruit and veggies and leftover Christmas cookies was on the menu.  

 

The further away from Bangkok we drove the further away from reality we felt. It was a different vibe than driving through the city streets or island towns in Thailand, the landscape shades of brown that stretched for miles and miles, the cars drove faster and buses and lorries were dodged more than motorbikes. The farther we got from home, the closer I felt our family becoming, less reliant on others and more on each other. While I had worries it would be stressful (and at times it was) it became more peaceful each kilometre we drove away.  

 

At dusk we arrived at the mountain house in Khao Kho, after driving on an incline for quite some time we found a little house set out in the middle of nowhere, with views our eyes had never set upon in Thailand. The connection to nature and smell and sight overtook our bodies and the view alone offered us hope, in a time when we needed it the most. A glance into Pete’s eyes, showing relief and pride that we had made it to stop 1 and our journey was safe thus far.  

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/travel-and-leisure/the-first-road-trip/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2021-05-21

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[kurtcap]

Congratulations on your first road trip when everyone is requested to do "essential travel only" i wonder why the BKK clusters have now infected virtually all Thailand.

[CALSinCM]

3 hours ago, kurtcap said:

Congratulations on your first road trip when everyone is requested to do "essential travel only" i wonder why the BKK clusters have now infected virtually all Thailand.

One of the many stories from the dank infected recesses of Krung Thep outlining how the current wave of Covid was spread across the country by people who could not remain in place for the betterment of the public health of the nation. 

[malathione]

3 hours ago, kurtcap said:

Congratulations on your first road trip when everyone is requested to do "essential travel only" i wonder why the BKK clusters have now infected virtually all Thailand.

 

26 minutes ago, CALSinCM said:

One of the many stories from the dank infected recesses of Krung Thep outlining how the current wave of Covid was spread across the country by people who could not remain in place for the betterment of the public health of the nation. 

 Apparently this trip was back in January. Would be less embarrassing if you fellas would actually bother to read before getting your panties all knotted up and spewing your misguided righteousness.

[RocketDog]

2 hours ago, malathione said:

 

 Apparently this trip was back in January. Would be less embarrassing if you fellas would actually bother to read before getting your panties all knotted up and spewing your misguided righteousness.

Gripers gripe. It's what they do. 

Logic and reason, not to mention normal human courtesy, has nothing to do with it. 

Everybody needs a hobby. 

[kurtcap]

23 hours ago, malathione said:

 

 Apparently this trip was back in January. Would be less embarrassing if you fellas would actually bother to read before getting your panties all knotted up and spewing your misguided righteousness.

 

21 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Gripers gripe. It's what they do. 

Logic and reason, not to mention normal human courtesy, has nothing to do with it. 

Everybody needs a hobby. 

So in January covid was not an issue in Thailand? there is no embarrassment unless you didnt realise it was, as for griping if being concerned for peoples safety and health then please let the griping continue. If your hobby potentially puts peoples health at risk maybe

'human courtesy" should be to pursue another hobby. 

 

[CharlieH]

"A second lockdown was looming, Covid cases were ramping up and somehow our already downsized holiday plans seemed to be on the cusp of being broken. "

 

And so they should have been, totally irresponsible to travel like that ,in my opinion.

[Randell jones]

15 minutes ago, kurtcap said:

 

So in January covid was not an issue in Thailand? there is no embarrassment unless you didnt realise it was, as for griping if being concerned for peoples safety and health then please let the griping continue. If your hobby potentially puts peoples health at risk maybe

'human courtesy" should be to pursue another hobby. 

 

Second lock down looming, covid ramping, and I'm incarcerated in a hotel while Pete and the fambo are spreading the joys of happiness right up the spine of Thailand. Any photos? 

[AlfHuy]

I travel like this.

[RocketDog]

51 minutes ago, kurtcap said:

 

So in January covid was not an issue in Thailand? there is no embarrassment unless you didnt realise it was, as for griping if being concerned for peoples safety and health then please let the griping continue. If your hobby potentially puts peoples health at risk maybe

'human courtesy" should be to pursue another hobby. 

 

There is nearly always a grain of truth in anybody's unhappiness about something. The 'gripers' I refer to are the ones that make it career to constantly bloviate about such problems and how much it affects their lives.

 

There are many things wrong in today's world, and discussing them is fine, obsessing constantly over them, as some TVF members do, is just needless and tiresome.

 

I have never 'muted' any TVF poster, but that is always my option. In truth,  their endless negativity endangers their own health, mental and physical, much more than it does their weary listeners. Up to them.  They can continue to gripe and you can continue to read it. Everybody needs a hobby. Up to you.

 

 

 

 

[malathione]

Yes, you gripers are right; no one should venture out of their abodes until the caseload drops to zero. When you do venture out of your deep, dark holes, look around and see if you can spot the economic damage that myopic view has wrought.