TRAVEL TALES

My First Day Back in Thailand

Success of the day: I survived in traffic

Actually, I can't believe how much I got done on my first day. A lot more than just surviving in traffic. And all of that while I should be suffering from jetlag. I guess the key is to keep yourself busy.

But let’s slow down for now. Let’s get you back on track. I’ve moved. I’ve moved myself plus some luggage (lots of sports gear and very little clothing) from one continent to another.

Here’s a quick recap of the last 48 hours (or more? I lost track of time) for my friends out there.

Flying from Frankfurt to Bangkok via Doha, Qatar

I know, the pandemic is still going on but my life needs to go on as well. Travel is allowed and recommended to those who aren’t afraid of getting in contact with people. Because surely you will be close to strangers when flying.

And that is why I went. Because I’m not afraid and because I took all precautions and preparation in order to be allowed to fly as well.

My journey started in Frankfurt. After leaving my lovely fairytale village behind and driving with the train to the airport I had the heaviest part of my journey behind me. Traveling with no winter clothes through Germany’s freezing cold. I wore all the clothes I took with me to Thailand. Almost all of them.

I had done the online check-in and just had to go to the counter to check-in my one piece of luggage and thank God it was only 1kg overweight. The lady didn’t say anything. Phew. After handing her a pile of documents required for traveling to Thailand I got the boarding passes in my hand.

The next obstacle was the security scan. As a skydiving instructor, I do travel with my parachute as hand luggage since I don’t want to imagine losing it or getting it back damaged.

But that means it’ll go through the scan which sometimes causes some question marks at the officers sitting behind it. I’m used to it, prepared for it, and remain calm. Because everything else doesn’t help.

Yes, my bag gets pulled aside, yes, I did get questioned again. And yes, I had to wait for the federal police to clear my “bag”. Meanwhile, another policeman was standing next to me “making sure I don’t do whatever”. Holding his AK47 in his hands he starts questioning me about skydiving and if I’m an instructor as well.

That’s my chance. Flirting a bit with the officer, and explaining to him how a parachute works and how we do teach newbies how to skydive, helped me get my parachute cleared for departure.

Yip, it never gets boring on my journey.

Fast forward in my journey I had an uneventful layover in Qatar except for taking off one hour delayed for unknown reasons. While I had an entire row for myself to stretch out on my first flight, on the second one I was very glad I had my favorite window seat booked. The flight was full and packed.

But I was tired and it was long past midnight. I guess I fell asleep before take-off and woke up just in time for breakfast.

Arrival in Thailand

In Bangkok airport, I had to go through several health and immigration checkpoints before I could proceed to the luggage belt. With all my bags loaded, I walked outside where the pre-organized pick-up was waiting. You can only enter Thailand with a mandatory 1-day quarantine in a selected hotel including airport pickup and one PCR test.

And I was impressed by how well organized this all was. I was sitting alone in the minivan when I was looking out the window spotting a hospital next to us. The driver turned and stopped right in front of it.

Before I knew what was happening, a nurse opened my door, guided me to a room 5 meters away, and asked me if the papers in her hand were in order. She had gotten a copy of my passport already with all the details of my arrival. I just had to confirm that it’s me.

The test was done after she poked into my brain twice and I was allowed to go back into the van.

A few minutes later I arrived at my hotel. Ready for quarantine.

Or better, ready for a shower!

One day in quarantine

Not my first quarantine. Not my first travel-related quarantine. But honestly, I didn’t mind. I just wanted a shower, some WiFi, and a comfy bed.

And while I was waiting for the test result, I started to research bikes and apartments to rent. No, I have not done that at home. I only booked a room for the next three days close to the airfield hoping those three days would be enough to sort everything out right there and then.

The view from my room shouts “welcome back to Thailand“. I surely hadn't missed this cable chaos.

In the evening I got my test result. Thankfully it said negative. And then I was allowed to go onto the streets.

I’m free.

But I felt naked walking around. Can’t remember when I last was out only wearing shorts and a shirt. It surely feels weird not wearing 7 layers of clothes. Have to get used to it.

My first full day in Thailand

After I got served breakfast in my room I packed my bags, called a taxi, and drove south towards Sriracha. Yes, that is where the famous spicy sauce is from. And yes that is where I’m moving to.

My apartment for the next three days is on this quiet side street. Well, I say quiet but I think there’s a chicken farm in someone’s backyard right next to the apartments. I don’t mind. Rather chickens than traffic noise.

The lady from the reception recommended me to visit the nearby temple and after standing under a network of hundreds or thousands of cables I entered what seemed to be a temple closed for the public.

I still took a few shots before moving on.

I still had a long list of things to do. But I got it all done. One after the other.

I took a scooter taxi downtown to exchange money (yes, I just sat on a stranger's back on a scooter trusting him through Thailand’s crazy traffic) and then faced the next challenge of renting a scooter for a month. Because I want my own transport. To be independent.

You would say one can rent a scooter at every corner in this country but it’s not true. Not here. This area is absolutely ignored by tourists and Thais all have their own bikes.

Finding anything in town was unsuccessful and so I called a grab taxi (the Asian version of uber) and drove to Pattaya. I had searched places online and read some good reviews on them.

I tried three different scooters. The first one had squeaking brakes, the second one was pulling to the right, and the third one seemed without issues. I guess we’ll find out its flaws within the next month.

Yip, I’m back on the bike. But I didn’t ride a scooter since I left Thailand last year February (except for the old-school moped I drove in Germany last year).

When we lived in Thailand my husband was always the one driving and I just sat on the back. After a few months, I also dared to try it (I never drove a bike before) but never drove with it to the city.

Well, now I was in the city. And had to drive 30 kilometers to the next city. With no navigation system.

Luckily I am blessed with a good sense of orientation. As soon as I got back on the scooter it felt like I never left this place. I knew the city. I turned first towards the beach to quickly walk down to the ocean and snap a picture.

Then I turned around and drove back to my apartment. 30 kilometers. It took some time but I made it. Without stopping once to check on Google maps where I was.

I knew where I was.

And it felt good.

I got back to my apartment and after eating a snack I wanted to solve the next problem. Getting a flat for a month.

Now, this is surely the trickiest part of today’s chores. As mentioned before this area isn’t touristy and therefore most people only speak Thai. Calling rental places I found online was rather unsuccessful.

The first guy said he doesn’t have a flat available.

The second one didn’t pick up the phone.

The third person just hang up after realizing I only spoke English.

The fourth person said he’s only renting out to Thais.

The fifth person had lots of rooms but they were all occupied.

Really?

Eventually, I decided to drive down to the complex we stayed in the last time and visit their office on site. Maybe I’d have more luck over there.

I thought.

I was wrong.

Just after walking in, the lady said all apartments are full. I couldn't believe it. The last time we were there not only half of them were occupied.

With dropping shoulders I walked out. What now? While trying to reverse my bike out and turning around the guy from the office came out again, stopping in front of me telling a life story in a language foreign to me.

I guess he’s saying they do have a flat available.

I was never good at paraphrasing or interpreting in school. But I guess that is one more skill I learned while traveling. How to communicate with hands and feet and read people’s minds. Or something like that.

I walked back in and half an hour later I had seen the open flat, spoken to the owner of it in a mixture of Thai (I can say greetings in Thai), German (he greeted me with Guten Tag on the phone), and English of course and organized the pickup of the keys for the next day.

I can’t believe it.

I got it all done. All of it. I got transport. I got accommodation. And apparently some communicating skills. I’m sorted.

Can’t wait for this adventure to begin. Or continue.

But first, I gotta sleep. After doing all of this now I feel the jetlag. I’m tired and exhausted. But I need to stay awake until at least 9 pm. Just to get my body into the right daytime rhythm.

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