We flew from Dusseldorf to Bangkok with an air of trepidation. Nearing the edge of the Australian continent felt like a big step. We were excited to enjoy the twilight of our holiday before we met Ian's family in Phuket and then flew on back to Melbourne.
Bangkok was roaring with life, the perfect cure for our jetlag. We wandered through the markets, marvelling at all the 'stuff and things' we did not need. Cars and scooters roared past and we were reminded again of Morocco and South America. We found a local restaurant with plastic chairs and huge cauldrons of broth bubbling away. We ordered fried noodles and beef noodle soup and perched on our plastic chairs while the restaurant staff hustled around us preparing takeaway orders.
We woke early to explore the city, delving into the temples in the cool morning air. The detail and grace of the architecture struck us and we sat a while to take it all in.
Later, swept into the tourist current, we admired the giant golden reclining Buddha amongst hundreds of onlookers and took a small boat across the river to appreciate another temple. This one you could climb up with a panoramic view. By this time the weather and humidity had risen and we took a moment in the shade. A monk wandered by in orange robes, tranquilly watching a video on his ipad.
Whistles suddenly cut through the murmer of the crowd and we watched as two young ladies were reprimanded by security for baring their shoulders to take a photograph. Our view was blocked by three local teenagers who asked Ian for an interview for their English class. After all the excitement we made our way to the local tourist nightlife hotspot for a beer but only lasted one before we snuck off into the back streets for some dinner, pad thai this time.
We took the local rail to the airport for $2AUD stopping all stations the next day. You could not have paid for the entertainment factor though. Women with bags of food sold tiny plates of rice and eggs for breakfast. Locals piled their belongings through the windows of the train, stacking banana leaves under our seats. We watched on in amusement and crossed our fingers and toes that we would make it in time for our flight.
In Phuket, the luxury experience began as soon as we landed. A man with our names on a tiny piece of paper met us and took our bags to a waiting taxi. There we were given cold water and towels and whisked away to our resort, feeling like the rich and famous. A stark contrast to our train journey a few hours earlier.
We arrived at an immaculate resort, greeted by a cocktail of lychee juice and a porter proudly carried our backpacks to our room. The next days were spent sampling all the food the resort had to offer, swimming in the lovely warm Andaman Sea and laying around in the shade. We made the most of our final few days and excitedly awaited the arrival of Ian's family.
It was a beautiful moment being surrounded by the people we loved, people we had waited too long to see. We met our new neice and cuddled the older kids. The next few days were spent in a cloud of joy and we all marvelled together at the gorgeous sunsets and played in the pool with the kids. It was a time we will remember forever and were so glad we could be there. We wished everyone a good holiday and headed off to catch our plane to Australia.
Seeing our family on the other end and being a part of Jamie's sisters 30th birthday party was the icing on the cake. We could have danced all night. But we are excited for the next chapter of our journey and what our new appreciation for life and all it has to offer will bring.
Here, on the balcony, overlooking the green basin paddock as lambs call out for their mothers, we think back on many memories.
A phrase that oxymoronically describes our adventure, out of this world.
Fond quotes we choose to repeat include,
"Manana es manana." To remind us not to worry about tomorrow, it is today that matters.
"Every day is a holiday." With your state of mind, every day can be approached as a holiday.
"We must sit and let our souls catch up to our body." Always find time to pause for yourself and your mind.
"It is better to lose a minute from your life than your life in a minute." Take care on the roads and do not rush.
It has been remarkable, a privilege to have travelled and grateful we remained healthy and safe.
We save the largest thank you's for the incredible people that cared for us on our journey. On all the winding roads, dirt paths, Chilean highways, hiking trails, green valley's, pubs, bars and street corners that you found us.
Thank You.
You all proved that by far, the majority of people on this planet are caring, good natured and trustful.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we look forward to returning the gesture.
Signing out, it has been a delight maintaining this online diary. At times huddled in our van as it snowed outside or resting on the stones of a Greek island, we would discuss the moments we wished to record. Many of the stand out tales were typed and maybe a couple were saved just for us.
Now, all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
