Now that this trip is getting closer, the butterflies in my
stomach have been replaced by bats gnawing & scratching at my insides. I am
dreading the airport aggravation alone! The flight is a lengthy one to put it
mildly. I am flying for 18 hours on Arab Emirates Airlines to Dubai. A 3 hour
layover awaits me; from there it’s another 6 hours to Bangkok. This will be an
entire day & night each way.
Since I’m going alone and terrible with directions, I opted
for an escorted tour just like in the old days. During my 20’s, I did all my
world traveling this way. Sure, I invited friends and plenty showed interest.
But when it came to placing a deposit with a travel agent, I heard all variety
of excuses why they couldn’t do it that year.
And the next it was a similar story! I decided that if I didn’t go
alone, I’d never get to travel at all.
Back in the 1970’s I was never concerned about my health. A
heart attack or stroke seemed as remote as the constellation Cassiopeia. Nowadays, it’s constantly in the back of my
mind that my father suffered his first heart attack when he was 10 years younger.
And my mother died when she was only 7 years older than I am now.
I’ve been ordered by the Dept. of Health to get up and walk
every waking hour for at least 15 minutes to avoid blood clots. “They’ll be
lots of people walking around on that flight!” the doctor told me.
“But there are NOT a lot of places to walk!” I replied.
“That narrow isle will be so crammed; we’ll all be doing it in shifts!” Also I
purchased a pair of compression stockings. I can feel the old lady cooties
licking my toes, already!
I selected a tour that hits all my major cities of interest.
I plan to make the most of my time doing lots of touristy things. But this primarily
is an exploratory or what the politicians refer to as a fact finding trip. Too
bad I don’t hold political office or I could stick the taxpayers with the tab!
I may end up calling
this country home at some point in time, even if I choose to expatriate to
Ecuador.
I’m looking forward
to visiting Ayuthaya, the capitol of Old Siam. Also I’m taking a cruise in a
long-tailed boat on the Meo Kok River to visit a hill tribe village in Chiang
Rai. Plus I’ll be seeing the ancient towns of Chiang Sen & Wat Phra That
Chedi Luang. I’m traveling up to the
famous Golden Triangle where Thailand, Burma, & Laos all merge, and then
it’s on to Chaing Mai to visit the ancient capitol of the Lamma Kingdom. There’s a Khantoke dinner with a show which
should be exciting and memorable. Later it’s a visit to an elephant camp with a
jungle tour. Actually, several jungle tours are included, (better get that
prescription for Malaria pills) and another long-tailed boat ride on the Pai
River in Bangkok. My first night there
features a Thai dinner and a classic dance performance. Plus many more
activities I’m not going to detail here and now.
I’ve got THREE flights within Thailand to get around to all
of these places!
I told the travel agent I was disappointed that I would not
be going to the White Temple in Chiang Rai. (This HAS to be the coolest temple
on the planet, Google it!!!) She phoned back and said the White Temple would be
included. I asked if the other people would be inconvenienced.
“This is a private tour,” she stated. “There are no others,
you will have a personal guide & driver. It’s not unusual in that part of
the world.”
I was speechless. For a second, I felt like a V.I.P.! Then I remembered I was traveling Economy
Class in a 17 inch seat. That bubble burst fast!
Also I’ve arranged to visit a Retirement Home operated by a
British family. Residents live in condos with balconies along a snaking river
with mountains in the background. The online photos are absolutely dreamy. –
I’m not ready for anything like that yet!
However, that day may come.
Was I not planning to sell my house and move to the Third
World, a trip such as this would be out of the question. Plus I’ve forgone many
things I enjoy. I’ve pinched a lot of pennies & nickels to afford this
trip. One of the reasons I’m expatriating is to be able to afford these things.
After I return, there are serious decisions I need to make.
No comments:
Post a Comment