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October 6, 2010
An unexpected wake-up call in Thailand
Even before Alan and I acquired OAT in 1998, I’d always enjoyed exploring what some American travelers still consider “exotic” destinations, such as Southeast Asia. In fact, it was in 1994 that my former college roommate and I traveled to Thailand—a country that I’d always wanted to see.
As city girls, we loved our time in Bangkok, a lively city where boating through the floating markets in search of fresh fruits, vegetables, and vivid scenes of everyday life were among the many highlights. But it was some of the experiences we had later—when we ventured out of the city—that helped me get to know this amazing country, its warm, hard-working people—and myself—a little better.
One day, while staying with a family in a rural Thai village, we hiked through their rice fields at dawn—trying not to interrupt the silence—as a pale mist surrounded us. Rarely had I enjoyed such unencumbered self-awareness. Another day, I sat for hours watching a local man build an exquisite wooden farmhouse—and left with a renewed respect for what it means to work hard for what you have. This quiet, simple side of Thailand really resonated with me and buoyed my spirit, especially when I returned home to my busy life. But one of my favorite recollections of that trip to Thailand happened towards the tail end of our journey …
Before returning to Bangkok for our flight home, my friend and I spent a few days on the serene island of Koh Samui, where we stayed in a rustic, open bungalow by the beach. In the middle of our first night there, we awoke to a confusing frenzy of activity as several native monkeys scurried about, throwing our belongings around. As initially frightening (and somewhat inconvenient) as it was, nobody was hurt and nothing was broken. Once the hotel staff enticed the monkeys to leave, we just sat and laughed at the absurdity of it. And whenever I think of Thailand, I still think about that unexpected wake-up call, and smile.
Have you ever had an unexpected travel experience that stuck with you long after you returned home? If so, I’d love to hear more about it. You can share your thoughts with others by posting your comments below this Journal entry, or you can email me directly at harriet@oattravel.com.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting our adventures in the Middle East—specifically Israel, Egypt and Jordan. If you’ve explored any—or all!—of these fascinating destinations with OAT, I hope you’ll send your stories and pictures to me at harriet@oattravel.com.
Harriet Lewis