Returning to Thailand & Cambodia

I’ve mentioned in previous travel stories about taking along the family. My very first time abroad I spent the first two weeks with my sister and mother. Having never been abroad before, my eyes were opened next to theirs to the excitement and breath of fresh air SE Asia provides. I leaned heavily on their excitement too. Since that trip, I’ve returned many times by myself, but also with family. This particular trip was with my mother and her good friend. I was the “tour” guide and did all the arrangements as well as flagging down the tuk-tuk, bartering with the locals, and pre-selecting the restaurants. Though I love traveling alone, there is something to be said about experiencing a place with someone from home. Perhaps there are things you would have never noticed, compared, or recognized without them. 

This particular trip was my mother's second trip back to Thailand and was days after the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, also called Phumiphon Adunlayadet or Rama IX passed away. This was such a unique time to visit Thailand. As a Cultural Anthropologist, I was educated daily on the love this country had for its king and experienced what it felt like to mourn a leader. The Thai shut down shops and businesses for months, they wore black every day for even longer. And while we were in Bangkok, we visited the Grand Palace which held a month-long memorial service where Thai nationals could line up (for hours) to pay their respects to the family and the deceased. A truly humbling experience. 

Another unique aspect of this trip was my return to Angkor Wat. This was the second time I had visited and this time under careful planning. A friend of my sisters, a local Cambodian, was working for guide service and was able to arrange 4-days of exploration with us. Not only was this a completely different experience than my previous visit, but we had so much fun hearing about Ranet’s perspective of Cambodia and also tourism and its effects on the area. Ranet was a wonderful guide. He provided us with insight into temples I had never heard of. He took us to temples away from the main complex and best of all, was quite the photographer along our journey. I was worried that returning to Angkor Wat wouldn't bring quite the thrill as before, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Visiting these ancient ruins with insider information is a complete 180 from having only a guide who transports you from place to place. This trip was also unique since we were in Siem Reap when President Trump was elected. Since we didn't have very good Wifi in our hotel, we depended on Ranet for the news the following day. Anytime you are traveling in a foreign country and your government has major transitions, it always makes for entertaining conversations with locals and other travelers alike. 

After Cambodia, we said our heartfelt goodbyes to Ranet and returned to Thailand to spend our last days on the beach. I demanded that instead of a popular island, we stay on the lesser-visited island of Koh Chang off the coast of Trat. This island is located inside the peninsula so you sacrifice a bit of those crystal clear waters for just as beautiful a beach and a bit murkier water. Still. Totally. Beautiful. The island itself was still frequented by travelers, but most of them were looking for calm and quiet (unlike Phuket, Koh Samui, etc). A bit older traveler lends to early nights and relaxing days, something I value most as the years go on. 

I was blessed to make a quick stop in Aceh, Indonesia on my way home. During my undergrad, I studied in Malaysia and befriended some of my closest companions through probably my most profound life-changing experience thus far. As I return to Asia year after year, I make it a point to drop in on my old flatmates and on occasion get to share a couple great photo ops.