For those who have kept up with our Winter Break journey, you have officially made it to the final part: Chiang Mai! One thing I can say is, we know how to end a trip with a bang! So let's get to it!
Thursday, December 29, 2022
After enduring two days in Bangkok, we were beyond happy to get to the airport and on to our next city. Bangkok was a huge city filled with tourists, and Bryan and I have learned our favorite trips have us engaged with locals and experiencing the culture firsthand- and that wasn't a "thing" in Bangkok.
Chiang Mai International Airport: ท่าอากาศยานเชียงใหม่
We landed in Chiang Mai's international airport at 9:20 pm and were quick to find the taxi pickup area, where we booked a ride to our AirBnB at Rawee Waree Condominiums!
We were happy to be back in accommodations with two showers, so we all quickly cleaned up and tucked in for the night- tomorrow will be busy!
Friday, December 30, 2022
Smoothie Blues
I've learned that the one thing that will get two boys moving quicker in the morning is the promise of a hearty breakfast! As we headed down to explore the nearby food scene, I also made sure to check out our AirBnB pool, which looked like a cool place to chill!
I was sure to book an Airbnb near the popular Nimmanhaemin Street, which is packed with bars and restaurants. This lively area was even hoppin' at 9 am, where we found Smoothie Blues, an awesome smoothie/breakfast bar with tons of options! Between the four of us, we tried 4 different smoothies, 4 different breakfast choices, and even some freshly brewed coffee!
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพราชวรวิหาร
Bryan booked us a Grab and we headed off to another Thai temple, this time way up in the mountains of Chiang Mai! Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan may be a mouthful (and don't ask us how to properly pronounce it) but it was definitely a golden sight!
As we pulled up, we noticed the streets were packed with locals shopping at the local market and visiting with shopkeepers. THIS is what we were missing in the city's capital the other day! As we walked along the shops, I had to buy the fresh strawberries for sale, and Cady even found a pair of red pants for future NC State games! While none of our crew was brave enough, I did offer to buy the roasted insects at one market stand for anyone willing to try them!
After browsing the shops, we headed into the temple and began the climb up. We learned real quick that we could all do with more cardio in our lives because those stairs kicked our butt!
Check out that last pic above: we found Ryan's spirit animal. A lion (butthole). How fitting!
Once we made it to the top of the stairs, it was time to don our coverups, since Cady and I refused to wear long pants and sleeves every day in this 80-degree heat. Must be nice to be a man!
We had to remove our shoes before entering the sacred area, so we stored them in a nearby cubby and prayed that they would still be there when we returned. Then we entered the temple, where we witnessed people pacing and chanting around this centered golden tower.
After leaving, I learned that Gautama Buddha's shoulder bone is said to be housed in this central tower. Similar to the Tooth Relic Temple we visited in Singapore, the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan is a major religious site for the Thai pilgrimage.
After leaving the central temple area, we explored the surrounding buildings and enjoyed the breathtaking view of Chiang Mai from up high!
Then comes Ryan Kimble's favorite part of the whole trip: the hike.
With what started as Bryan "finding a shortcut," we wandered past some 10-year-old monks setting off firecrackers and then endured a 20-minute excursion down an abandoned street... Eventually, we took a sigh of relief when we finally spotted civilization at the bottom of another hill!
At this point, we figured we would just walk down the mountain a ways and take the scenic hike down to the next temple. Everything I read online said this hike was an easy hike that took you from the big, busy temple, down to a simple, earthy temple. Of course, to keep everyone pacified with my hike idea, Bryan bought everyone a Thai wine cooler!
We eventually made it to the start of the trail and the whole group immediately says no. Except me. Yes, the path is slightly overgrown, but it's an adventure guys! As I start down this steep hill with the rest of our crew following at a distance, we see a family with two young boys climbing up in the opposite direction, drenched in sweat. Oh boy.
When I say this hike was steep- y'all, it was STEEP. Ryan fell at one point and thought he sprained his ankle. Bryan's entire back was soaked in sweat and my legs were pure shaking from the tense downward climb I was putting them through. By the end, all our shoes held a thick layer of brown dust and Cady and Ryan were definitely over my shenanigans.
Wat Pha Lat: วัดผาลาด (สกิทาคามี)
But hey! We made it to the next temple! Wat Pha Lat was a serene, natural place filled with lush greenery and a quiet calmness. The statues were smaller and less grand than the last temple we visited, but this place held its own in natural beauty and earthiness that couldn't be touched.
After exploring the area, Ryan was ready for a break and Cady wanted to change clothes, so we bartered with another cabbie and caught a ride back to our AirBnB for a few minutes of chill time.
Rise Rooftop Bar
Once everyone had time to recoup, I somehow talked everyone into another spur-of-the-moment outing before our evening tour. I think Ryan only said "yes" because he heard the word "bar!"
This rooftop bar was a perfect place to take a breather and enjoy a drink while beating Ryan's tail again in a game of Hearts! I think Ryan's sweet, fruity mix drink took the cake for best drink of the night, but Cady's coffee martini came in a close second!
Fresh Fruits Market, Chiang Mai: กาดเมืองใหม่
Eventually, we walk back to our hotel, where we are picked up for our night dinner performance and tour. Our guide started by taking us to a local Chiang Mai fresh market, where we saw avocados the size of our heads and pineapples the size of our palms! Our guide explained that the mini pineapples are a local delicacy and are known throughout Thailand as a Chiang Mai favorite. He was even kind enough to buy some so we could try them, and they did NOT disappoint!
I filmed a few shots during our walking fresh market tour so you could see the unique peeling and cutting technique of these small pineapples. Bryan also pointed out the "fly swatters" hanging above some of the meat counters. Check it out:
During our ride to dinner, our guide explained that Northern Thailand was originally controlled by the Burmese but became a part of Thailand in the 1940s. When southern Thailand annexed the northern areas, the local people were told to only speak Thai. The schools were no longer allowed to teach the local language, Lanna, and thus its use and understanding has diminished to the point that only monks and scholars are left to read and interpret the old northern language.
As we drove, our driver explained that many of the governmental buildings in Chiang Mai have signs written in both Thai and Lanna, even though there are only a select few who can read both scripts.
Old Chiangmai Cultural Center: ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมเชียงใหม่
We arrived at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center for our dinner show and were led to our seats right in the front! We were then served a traditional Northern Thai dinner. Our meal was family-styled and is referred to as a khantoke meal, because of the special round table that the food was served on. Following our meal of chicken, pork, rice, fermented veggies and Thai curry, we sat back on our pillowed floor seats and watched local performances from 5 different hill tribes of Northern Thailand. These performances included the Thai Fingernail Dance, the Thai Sword, the Thai Candle Dance, and the Thai Folk Dance (Ramwong.)
After the performances, we boarded the van and were taken back to the hotel for a good night's rest. Tomorrow is THE day, and it will begin early!
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Now, what we all have been silently waiting for: our day with the elephants. Andy, our guide for the day, picked us up from our AirBnB at 6:30 am, where we enjoyed the sunrise from the back of his truck, as we headed north into the Thai mountains.
Elephant Rescue Park:ឧទ្យានសង្គ្រោះដំរី
Around 8 am, we arrived at the Elephant Rescue Park, where we changed into traditional Thai outfits and listened as Andy explained how this elephant sanctuary came to be. In 2015, the park was started when the "Elephant Dad" bought his first elephant for roughly $30,000 USD. This female was badly wounded from a nasty, deep cut on her front left foot that went untreated for years, while she was forced to continue to give rides to tourists. This infected foot left her unable to walk and she was soon considered "no good" to the current owner. Upon her arrival to the park, the Elephant Dad saved up funds to have this elephant transported to an elephant hospital, where she died 6 days post-surgery. While the park's first elephant didn't survive her injuries, her body was brought back to the park and buried "at home." Andy explained that this story is told to every park visitor to show the brutality of Thai elephant riding parks and the need for protective laws.
The Elephant Rescue Park has continued their efforts to save endangered elephants from riding camps, circuses, logging companies, and mistreatment parks. At the time of our visit, they have rescued eight other elephants who are living their best lives on the park's 45 acres, where they roam free.
With teary eyes, Andy led us across the street with a giant basket of bananas and bamboo shoots. As we turned the corner, we find five of the park's elephants already waiting for their morning snacks! Andy explained that every elephant is free to roam the park and spend their day as they choose. Most of them, though, look forward to the morning snacks and rush to this meeting point to meet the day's visitors. We were taught how to feed them, and as we walked down the aisle of swaying trunks, two other elephants mosied around the corner and joined the line for their own morning treats!
While nervous at the beginning, I mean these are real, wild elephants for crying out loud, we quickly fell in love with these gentle giants. Walking up and down the row of elephants, we quickly emptied our basket of bamboo shoots and bananas! I had already picked my favorite from the group- an 11-year-old baby girl named Saba (pronounced more like "chaba") who reminded me of Hugo with her gentle trunk and calm soul. Of course I pointed this out to Bryan right away, and he agreed that Reynolds would absolutely love a "big sis Saba," but he wasn't sure if base housing would allow it.
At this point, other groups were beginning to join our ranks for snack feedings, so Andy stole a few bananas from their baskets and we began walking toward the lush jungle. As we headed off, Andy explained that each elephant has an assigned person who lives on the premise and whose job it is to learn the elephant's personality and habits. This person dedicates their life as that elephant's caretaker, and they are supported by the rescue park to protect, love and care for their elephant.
As we headed off, we heard footsteps and saw two elephants had chosen to break off from the feeding frenzy to follow us! As we stepped aside so they could lead the way, Andy told us that our two friends were 39-year-old female Mopo, and her surrogate daughter Saba.
Mopo was rescued from the logging industry, where she was blinded in her left eye during a logging accident. When she was brought to the Rescue Park, veterinarians were able to treat her infected eye, and end the pain even though she was left with no vision from that eye.
Saba was rescued from a circus, where she was forced to perform and train for large crowds. Saba was brought to the park three years ago, where she quickly bonded with Mopo. Andy explained that these two have a mother-daughter bond; we were able to witness their love throughout our time together as Saba "kissed" Mopo with her trunk on the head and ears to show affection for her adopted mother.
With the elephants guiding us, we had no choice but to pause for another snack along this beautiful ridge. While Saba and Mopo snacked on some low-lying vegetation, Ryan worked up his nerve and asked the biggest question of his life. Ryan proposed to Cady on this scenic hill, overlooking the lush Thai mountainside, with Saba and Mopo behind them! It was the most beautiful proposal, and left Andy in tears!
Oh, and she said Yes! We will soon be adding another "Katie" Kimble to the family!
For the next two hours, we wandered the mountainside following our giant guides as they snacked, rubbed on trees, forged new walkways, and loved on each other. Every chance we got, we spent our time rubbing foreheads, scratching legs, and whispering sweet words to our beloved friends. Mopo and Saba led the way and shared with us their new, safe home here at the Elephant Rescue Park.
As we came down the side of the mountain, we could sense the excitement as the elephants picked up speed! Saba and Mopo were ready for a drink of water, and Saba showed her childish joy as she dove under the water and rolled around in the mud!
We were then led to a nearby lake, where Saba ran into the water and splashed around, while her person began scrubbing her down and cleaning her. Mopo slowly joined in on the water fun, while we were each handed a bucket and brush to join our elephants for bath time!
While Ryan and Cady stayed with Mopo in the shallower water, Bryan and I dove in with Saba for a good scrubbing behind the ears! During our earlier morning stroll, both Saba and Mopo would scoop up dirt with their trunks, and toss it on their backs as a natural sunscreen. During their bath time, we helped scrub this (now) mud from their bodies so they could be clean and ready go do it all over again later in the afternoon!
Thankful that we wore our bathing suits under the uniforms, we eventually followed our girls out of the water. Saba even volunteered to pose her old circus trick for a group picture- I'm telling you, this girl had captured our hearts. By late morning, it was time to say our goodbyes to Saba and Mopo, as their companions followed them back up into the mountains for a relaxing day doing whatever they wanted.
Before heading back across the river to our beginning meeting point, we met the eighth elephant- a 50-year-old female who was rescued from a tourist riding camp, where she was abused and suffered a broken foot. Similar to the first elephants' story, this lady was forced to work on her mangled leg until she could no longer balance, and began to use her trunk for a crutch.
No longer able to use this girl for money-making rides, she was quickly sold to the rescue. After lots of therapy, casts, and healing, this girl can finally walk again! Unfortunately, the healing process has left her uncomfortable climbing the mountainside, so she prefers to stay on the flat plain near the bathing hole. Lucky for her, her caretaker makes sure she still gets her fair share of bananas and bamboo shoots, as well as fresh greenery!
By 11 am, we were starving, and our brunch of Pad Thai, rice, and fresh vegetables paired fantastically with the fresh-cut coconuts that we were given!
Today was a day for the books, and will be a New Year's Day to remember for a lifetime. And it isn't even halfway over! Check out Ryan's Video of our morning with the elephants!
Namtok Bua Thong-Nam Phu Chet Si National Park: อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกบัวตอง-น้ำพุเจ็ดสี
On our way back to the hotel, Andy took a pitstop at the famous "sticky waterfall," which is known for its unique grippy algae that allows you to climb vertically up the waterfall. With the help of ropes, we braced ourselves for the splashes as the water poured down and we climbed up!
After enjoying our vertical climb, Andy took us to the waterfall's water source- a local hot spring that works as a "natural pump" to monitor the correct flow down the sticky waterfall!
Rock Me Burger & Bar Nimman Branch
After our hour-and-a-half ride back to the city, our gang was hungry again, so we enjoyed a late lunch right around the corner from our AirBnB at Rock Me Burger. Between milkshakes, mac-n-cheese and some killer burgers, we enjoyed a round of cards and laughed as Ryan lost (again.)
With full bellies, we caught a ride in the bed of a covered truck filled with benches and headed towards the first of Chiang Mai's many night markets.
Wua Lai Walking Street: ถนนคนเดินวัวลาย
We knew we were in the right place because as we got out of our ride, we were surprised by the huge crowd and the lights of numerous booths set up for a night of shopping!
Cady and I were instantly enamored with one couple, who were busy knotting and bending rope to create these masterful creatures! I knew I had to have an elephant. Cady agreed. And our lovely men bartered on our behalf! We each left with a mini elephant for our bookshelves back home!
As we walked by each stall, we were shocked to see local artists, craftsmen, and shopkeepers selling everything from clothing to keychains. Cady and Ryan did a lot of shopping, while Bryan and I focused on keeping up with how much cash we had left! We did stop for a drink break at one point in our Wua Lai Walking Street adventure to buy frozen cokes from one vendor!
At one of the last booths on the street, Cady and Ryan stumbled upon the passport covers they so badly wanted back in Bangkok! This time, the personalization was instant, so the two of them picked out leather covers and charms and waited patiently as the lady put together their passport covers!
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: ไนท์บาซาร์เชียงใหม่
With heavier bags and emptier wallets, we caught another truck-taxi to Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar a little farther east in the city. This was THE food scene and we were sure to take part! We started with a round of drinks and followed it up with some amazing Pad Thai. You better know, though, I forced everyone to take a shot of Pepto before eating anything. We hadn't made it this far without tummy issues to back off now!
Check out the food scene at the Night Markets:
Pratu Tha Phae: ประตูท่าแพ
Just a short walk away, we followed the noise and stumbled upon the New Year's Eve party happening right in front of the city's ancient gate, Pratu Tha Phae. Here, people were lighting lanterns and sending them off into the night sky filled with wishes and hopes for the new year.
This stunning display did leave us a little nervous, as some of the lanterns crashed into nearby trees and light poles...we were just hoping firetrucks would be able to make it in time with these thick crowds, if necessary!
Ryan was feeling some tummy troubles, and after trying to use a bathroom at a nearby McDonalds, he was ready to go back to the AirBnB. Apparently, every other man in Chiang Mai also had tummy troubles, and they had clogged the only working toilet in the near vicinity. Bryan and I were not ready to call it a night, so we hired a tuk-tuk to take Cady and Ryan back to the hotel, while we stayed out to ring in the new year with the Chiang Mai people!
After squeezing through the crowds, we ended up in the middle of the party, where we enjoyed live music, dance performances, and raffle drawings while waiting for the final countdown! As the clock struck midnight, fireworks exploded, people cheered and Bryan and I soaked in the fresh air of a new year!
With the festivities winding down for the night, we booked our own tuk-tuk back to the hotel and relived the exciting night by watching this video clip:
Sunday, January 1, 2023
The final day. While packing up, we tried to ignore the silent reminder that this would be the last sunrise we would experience in Thailand together on the trip of a lifetime. But there wasn't much time to dwell on these thoughts, because our day's driver, John, was waiting outside to load up our luggage and take off for the nearby city of Chiang Rai!
Mae Kachan Hot Spring: น้ำพุร้อนแม่ขะจาน
In his spacious van, we tried to catch naps while John whisked us away to our first stop of the day: Mae Kachan Hot Spring. Here, we ate a quick breakfast of toast and Thai morning noodle soup. Of course, you know Cady and I had to wait in the coffee line for a morning pick-me-up!
John even taught Bryan how to cook eggs in the hot spring! For roughly $1, Bryan boiled three eggs in the hot spring and then, was told by John, to save them for lunch, so they would have time to cool!
Before leaving, we took a few minutes to soak our feet in the hot spring's cooled waters. While still hot for our feet, these waters are said to have healing powers, so we were sure to soak our tired feet, with the hopes of rejuvenation!
Wat Rong Khun - White Temple: วัดร่องขุ่น
As we continued on our 3-hour journey north, we eventually reached the city of Chiang Rai. John dropped us off at the White Temple with only one piece of advice: the white building is the temple, and the gold building is the bathroom. Got it.
At the time, we didn't know what we were getting into. From photos, I just knew this was a must-visit temple because of its stunning outer appearance, but it was really the shocking interior design that left us quite speechless.
As we walked up to the temple, we first had to cross a bridge over suffering hands extending out of the ground. This creepy image reminded me of Dante's Inferno with detailed descriptions of the levels of hell's suffering. As we entered this strikingly stunning temple, we first noticed the giant Buddha at the center with a common area for people to kneel and pray.
As we turned around, we were shocked to see modern paintings that had absolutely nothing to do with religion. Illustrations of Captain Jack Sparrow, beside a Terminator robot head, beside a dancing minion next to a depiction of the Twin Towers being attacked by robotic monsters. As we continued to walk around the interior walls, more and more drawings stood out:
the bombing of Pearl Harbor
a character from The Matrix
Pikachu & other Pokémon characters
Jabba the Hut
the International Space Station
the Ninjas Turtles
Kung Fu Panda
Transformers robots
Jigsaw from the SAW movies
DragonBall Z
Avatar
...and the list goes on.
This place is weird.
(Of course, there were signs saying "no photography," but there's no way you can draw alien monster-machines attacking the World Trade Center and NOT expect Americans to get photo proof!)
The strangeness didn't end there. After visiting the Golden Bathrooms, we saw Maleficent, Wolverine, Hulk, Avatar, and Lord of the Rings character heads hung from trees with plants growing from them. There was also a man-made waterfall area that had rock carvings of Ninja turtles fighting beside a giant gorilla face. Overall, we were just creeped out and wondering what third dimension we fell into to end up at such a strange temple!
Once back in the van with John, I had to ask: "what the heck did we just see?!" John explained that Chalermchai Kositpipat was born and raised in Chiang Mai, but moved to Bangkok for his art career. After making it big, he returned to Chiang Rai and built the White temple as an offering to the king. This temple became his own representation of Buddhism and anytime he is inspired, he returns to the temple to add to his wall art (hence, the crazy Hollywood stars and movie characters that decorated the walls!)
So there you have it. Give an artist lots of money, and they create their own crazy temple.
Longneck Karen Village: หมู่บ้านชาวเขากะเหรี่ยงคอยาว
As we drove, John taught us about the Longneck Karen Village we would be visiting next. Years back, China attacked Tibet and the local tribes fled to Burma. These local Tibet tribes sought refuge in Burma until the country, now called Myanmar, faced its own civil war. These hill tribes fled to northern Thailand, where they have been granted asylum and given their own land to preserve their culture and traditions. The most famous of these hill tribes is the Karen Tribe; they are famous for the golden rings that grace their necks. Tradition has it that the more rings around a woman's neck, the more beautiful she is.
As a way to support their local way of life, these tribes have opened their land to tourists who come to see the indigenous people, and their culture and purchase souvenirs.
As we drove to lunch, John explained that Thai people aren't the most welcoming to the Burmese immigrants entering their country. He said the Burmese people come to Thailand and bring cocaine and other drugs into their country and are known to make trouble. John went so far to compare their outlook to that of Americans who think the same of Mexican refugees. Whew. That was a tough comparison to hear in the northern outskirts of Thailand...people all the way in Thailand know of the political rifts in the United States. It spoke volumes.
John also taught us about the "Golden Triangle" of Southeast Asia. The Golden Triangle is the area between Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, where drugs and other contraband are smuggled by international gangs. This area is notorious for the wealth, as well as the crimes that take place. '
Khao Soi Baan Du: ร้านข้าวซอยวิจิตตรา บ้านดู่
Finally, it's lunchtime and we have worked up quite an appetite! John takes us to a local favorite, Khao Soi Baan Du, where I pass along the trusted Pepto behind his back, in hopes of not offending, but also not risking it. John helps translate the menu for us while we bask in the restaurant's shade and crack open our iced cold glass soda bottles!
Ryan orders his standard fried rice, while Cady and Bryan order the north's most famous meal, Khao Soi. Khao Soi, pronounced "cow soy," is a coconut curry soup with braised chicken and is famous for its invention in Chiang Mai. Bryan has wanted to try it since the plane landed, and this was his last chance to try it at a local shop! I was feeling adventurous, so I asked John what he was getting and ordered the same.
When our food came out, I quickly lost my appetite. Sitting in my spicey noodle dish were chunks of the congealed blood we had seen at all the open markets throughout our trip. How had I made it this far without ordering it? I don't know. But every adventurous bone in my body dried up as I picked around the food and tried my best not to vomit up my breakfast.
My loving and caring husband came to my rescue and swapped meals with me. Not only was my blood soup not appealing, but the broth was beyond spicy for me, so there was no way I could get it down. Bryan suffered (even though he said it wasn't that spicy) and let me indulge in his delicious Khao Soi, while he ate the blood soup made with the breath of Satan. (I promise, it was that hot!)
Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple): วัดร่องเสือเต้น
Next stop: the Blue Temple. This temple was named, similarly to the earlier White Temple, for its monochromatic exterior, and is still under construction, but the gorgeous interior carpet, wall paintings and ceiling designs were breathtaking! The local community has funded the continual construction of this temple, so while it is taking many years to complete, the work has been done with so much heart and passion!
Before leaving the Blue Temple, John took us for ice cream. Now, Ryan Kimble has been looking forward to this ice cream treat since it was first mentioned this morning. We watched as this boy deflated and nearly cried when he saw that the blue coconut ice cream was the only option. Bless his heart, we really have been traveling with an oversized toddler, and he was not having it! Thankfully, there were some of the Chiang Mai mini pineapples at a nearby booth, so Bryan treated Ryan to a shared bag of fresh fruit!
With a final snack on our stomachs, we got back in the van and took off for the airport. I'm not sure if John's driving got worse or if we just lost our ability to handle the crazy Asian driving, but the three-hour ride back to Chiang Mai felt like an unwanted roller coaster! We were sliding all over the place, laughing as we slammed our heads into the windows, and watched as our game of cards flew into the backseat when the brakes were hit!
I will admit, we had to pause our card game multiple times so we could all look at the horizon and prevent a lunch return at our feet.
Chiang Mai International Airport: ท่าอากาศยานเชียงใหม่
One thing we can say for certain, John was making sure we didn't miss our flight! We arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare, so we drug our suitcases up to the second-floor McDonalds for an early dinner together before checking in for our flights. (Don't judge us, there were two airport food options: McDonalds or Burger King.)
By now, we knew dit was time to say goodbye. Bryan and I checke in for our flight and then walked with Ryan and Cady to the international check-in counter. After a few final photos and lots of hugs, we are reminded that this isn't goodbye- it's see you later!
Bryan and I's flight took off around the time Ryan and Cady were able to check in for their flight to South Korea and eventually RDU.
Suvarnabhumi Airport: ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ
While Ryan and Cady were in the air headed for South Korea, Bryan and landed back in the dreaded Bangkok airport around 10:30 and had to kill an hour and a half waiting for our flight back to Japan. Being the brilliant man I married, he Googled and found that our Amex Priority Pass allowed us to use several different lounges in the Bangkok International terminal. After checking in we waltzed into a fancy airport lounge packed with free food and free booze! So, while we were exhausted, we logged into the free Wi-Fi and enjoyed Twitter updates (Bryan) and a new eBook (me) while sipping our free wine and eating some free food! THIS is the way to end an amazing trip!
Eventually, we had to leave the comforts of our airport lounge to join the peasants at the gate. We were quickly reminded that we are not, in fact, royalty (as the lounge had made us feel) as we boarded a bus to take us to our budget airline plane! As we drove down the tarmac to our plane, I was sure to snap a picture of the plane graveyard we drove past- airplanes missing engines and wings lined this area and made me really question my flight choice!
But all ended well and by 1 am, our flight took off and we were headed home! Go ahead and judge my airplane hair. I'm judging myself.
Monday, January 2, 2023
Fukuoka Airport: 福岡空港
Our zombie bodies landed in Fukuoka airport around 8:30 am, where we rushed through customs and immigration just to miss the city bus to Sasebo by ten minutes. So we settled in the waiting area and zoned out for an hour while gripping our bus tickets.
Home Sweet Home!
Eventually, the bus made it and we were home by noon-ish. Then our afternoon was packed with cleaning the house and bathing some stinky pups, before calling it an early night!
The next morning was an early one; Bryan and I were both back at work and pretending like this trip didn't kick our butt! It was amazing, but we did learn one thing: we are no longer college kids and do, in fact, need sleep to function! But boy, was this a trip of a lifetime!
Until next time,
Katie
I’m so jealous of your day with the elephants! That is literally the only thing I would ever put on a bucket list. But I’m not sure I could handle the travel to get there!! Thanks for sharing.