Return to Reality - The Long Journey Home! 17-18 September 2024.

The worst thing about going on holiday, is coming home, especially when you have had such a wonderful time. Nam, our driver from yesterday, picked us up from our hotel in Chiang Mai, at a less unearthly 10am in the morning, in stark contrast to our first flight to Bangkok on the 12th of September.

I wasn't looking forward to the flight back to Bangkok, mainly because I am no fan of internal flights, especially in Asia. Judging on previous experience, I know how rough these trips can be. Nevertheless, we had to fly back to Bangkok, so had little choice but to get on the plane.

Chiang Mai Airport is small but perfectly formed. There is plenty to do, from shopping to eating, and we had lots of time and some spare cash left to do just that. Sitting, waiting for our flight, I was feeling rather philosophical about my time in Northern Thailand. I had thoroughly enjoyed my stay, but was a little sad that I wouldn't be returning for quite a while. Chiang Mai had opened my eyes to another part of Thailand, that I want to explore further. This city and surrounding region is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful areas I have ever stayed in.

We returned to the capital on a Thai Smile flight, part of Thai Airways, and to be honest it was a pleasant enough journey. Taking slightly under an hour to fly to Bangkok, we were given a small snack, including a bottle of water and a cake, which went down rather well. It was quite sweet of Thai Smile to give us this little bag of goodies and as their name suggests, it did put a smile on my face. It's not often you get anything for free on a budget airline, but they did go that extra mile, and it was appreciated, at least from me!

Bangkok Airport - View from Siam Mandarina Hotel!

The flight was rather rough coming back, just as I expected. This is a region where weather systems often cause more turbulent flights than normal, especially during the rainy season, so I was well-prepared for it. The feeling of dread and panic that grips me in these circumstances passed pretty quickly. Whether or not I'm just getting more used to flying, I don't know; personally I think I was more to do with the fact, that it was just an hour-long flight, and I just thought, 'well, what's the worst that can happen.' I have done a lot of flying over the years, and this was by no means the worst flight I have ever been on. I was however glad to land in one piece after the pilot slammed the plane down onto the tarmac.

We quickly made our way through security and out into the terminal building, where we were met by a representative of the Siam Mandarina Hotel, where we were staying for our final night in Thailand. A mini bus took us to this luxurious, modern hotel, just a short ride away, where we spent a quiet evening in front of the TV before our flight home on Monday morning. This was a stylish building, with first class service and prices to match. The Siam Mandarina was the most expensive hotel we stayed in on our holiday, and with all the facilities on site, it was easy to see why.

After a quick bath... yes, a bath in a full size tub, we headed for an early lunch in the hotel restaurant. Both Darrell and I had a distinctly western style dish of Beef and chocolate stew, which actually tasted delicious. We followed our meal, with a few bottles of rather expensive Chang, sat in the plush art deco style lounge bar. Suitably refreshed and nourished, we retired to our room to prepare for yet another flight.

Both Darrell and I slept like a log; travelling all day can be tiring, so it was wonderful to feel refreshed and ready to catch our flight from Bangkok Airport. Breakfast in the Crystal Restaurant was out of this World, there was everything you could imagine, from continental, European, British and Asian cuisine, the choice was top class. Having paid nearly $100.00 for the breakfast alone, I expected nothing less, and I wasn't disappointed. We had a very long day ahead, so we stocked up on food, far more than we usually would.

It took about fifteen minutes to drive the short distance to the Airport, and we were there in plenty of time before our flight. I am a person who has never been late for anything in my life, so I was at the check in counter way before I had to be.

The process was a lot more complicated than flying domestically, as one might expect, and the queues were long at security and Border Control. This was expected; I have been to this Airport before, and it is extremely busy, but once through customs the terminal building was full to bursting with shops and restaurants.

I bought a few last minute gifts before we set off, on our way back to Australia. You could certainly tell you were in an airport, the prices were sky-high, so about all I could afford was a few fridge magnets, Still it was nice to look around, and just enjoy the last few hours we had left in Thailand. After a meal at a Korean fast food outlet, we made our way to the gate, bidding farewell to Bangkok and yet another unforgettable holiday.

It is emotional leaving somewhere you love, just as it was last year. This time it was different though, I had really fallen for the place, and felt so at home and relaxed there. My love for Asia seems to have grown over the years, and now approaching my mid-fifties, I could really see myself living on this amazing continent. Sat waiting for our plane, I thought very deeply about my time in Thailand, and just how much it meant to me. Travelling is such a big part of my life that I can't really imagine a time when I don't fly. Of course, that day will come eventually, but until then, both of us will just keep doing what we love best - seeing the World and experiencing new cultures. Eyes wide open, we left, heading towards Kuala Lumpur and a brief two-hour stopover!

When I departed Britain last year, I left most of my belongings behind, as I did when we relocated to Spain in 2018. Many of the souvenirs I had from previous trips abroad, have long since gone, so I did buy a few selective pieces of Royal Selangor Pewter, from a shop at KL Airport. I used to have quite a collection, after visiting Malaysia twice before, and it was important to try and replace some of the memories I lost. Malaysia is indeed a beautiful country, but it is also a place Darrell and I can not visit these days.

Its anti-gay legislation prevent us from staying there as a couple, and we wouldn't want to pretend we are anything else. For that reason, we choose not to go there, and hope in time Malaysia's laws will change. It was quite apt to see a rainbow flying high above our plane as we waited to board. The Malaysian Government may well have banned pride flags and all things gay, but a rainbow flying over our plane home, is, thankfully, beyond even their control. It was a fitting end to our brief respite in Kuala Lumpur and a reminder of how lucky Darrell and I are, to live in a tolerant country free from discrimination.

After a rather pleasant journey to Perth, where I even watched a couple of movies, which is unusual for me, we landed safely in the early hours - the end of a perfect holiday and back to reality.  I do feel rather connected to Thailand now and will of course look forward to our next trip to this stunning, wondrous country. The memories we made this year, we will carry with us, always. From our time in Bangkok, surrounded by friends at 'So Samsen,' a week in Chiang Mai, spent was Nam, feeding elephants and visiting the 'Long Neck Karen People,' we have had an amazing time.

This was a holiday where dreams were made, and I am thankful we had the opportunity to try new and life enhancing experiences. I am also reminded of the tumultuous times we are living through, with wars and conflicts erupting all over our beautiful World. If people travelled more and fought less, we wouldn't be in the mess we are in today!

Until Japan next year!

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