We have only been in Malaysia for a few days and already the memory of Thailand and the little things we loved is fading again.
We crossed the border from Cambodia into Thailand, cycled about 1.300 km and were in the country for 45 days. First to Bangkok and then further down the east coast to Malaysia.
The secrets of the little things
I remember empty white beaches, coconuts in abundance, rubber plantations, whose for me fragrant fine smell announced itself long before. I remember smiling people, good roads off the main routes, and great main roads with wonderful side strips. I remember rainy days, peaceful days, trash washed in from the sea. I remember small fishing villages, markets that seem like still life. Thailand, off the main routes is a quiet country, time to relax. But I also remember and especially all the street food carts on the side of the road that accompanied us kilometer after kilometer.
It was just magical and it’s the little things that we remember
It wasn’t the big white beaches, the gorgeous islands, the mega Buddha statues, the special temples that fascinated us. It was the small things and moments. That’s why we can’t give you any travel tips. Often it was maybe just the hundred thousandth banana blossom or the one millionth coconut that made us stop.
It’s the rainy season, we have been told more than once
We laughed a lot and were relaxed on this stage. However, we didn’t take it too seriously with camping. Or rather, set it up only once. So we had at least every day a more or less warm or cold shower with more or little to no running water. Not infrequently I have wished that the night is soon over or longed for our tent. Only when it then, as so often, flashed and thundered and the water ran down the street, then I knew again why we actually avoid sleeping in the tent. It is rainy season in Thailand and even if usually only briefly, the downpours are heavy. The raindrops became waterfalls.
And then suddenly there were small places that were just special. I don’t know, maybe more colorful, more modern or was it just the people who smiled and greeted us more? We were the strangers to take care of? It was the little things that made us smile.
I’m sure there is everything else, the crowded beaches, the areas like Pattaya where it’s all about sex tourism and Marihuana, the small and big rip offs, the bar and pub areas occupied by tourists. The areas we toured, 90% of them didn’t have that. And with normal Thailife, the areas just weren’t “blessed” with the crowds either.
So Thailand, it was beautiful and I’m glad we took the long time to travel through. Even though I’m still a big fan of the capital Bangkok, Thailand really has a lot to offer off the beaten path.
